How Being a Dog Dad Helped Me and My Business

What if I told you that being a dog owner not only changed my life for the better, but helped me get my head in the game and succeed in business?

Here's Cooper, my big, loving, 5-year-old long-haired golden retriever.

When I adopted Cooper as a puppy in 2017, I never could have imagined what it would do for my life - the rewards and the challenges.

First things first, I'll be up front: I have always been a dog person. But I never thought I would be a dog owner as an adult.

When I was growing up, my family had a very sweet and beloved Siberian husky named Sonia. She was an important part of everyday life, like any other member of the family. She was there for everything from sleeping next to me during late nights studying to cheering me on at Saturday games. Obviously, she had a huge impact on me, but she sadly passed away while I was away at college.

Fast-forward to a different time in my life. When I was working as an analyst about 10 years ago, I was still working hard and playing hard. I wanted some degree of that stability, connection, and structure that a dog brings in my life, but as a young adult - and then as my career progressed - I thought having a dog wouldn't fit into my lifestyle or the professional goals I had for myself.

It didn't seem like there would be room in my life to go on walks every day in a city like New York, grab pet food on the way home from the office at 8 p.m., or find a pet sitter when I wanted to go away for the weekend. Would having a pet stop me from being able to sweep a date off on a whim? Would I have to leave a business dinner with a client to walk the dog? It didn't mesh with the vision I had of myself as a successful business owner. But at the same time, I was missing that companionship from my childhood, of having a dog come running out to greet you after a long day. Dogs are man's best friend after all, right?

So, I never set out to adopt Cooper when I accompanied a friend to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in the spring of 2017. When we were surrounded by all the dogs, big and little, fluffy and curly, letting them lick our hands and jump up to greet us, I didn't see any along the lines of what my friend and his wife were looking for. But when I saw Cooper (then called Oatmeal) bounding around with a happy, pure energy and enthusiasm for life, I decided to take him home on the spot.

Cooper is an exceptionally playful and outgoing dog. When we're on walks in Central Park, he wants to go up and say hello to every dog, woman, and child we see. At home, he likes to curl up and sit on the sofa with me while I work, watch Succession, or listen to records (I think Ella Fitzgerald is his favorite). In many ways, he's an easy dog, but there are still challenges.

So what has Cooper brought to my life, and how does having him help me succeed and grow my company?

Structure - I have always excelled at self-discipline, but having a big retriever at home certainly brings an extra consistency and responsibility to the day. We get up for an early morning walk or jog around the neighborhood before I put on my coffee, and I get my head cleared to tackle the day. Anyone who's into productivity hacks will tell you: Regular sleeping and eating schedules do wonders for what you can get done throughout the day. And getting up earlier changed the game for me!

Exercise - Another side effect of having a (fairly young) dog is the exercise and outdoor time. Cooper needs a lot of activity to stay happy and healthy, and I've realized I do too. In addition to running together, on the weekends sometimes I like to take him upstate to friends' places to run around, hike, climb, and swim. He has his best times out in the yard or the woods, and it gets me out of the city and forces me to stay grounded outside of the grind set. I think this gives me a greater perspective than a lot of others in the fintech world.

Social Life - Especially when I first adopted Cooper as a puppy, I needed to spend a lot of time at home with him. This was a big challenge at first, but now it keeps me selective with my social life. I still go out a few times a week, but I'm just as happy at home cooking and drinking some reds with friends. It's helped me embrace a more balanced and intentional work-life balance, without which I don't think I'd have been able to get TechWallet off the ground. Plus, I've even met a few clients walking Cooper in the park! We all love to talk about our dogs with other pet lovers.

Financial - Finally, of course, a dog is a financial commitment. There's food, and treats, and leashes, but you also need to be prepared for unexpected vet bills and other bigger expenses that can seem scary (ever heard of pet insurance?). When I adopted Cooper, it was a commitment to be there for him throughout his life. I have always been passionate about my own personal finance and regular life expenses like pet ownership, but having Cooper actually put that in perspective for me. It's incredibly important to be on top of your finances and use financial tools to understand how to save and prepare for having your own fluffy, zoom-y companion.

I think Cooper is the best dog in the world, but I also believe that having a dog in one's life can bring some structure and routine that's hard to forge on your own, force you to tighten up that fitness routine and get some vitamin D, get real about how you want to spend your time outside of work, and figure out your finances once and for all.

I was so worried about how being a dog dad might impact my professional life for the worse, I failed to see how it could be greatly beneficial to me and my business, and help me work smarter and go further. Being a dog dad has allowed me to achieve my dream. Life may be busy, but it's better - and actually easier - to do your best with a friend.

Finally, for those interested, please consider adopting. NYC has so many dogs (and cats) who need homes available for adoption and would make amazing pets for you or your family. I cannot recommend Best Friends Lifesaving Center or other centers like it enough. Happy adopting!

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Hi, I'm Eugene Plotkin, I'm a fintech enthusiast, dog dad, and jazz lover living in NYC. I believe that fintech has the power to transform personal finance. That's why, after years of investment banking, I started TechWallet. We aim to bring financial literacy to everyone. Follow me on my Medium page for more writing about personal finance and my life!