Meet Debbie Guardian, Owner of Opie & Dixie Organic Pet Products
Posted: June 20th, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Please meet Debbie Guardian, one of the most passionate women on the planet. Debbie’s love for animals is so tremendous that she has created, and built her own company, through that love. As the owner of Opie & Dixie Pet Products, Debbie has created a line of organic, healing products that are so amazingly pure your children can use them. Really! Debbie exemplifies what it means to be inspiring and to be living your passion. If you have a beloved four-legged friend, you should treat them to Opie & Dixie. With the health issues for pets on the rise it is equally important that they too, have quality ingredients in their vitamins, shampoo, paw balm, flax for fur, ear wash, and vitamins. We believe that using Opie & Dixie products will help keep your best friend around a little bit longer. To view O&D products or to read Debbie’s blog, please visit www.opieanddixie.com, Fido will thank you.
Name: Debbie Guardian
Job (aka, Career/Calling/Inspiration): Owner, Opie & Dixie Organic Pet Products
Age: 51
Family situation (kids? dating? long-term relationship?):
Married, and of course, the heart and soul of my family – my three furry, 4-legged kids.
How do you make sure you feel good everyday?
I try (“TRY”) to make sure I get enough sleep; if I sleep well, I can conquer just about anything!
What inspires you to do the work that you do?
My girls, Opal and Dixie, are my inspiration. I wish all pets the same great health as Opal and Dixie, and I created my line, the tagline of which is, “Wholesome Pet Solution®” with that goal in mind.
How did you muster up the courage/confidence/stamina to create the life you have? I don’t believe I’m courageous, and I know I’m lacking in confidence, but I am LOADED with stamina, which I’ve inherited from my mother… an 82-year-old woman with the powerhouse energy of a 30-year-old. I believe it’s my stamina that’s led me to be the woman I’ve become and accomplish as much as I feel I have accomplished. All that energy has to go somewhere!!!
What’s your approach to nutrition?
I tend to eat a nutritious and healthy diet – lots of plant-based foods, whole grains, fish and fruit. I’m not very conscious of it; those are just the foods I crave. That said, if I happen to be in the mood for a croissant dripping with butter or a big bowl of gnocchi drenched in a cream sauce, you’d better believe I’m going to have it!
How do you stay inspired when difficult challenges arise?
It’s sort of organic. As a small business owner with a very demanding, stressful and often exhausting day job with a 2-2 ½ hour commute every day, my two biggest challenges are accomplishing everything that needs to be accomplished in order to make my business successful, and giving myself credit for doing as much as I do. I’m someone with a tiny figure sitting on my shoulder with a huge baseball bat, and the little beast keeps bopping me on the head and yelling, “Bad Debbie! You didn’t write your blog! You didn’t do the laundry! Why haven’t you updated your financial statements?” I fight that little creature every day of my life!
What do you do to stay in balance – in other words, how do you balance things like your career, your well-being, your happiness, your friends, your children, your spouse, dating, your fitness, your nutrition, your hobbies, etc.?
I have to admit that it’s not always easy given that my business consumes every spare moment of my life. My walks and hikes with Opal and Dixie bring me peace, and I typically put those first. Other times I just need to take a hot bubble bath, throw on my jammies and curl up on the couch with my girls. I work out with my trainer, Rachel, 2 to 3 times a week, and unlike when I worked out solo at the gym, Rachel has helped me say goodbye to slacking and excuses. Cookin’ up those endorphins does wonders for the mind, body, soul and spirit.
What’s your ultimate indulgence – just for you?
Regular 2-hour massages, massages and more massages!
What advice do you have for women/men aiming to have it all? In other words, what do you do or have you done that works for you?
I’m still looking for the answer myself! Tips, anyone?
Thank you for speaking to Venus In Balance and for inspiring so many!
xo
Having the pleasure of knowing Debbie personally, I can tell you that she is being modest regarding that last question, “what do you do to have it all?” Debbie is an incredible multi-tasker and is super organized, but I think one of her most redeeming qualities is that her sense of humor is so keen. She has always reminded me that, no matter how stressed out we get, laughing at ourselves and others can get us through anything. Thank you Debbie for being such an energetic, health-conscious role model with a sense of humor! And congratulations on your pet products, they were born out of passion, just like Susan said.
Debbie is the best. She is so dedicated and I know that she loves her business to the point where it transcends from being just a business to being a part of her. Keep our Canines (and us) healthy. Opie & Dixie rule!