At Waggo, our dogs inspire us daily. They encourage us to create, design, and discover new things; our furry loves serve as the inspiration for all the amazing things we produce for them.

We know other dog-loving designers, artists, and entrepreneurs feel the same way. Recently, we had a chance to chat with the stylish and creative presence behind the popular blog L Bee and the Money Tree, Lauren Bowling. When Lauren isn’t working on her business, she’s loving on her dog, Murray. 

In addition to exploring the links between money in happiness for her site, she recently created her own content marketing and social media strategy business, Beehive Content. “There is no greater sense of empowerment than working for yourself,” she says. “I thought financial freedom was the greatest, and it comes pretty close, but being your own boss is like truly being the captain of your own ship.”

She works on developing her business in her spare time, as she still has a full-time job, a social life, and other hobbies. Needless to say, Lauren is on the go full-time – which makes creative burn-out a real risk.

This is where Murray comes in to help her and inspire her when she gets bogged down in her work and projects. “Sometimes even reaching down and giving him a pet or a hug is all the mental break I need to help me stay on point and focused,” she explains.

Murray came into Lauren’s life and heart a few years ago, when she lived in New York City. She says he has always helped alleviate the sense of loneliness and silence that can be pervasive when you live alone. “Having Murray around makes it feel like a family lives in my home rather than a person,” Lauren says.

Today, Murray’s presence continues to make life better – and he even helps out a bit with her business. Dog lovers are everywhere, and talking about the bond and love we all have for our pets is a perfect way to warm up to others at industry events. Lauren agrees. “I think from a networking perspective having a dog is a great ice-breaker and thing to talk about with people when you’re at meet-ups or events. Everyone loves dogs!”

And it’s not only at events that being a dog lover and owner makes a difference. “I think having a dog that is a part of your story or brand makes you a more approachable person,” Lauren says. She doesn’t hesitate to share her stories about Murray on her site, and she always gets a great response when she does. “The posts about Murray on my site are some of the most popular. I really loved it at a conference when someone who read my site came up and asked me if I’d brought him along!”

Above all, Murray is there for Lauren when she needs him most, and he helps her keep the important things in perspective. “Murray helps me remember to keep it light,” she explains. “Nothing is really all that bad if you have a dog you can cuddle with at the end of the day!”

We couldn’t agree more.

Photo Credit: Stacey Bode Photography