the main reason people do not succeed as massage t

the main reason people do not succeed as massage therapists

In my opinion lack of business acumen is the main reason people do not succeed as massage therapists. The majority of people enter this field with limited business knowledge, and many bear a negative attitude about business. Yet there are certainly plenty of books, classes, marketing products and online resources to assist therapists in expanding their business knowledge. The savvy therapist takes advantage of these tools. "The single most important factor in your success is business skills, not massage skills, yet most massage schools teach very little business, and even then it's mostly limited to how to write a résumé," says Donald Schiff, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, massage therapist in practice for 23 years. "Unless you have a business background already, what you learned in massage school is not enough to create and sustain a thriving massage practice." Learning to work smarter, not harder,tyuireptoo is a chief tenet of success. Be organized and keep excellent records. Look to the long term and consult with experts. "Spend some time working for others to gain both business and work experience," suggests Dawn Graf, a Tucson, Arizona, massage therapist in practice for 13 years (the past seven in the spa industry). "Then if you want to go into private practice, keep that job or have a second part-time job that pays well and has benefits." Work Smarter Burnout—on either the physical or emotional level—is yet another cause of failure. The number one cause of physical burnout is poor body mechanics, so take the time to find out what works best for your body. Exercise regularly, stretch before and after working with clients, and eat properly. Invest in a high quality table. For those who do outcalls, be sure to purchase and use the accessories specifically designed to help tote tables. There are several books and numerous articles written for therapists on self-care. Read them and follow the suggestions. And, of course, get weekly massage. A leading cause of emotional burnout is weak boundaries on the part of the therapist. I have heard so many stories of therapists who let their clients take advantage of them: showing up late; not giving appropriate cancellation notice; engaging in excessive self-disclosure; expecting special treatment such as offering extended hours or an extended session. The inability to effectively maintain and manage boundaries with clients, co-workers and management is the leading cause of burnout for massage practitioners. Learn to set strong boundaries for yourself. You can take steps to avoid emotional burnout: Meet with colleagues on a regular basis; take part in some type of group or peer supervision; attend conferences; maintain a strong support system; take classes in new techniques, business and communications; vary the way you work; target a new market; and diversify your practice. William Burton, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania massage therapist in practice for five years, is taking positive steps to ensure he stays enthusiastic. "Becoming [a bodywork] instructor has rejuvenated me," he says. "It has made me break the old books open again. Learning new modalities has . . . given me new juice."