Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1496639
(see "When a Client Leaves a Bad Review Online," page 91). Because we are our massage, right? If you feel like a failure when every client doesn't become a longtime client or you can't help with that swollen knee, that's a sign your identity and self-worth are too wrapped up in your business. INVASION OF YOUR DOWNTIME When you're not working, are you forced to acknowledge work tasks? Even if you choose to not act on those calls or emails, they stick in the back of your mind and pull attention away from your personal life. Many of us use our business email address as a primary email, a personal cell phone as a business phone, and a business calendar as a primary calendar. Our identities become so intertwined with our business that it's hard to see where work ends and personal life begins. This overlap can be seen in our schedule too. If you have a hard time sticking to your preferred work schedule because clients "need" a certain time or you cancel personal plans to treat a client in pain on a Saturday night, that's a red f lag. This invasion of your personal time takes a huge emotional toll and is a clear path to burnout. But there is hope! There are clear, tangible steps to creating some separation from your business. YOUR BUSINESS SHOULD SERVE YOU Rather than being an extension of your soul, your business is an entity you control to bring you financial stability doing a rewarding job you enjoy. Building a strong referral network can be key to improving client care. Knowing you can refer a client to a practitioner you trust can help you avoid feeling like all their healing or improvement is your responsibility. Having colleagues with varying skills and schedules you feel comfortable referring to will allow you to maintain your times and specialty boundaries. Using a separate personal email and not responding to business emails during your personal time is a great start. The same principle applies to your phone number. Have a personal number on your cell phone and use a service to have a different business phone number via an app like Google Voice or Sideline. These adjustments take time. You won't immediately experience a Zen-like state of perfect objectivity and serenity about client care. The process of creating new systems and putting new boundaries in place is always a little uncomfortable. It's worth the time and effort to keep your business sustainable. Creating separation can also increase the value of your business. When you start thinking of your business as its own entity, you can consider its value as an asset (much like you would view property or investments). If you start to think of your business as an asset you manage, you will focus on ways to make it more valuable. Your financial decisions will be more informed and objective. Organizing your client information and communications will have a little more meaning. Even bookkeeping serves a greater purpose (and is less tedious) when you think about your business as an asset. Most importantly, the purpose of this asset is to produce an income for you. This doesn't mean you should treat your business like a spreadsheet. A massage business can be simultaneously heart-centered, sustainable, and valuable. You will always inject warmth and personality into your business. But you own the business—it won't own you. And if you are ever ready to step away from massage, that business will be more valuable. With structure and systems in place, it's easier to hand off care of your clients to a handpicked successor who can buy the business from you. A business that serves you and your needs along with your clients is a true success. Michael Reynolds is a certified financial planner and business consultant who works with massage therapists and other wellness practitioners. You can find him at elevationfinancial.com. Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. She builds websites for massage therapists and bodyworkers at deepbreathdigital.com. L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 85