Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68185
HOW TO MAINTAIN AN ENERGIZED PRACTICE When Times are Slow Here is some real-world advice from massage therapists. • Do not take a slow business cycle personally. • It takes three to fi ve years to build a successful practice. If you can start your practice gradually and have another source of income at the same time, do it. This strategy will ease some of the fi nancial stress. • Networking with other massage therapists to discuss slow times may help you feel understood and supported. • Remain focused on the clients you see and be thankful for their patronage. • Remember that the nature of the work in massage therapy is cyclical. • Take the time to get a massage for yourself. • Use the time to catch up on any paperwork or other business matters that have accumulated. also like to take a more philosophical approach and recite the following: "Everything is as it should be and those people who can benefi t from my massage therapy services will come to me. I have done all I can do to make my presence known, and trust that the right clients will appear in my life at the right time." While simply reciting an • volunteer your massage services at various locations in your community. You will feel in control of your work and have an opportunity to help others. • When business is slow, be thankful for the time you have with your family. • You may fi nd that whenever you have a lull in business, you will have a lot happen in your personal life, and vice versa. Learn to appreciate and anticipate these cycles. immediately fi lled upon graduation, they can be deeply disappointed. Common convention holds that building a steady business (assuming you are self-employed) with regular clientele and income can take three to fi ve years. In my case, it took me about three years to build a practice with enough clients to meet my fi nancial needs and comfort level. Of course, there are variations of comfort level and some therapists may build a steady practice in less time, while others take longer. Three to fi ve years, however, seems to be a conservative and realistic guideline. RECOGNIZE CYCLES Aside from the economic infl uences therapists feel today, massage schedules tend to go through various cycles during the year. If you don't expect these fl uctuations, you may be frequently discouraged during your fi rst years as a massage therapist. It may take you a full year of work to recognize these cycles, develop your practice, and adjust your expectations. One therapist said that in her region, the summer season is slow because many people are out of their normal routine (e.g., on vacation) and do not maintain their regular massage schedule. However, once autumn arrives, her clients have a more structured schedule and resume their massage appointments. Another therapist told me that winter is a slow time for him. The weather in his area is prone to snow and ice, which causes many people to not want to venture out unless absolutely necessary. Once the weather begins to warm up, though, his clients begin to call again. Still another therapist said her business hits a lull during the post- holiday season when many people are catching up on their fi nances. After a few months, her clients also resume a more regular massage schedule. There are numerous reasons for the lulls in business experienced by massage therapists. These can include the seasonal client schedules, weather, and economic factors. Once you have been in practice for a year or two, you will be able to better observe which seasons are peak and which are soft. TRUST IN YOURSELF A simple affi rmation has helped me during business lulls and periods of self-doubt. Beyond my normal business- building strategies, such as updating my promotional literature, sending out a mailing and discount coupon to my clients, and creating newsletters, I affi rmation without taking any action is not a surefi re solution to handling slow business cycles, saying positive words can place you into a mind-set that can foster an environment to create and implement business-growing strategies. If you fi nd yourself becoming frustrated after trying your best to promote your business, attempt to return to a state of thankfulness and appreciation for the clients you do see, keeping in mind their greatest good at all times. This, coupled with positive, uplifting thoughts and obtaining support from your colleagues, will help you maintain your practice and boost your confi dence during variations in your schedule. Although working as a massage therapist can be challenging, I hope you fi nd that the rewards greatly outweigh the obstacles. My greatest wish for you is a career fi lled with interesting clients, supportive colleagues, and the knowledge that in whatever capacity you choose to work, you have played a signifi cant role in enhancing the quality of life for countless people. May you have a lifetime and career of longevity, creativity, and vitality! Ethics in Practice: A Handbook for Modern Massage Therapists (DayOne Publishing, 2009), is excited about the evolution of the massage therapy profession. She can be reached at leeannpicciuto@yahoo.com. Lee Picciuto, LMT, NCTMB, author of connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 61