Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/790815
C h e c k o u t A B M P 's l a t e s t n e w s a n d b l o g p o s t s . Av a i l a b l e a t w w w. a b m p . c o m . 25 KRISTIN'S FAVORITE QUOTES I'm going to piggyback on Les's inspiration and share a few music lyrics and pop culture quotes I think have (probably unintended) meanings that apply to how we market and manage our practices. Inspiration and guidance can come from anywhere. Here's proof! "RELUCTANTLY CROUCHED AT THE STARTING LINE." This lyric from the band Cake's song "The Distance" always reminds me of how it can feel when you're on the precipice of starting something new. A little bit excited, a little hesitant. OK, maybe a lot hesitant. Find ways to push through the nervousness and just keep moving forward, one small step—or in the song's case, lap—at a time. Try visualizing how the end result will look and feel or create a support group with colleagues or friends to help each other achieve some exciting new goals. "STRIKE THAT. REVERSE IT." Heed the extraordinary Willy Wonka's wisdom and remember that you can, at any time, reverse course in your professional career. Schedule times throughout the year to check in and evaluate what's working and what's not and alter your plan and direction as needed. Take a continuing education course in a new modality or technique, or open yourself up to working with new and different populations. Just be sure to steer clear of that oh-so-tempting chocolate stream. "I CARRIED A WATERMELON." Let Baby's totally cringe-worthy statement be a cautionary tale and avoid your own Dirty Dancing awkward watermelon moment. Plan how you're going to talk about your business to people in advance. Think of the adjectives you want to use to describe the benefits of your work and rehearse enough so you're confident, but not so much that you're no longer natural. Fruit-carrying is optional. "ICE, ICE BABY." Who knew Vanilla Ice's one-hit-wonder was really a self-care anthem for massage therapists? Let Robert Van Winkle's wise words be a reminder to build time into your schedule to take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Maybe add dancing to early '90s hits to your self-care routine? "BIG MISTAKE. BIG. HUGE." What's the most significant business lesson from the movie Pretty Woman? Treat all your customers with respect or they'll end up going to your competitor and spending a lot of money. (And quite possibly have a starring role in a shopping montage.) The takeaway here is to not let yourself get too comfortable with what you're doing with respect to customer service. Review the small details of your client experience and observe what other businesses do with an eye to how you can improve. Just be sure to stay on top of— and raise—your customer service game. "RABBIT, RABBIT." A friend introduced me to the superstition that saying "rabbit, rabbit" as the first words you utter on the first day of the month will bring you luck and good fortune for that month. So I say it as often as I remember to on those days. I throw them in every once in a while on other days, too. Why not? I like the idea of doing something to bring good luck into my life and practice. The first of each month is also a great time to set intentions for your practice for the upcoming month. Take a few minutes to check in on the status of your previous goals and set new ones. It feels pretty fantastic to start the month excited about the possibility of growth and prosperity. Les Sweeney, BCTMB, is ABMP's president. Contact him at les@abmp.com and read his occasional blog posts on www.abmp.com. Kristin Coverly, kristin@abmp.com, is the manager of professional education at ABMP and creates resources and teaches workshops for therapists across the country. Both are massage therapists with business degrees who care about you and your practice. Even Willy Wonka had sage advice. http:// lecinemadreams.blogspot.com/2014/09/ willy-wonka-chocolate-factory-1971.html BUSINESS SIDE