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muscle tension, help with digestion and sleep, and reduce anxiety." While having a background in a specific sport isn't critical, it can help you land a job, which underscores the importance of networking. NETWORK AND LEARN A common element in these therapists' stories is being in the right place at the right time, using a fortuitous networking connection to get a foot in the door of their desired career. In fact, networking can be the number-one factor in landing your dream job, even more than education and experience. Again, these connections don't have to come from being part of a team or playing a sport. Volunteering at community events, races, and other sporting events can be a great way to get involved in your local athletic community and get exposure for your practice by working on athletes—who will then spread the word about your work. "Be willing to volunteer," Pitts says. "Find a local event (running, cycling, soccer, etc.) where you can offer your services. A few hours volunteering can open the door to many possibilities. Be creative in how you wish to expand and connect with others." Hope concurs: "Start massaging at events in your area—charity walks, marathons, bike rides, mud runs, tournaments, etc. You don't have to work on professional athletes to call what you do sports massage; you just need to work on active people." Voyles got her position doing massage for professional cyclists through someone she'd known from high school. "He was climbing the ranks in professional 78 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k n o v e m b e r / d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 (Top) Therapist Kim Hope volunteers her time to provide massage to a client at the annual Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb. (Bottom) Hope at Memorial Stadium in Seattle following a Seattle Reign professional women's soccer game.