Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1522032
84 m a s s a g e & b o d y wo r k j u l y/a u g u s t 2 0 24 Are you familiar with the bad-day phenomenon? For me, it's when something awful happens and the dominoes keep falling until there's coffee all over my computer, I've stubbed a toe, and my keys are locked behind a door. The bad day is a first cousin to an unprepared day. That is, days when I run out of paper towels, a client has a new issue and I can't find my pathology book, and my credit card swipe device is hiding. It's not the individual mishaps that are the problem, it's our lack of readiness to handle them. Sure, we can always improvise—dash out for paper towels, do an internet search for unfamiliar conditions, or manually process credit card transactions. But deep down, we know we could have done better. We could have been more organized, more proactive in anticipating these eventualities. I will kick myself for procrastinating errands, never putting books back where they belong, and storing 47 receipts and an emergency fork in my desk drawer along with my credit card swipe device. THE SPECTRUM OF UNPREPAREDNESS On a big scale, lack of preparation can demolish your business. If your office gets burgled tonight, do you have property insurance—and enough of it—to replace what is taken? Natural disasters pose the same threat to our livelihood as do health issues and injuries that prevent you from working. This extends well past tangible matters like paper towels. Sometimes, I'm emotionally unprepared. I'll have to summon my waning patience for a client who demands a lot of attention. Sure, I can get a warmer pillow. Sure, I'll smile and murmur "mm-hmm" while they talk about their daughter's terrible new boyfriend for 60 minutes. Occasionally, I'm not positive enough to handle a slow week (or month) that damages my confidence. Are all my clients leaving me? Is everyone out of Essential Skills | Pressure Points of Business Overcoming the Unexpected Handling Bad and Unprepared Days in Business By Allissa Haines KEY POINT • Take the time to get organized and be proactive so you don't get caught without your supplies, your session preparation, or, worse, a book of clients.