Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/70551
Although the fi eld of massage therapy is expanding, most MTs don't work full time at the table. Instead, many create their own blended careers by combining several part-time pursuits, a strategy career counselors call sl ashing. A massage therapist who teaches at the local community college and writes science fi ction novels might describe herself as an MT/teacher/ author, separating her professional roles with slashes. An attorney who balances the tedious brainwork of contract law with hands-on sessions in the treatment room may describe himself as a lawyer/MT/marathon runner. A spa owner who practices reiki and offers nutrition counseling might call herself a healer/diet coach/entrepreneur. Interviews with slashers like these led Marci Alboher, a New York City- based coach/speaker/author of One Person/Multiple Careers (Business Plus, 2007), to believe "slashing is a way of life, not just a way of looking at work." Slashers choose to delve deeply into multiple areas—and they don't all have to be moneymakers. "Very often, rather than juggling multiple divergent occupations, slashers fi nd a way to layer or blend their interests into something that leverages their particular orientation in the world," Alboher says. The resulting combinations are as unique as the people who create them. THE BENEFITS OF SLASHING Even if massage therapy pays the bills and gives you a sense of purpose, expanding your professional identity may be smart. Adding a slash can re-energize your career and fuel continued personal growth. Because Celebrate ABMP's 25th anniversary and you may win a refund on your membership. ABMP.com. 65