Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/70551
BENEFITS OF A BLENDED CAREER / / To Slash or Not to Slash? Ask Yourself These Questions What do I wish I could spend more time doing? What interests have I put on the back burner? What do I have to offer that I am not currently offering my clients? How could I increase my impact? What else do my clients want from me? How could I be more authentically "me"? How much risk am I comfortable taking? What will I scale back or give up to allow a new slash to flourish? Do I need formal training for this role? How will this new slash fit with my current career? 68 massage & bodywork july/august 2012 identity if combining unrelated slashes makes them feel frazzled or unfocused. Self-awareness is critical. An optimal combination meets your needs for adventure, authenticity, and stability. MAKING THE TRANSITION It takes time to find your footing when you add a new slash. Consider whether you'll need to shift time and attention away from one slash to give another one room to grow. "You don't have to sustain the same work tempo or schedule forever," says Philadelphia-area small business coach Karyn Greenstreet. Successful slashers frequently adjust the balance between their roles. Too much flexibility can undermine your effectiveness. "Setting aside clear, consistent blocks of time for each role can be helpful," Hunter says. Clients want (and deserve) your full attention during their sessions, and you will benefit from having separate physical and mental space for different slashes. Boundaries minimize distractions and prevent you from becoming burned out. As you expand your professional identity, be mindful of concerns your current employer or clients might have about your availability, commitment, and loyalty. There can be a lot of pressure associated with trying to be all things to all people at the same time, and that kind of stress can decrease performance across the board. Proactively address potential conflicts of interest. Your current boss may fear you'll poach clients when you start your own business. Customers may need reassurance that you won't misuse their personal information or aggressively market your other products or services during massage sessions. Reassure both of them by reinforcing your commitment to service, professionalism, and boundaries. PUTTING IT OUT THERE Deciding what to tell others about your hybrid career can be tricky. You don't want to seem flighty or unfocused, but it's not wise to force a link between