“If I Could Start Over” by Allissa Haines
Guest post by Allissa Haines of Writing a Blue Streak
If I were to begin my massage career over today knowing what I know now I would change these 3 things from the way I did it the first time…
1. I would find and create my community of like-minded massage therapists sooner. It took me a few years to get active in my professional organization and seek out friendships with my local colleagues. Running my business became much more enjoyable (and prosperous!) once I found my friends!
2. I would recognize the value of high quality massage lubricants, not just for my clients’ well being, but for mine. If it’s the cheapest product on the shelf, I probably don’t want to be soaking my hands in it for 5-6 hours a day. Once I learned about the ingredients, my whole mindset changed.
3. From the very first day I start my business or begin my employment, I would automatically put 10% of my gross away for savings and retirement. I did this in my previous career, I don’t know why I neglected it when I became a massage therapist. When I finally corrected my error, it was a tough budget transition.
Allissa Haines is massage therapist and business owner. After 7 years as a peon in retail pharmacy, she went to massage school, graduated in 2005 and started a small, general practice.
She is BORED, BORED, BORED with 80% of the material out there for massage therapists. She finds it dry and humorless and overly-professional to the point of being impersonal. She writes a blog at Writing a Blue Streak, a forum for discussion and a resource for other massage therapists.
Related Posts
If I Could Start Over
| Print article | This entry was posted by creatingaprosperouspractice on September 4, 2011 at 3:00 pm, and is filed under Business Practices. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |









about 1 year ago
Those are great! I need to save more!
about 1 year ago
Bonus tip #4: If you’re a forgetful person in the morning, ALWAYS keep an extra stick of deodorant/anti-perspirant at the office.
about 1 year ago
Great tips! Amen to number 4 – it made me giggle. I think everyone comes to that conclusion one smelly massage too late…but with your help Allissa we can bring this important issue to people’s attention and raise awareness! (Who’s going to the Wog-a-thon with me…anyone?…anyone? I brought an extra stick with me! lol)
Teensy tip #5: If you work outcall – always keep a little hotel soap bar with you. Tuck it into your pocket or holster before the appt so that you don’t have to dig it out of your bag. Many times when working in people’s homes you will wash your hands in the guest bathroom which they never actually use themselves. A lot of the time they don’t realize when the soap runs out in there.
about 1 year ago
Optimistic views enhance eagerness to serve with customers and vision that individual can appreciate quality services and modernized gadgets and convenient place where you can find peace.
Cynthia recently posted..how to get rid of stretch marks