I got to hear Sarah Vowell do a reading in Olympia this weekend. At the end she took questions. Somehow or other she got onto the topic of What it Takes to Be Successful.

In high school, Sarah really wanted to be a musician when she grew up. Her music teacher advised her to study people who were really good at what they did (musicians, bakers, cops, street sweepers) and to figure out what made these people great at their jobs. She says it was the best advice she ever got.

People who are great at their jobs are happy in what they do. Anyone can feel their joy or satisfaction. These people are also attractive. I don’t mean hair-and-makeup attractive. I mean they attract clientele who recognize their talent. I mean customers will wait in a longer lines to be served by them or will request them specifically or will prefer to do business on days they are in the office.

Here’s how I think this advice applies to you specifically: You are the one responsible for your success and happiness. All your questions and problems have already been asked or solved by someone out there. Open your eyes. Wedge open your imagination. You will uncover the solution.

All massage marketing “experts” (myself included) can give you are suggestions, examples and maybe some sort of outline for keeping your business organized and ticking along. We can’t guarantee success; that’s your baby.

So here’s my challenge for you: Take some time to look around your world. See who is doing a great job. Really think about what they are doing to be great. Is it attitude? organization? attention to detail? Can you see how their talent or approach can be adapted to your massage or bodywork practice?

Example? Sure.

One of my favorite drive-through coffee stands has a sign right by the window saying. “Take a sip before you drive off. We want to be sure your drink is just the way you like it.” Nice. Good idea. But they also went one step farther.

There is a sign at the order speaker box that reads, “Hang tight. We’re making sure your drink is perfect.” This tells me that any brief slow-down is probably due to customer care and it gives me license to be sure my drink is perfect when it’s my turn.

How can you apply this great idea to your practice? Put a sign on your front door, studio door or in your waiting room encouraging immediate feedback on your work. (I know you ask for this already but sometimes reading it makes people feel like they have a right to communicate their comfort level rather than feeling like they are “complaining to their host.”) You could hand out a three-five question survey (“On a scale from painful to perfect, pressure during my session was …”) which your clients could put in a “ballot box” to protect their anonymity.

Thoughts? Share!

All my best,
Eileen