The Alone Factor: Network with other massage therapists

The Alone Factor: Your chance to reach out to other massage therapists & bodyworkers

Posted in October 26th, 2010

I did an entry a while ago about four excuses I hear every day from massage therapists. These common excuses are merely stumbling blocks. They can be easily cleared up with confidence-building and practice.

That entry motivated Fran, a long-time reader, to make a great observation. She brought up the Alone Factor. Fran made the point that “being alone in this business I think somehow plays into becoming weak-willed.” While “weak-willed” isn’t a phrase I would apply to Fran, I totally get what she’s saying.

“By St Loy!” I thought to myself, “I need to address the Alone Factor.”

And I do.

But as I sat down to write about Conquering the Alone Factor, I realized I have absolutely no relevant personal experiences to offer you. (Though I have tons of irrelevant ones …)

This is what I do know:

There is strength in numbers. Meeting with and exchanging ideas with other bodyworkers/healers will make everyone more confident in their Work.
Hanging out with other bodyworkers is good for you and your practice. You walk away feeling more supported and more … real, I guess. You feel like you do exist.
You know more about what is really going on. Maybe it isn’t just you, maybe there is a huge spike of people expecting bigger discounts and/or free services. How are other therapists dealing with these requests? How does it make them feel? You, too? Oh, good; it’s not just me.

You just never know what opportunities could come out of it. Maybe you could bolster your income by working at another’s place one day a week. Maybe you discuss one of your success with [post-ACL surgery recovery] clients and other therapists start suggesting you to their ACL clients. Stuff like that.

So you tell me — tell all of us — what you do to Conquer the Alone Factor.

Are there any online forums that support you? Do the local AMTA meetings help you? Do five of you gather at a local coffee shop every other Wednesday? Daily mantras?

Or are you wallowing in a sea of aloneness? What do you feel you need to feel supported?

Share. There are readers who need some inspiration out here.

All my best,
Eileen

5 users commented in " The Alone Factor: Your chance to reach out to other massage therapists & bodyworkers "

Max said,

in October 27th, 2010 at 10:34 am

Very good points indeed! That is why I am in the process of trying to bring together all of the reiki practitioners in my area right now – there is strength in numbers, for sure!!

Diana M said,

in October 27th, 2010 at 12:16 pm

When I was a massage therapist, my local AMTA chapter was a big support. Even when I wasn’t a member, I would attend just to see what everybody was talking about or to ask a question about working with a client or about some aspect of the business. It was well worth my time.

Eileen said,

in October 27th, 2010 at 12:52 pm

Good for you, Max! There are so many things that are unique to a Reiki (or craniosacral, or TMJ, or, or, or … ) practice that need to be discussed and considered. Things that just don’t come up at the Downtown Business Association meetings.

I don’t know what you’re doing to organize this but if I could make a suggestion? You get more people attending more often if your group has one or two yearly projects AND some sort of “guest speaker” every two weeks or month. I speak as an organizer of lavender farmers. Let me know if you’d like more details.

Eileen said,

in October 27th, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Thanks, Diana —

I’m glad to know you had a place to get your questions answered and to learn new stuff.

dunstonf said,

in October 30th, 2010 at 4:30 pm

Total awesomeness guys! Eileen your post is very timely in response for me. I gotta tell you I think since I wrote on this subject, I did a lot of soul searching.

Taking a little from the Boot Camp articles and really being honest with myself; I came to some basic conclusions…I have not valued ME!

For over 6 years I have poured ever thing into my practice to get it up and going. Not a bad thing but I realized that while doing so I developed some bad habits. Some around me made sure that got their needs met. This was the form of haggling for discounts, THE expected free work for the BIG REFERRAL PAY OFF! And just being a drain. CUT IT SHORT I said to myself.

So I decided to pull back my energy and start filling in the big hole I left myself. This for me meant some spiritual counsel and building. Not heeby-geeby stuff guys. The result? I have become more careful about who I share my space with. I am more selective about who becomes and stays my client.

The interesting thing that I have realized is that I look up to those in private practice that said NO I don’t do this and that but I CAN DO this and that. Not so much those in business that where so flexible. Somehow I view those people as not solid in some way.

Very interesting.