So you’re a new massage therapist? Me too. And I just love listening to people sigh and whine about how the quality of massage therapy grads has certainly has gone down since THEY graduated, ever-so-long ago.
NOT.
"I assure you I am a professional! Please take me seriously!"
First of all, people like that are insecure, and see you as a threat to their success. But even if you’re not sure you believe that, don’t listen to their condescension for one minute. There are some real advantages to being new! Here are nine reasons why being the new kid in the massage profession is AWESOME:
- What you learned in school was more up-to-date than it was for people who’ve been practicing forever.
- You’re not weighed down with lots of physical “stuff” in your practice, so you can choose your gear carefully.
- The massage therapists go out of their way to be helpful to you are the nicest ones, not seeking personal gain.
- Every job is a huge growth opportunity, so even crappy employment can be exciting.
- People aren’t quite as likely to pester you to for medical opinions you’re unqualified to give.
- You haven’t settled into a routine yet, so it takes less effort to try new things.
- You’re still close to your contacts from your former line of work, which is great for finding new clients.
- Everybody loves an underdog.
- New therapists are forced to be creative and resourceful in order to succeed. In the end, it’s these qualities that will make your practice really shine, and not relying on “X years as a massage therapist” as though the years themselves somehow had intrinsic value. So be proud, newbie! Get out there and make the world see you for the getting-better-every-day massage therapist you are!
photo credit: xopherlance via photo pin cc
