Ben and Nate, both male massage therapists, discussed their experiences entering the profession. They both faced skepticism and disbelief from their families and friends, but persevered. Ben decided to become a massage therapist after reading a book about successful people making quick decisions, and he recognized he would have to work harder and present himself differently to be taken seriously. Nate, who had a background in music, found the academic aspects of massage therapy challenging but decided to work harder to succeed. They both noted that massage therapy has evolved and is now more widely accepted as an alternative to drugs and surgery.