Game Change Your Biz

Are you a positive person? You probably know that a positive mindset is important, but why? How can it help me as a business owner? We're breaking down this subject today as we discuss ways to practice positivity.

As business owners and busy entrepreneurs, we tend to overlook the importance of positivity, because we get caught up in the challenges around us---and the challenges can be many! Without positivity, we can't think outside the box and can't accomplish our goals. Let's talk about why positivity is important for you AND your business.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Much research exists about the power of positivity and the benefits to every area of our lives
• Positive thinking helps us become more productive, healthier, and happier
• Even though it's hard to practice optimism on a regular basis, it can build and strengthen us in many areas of life
• Tips to practice positivity:
  • Learn how to connect with other people
  • Practice visualization
  • Develop resiliency and become adaptable
  • Surround yourself with positive people
• Optimistic and positive people can find encouragement within themselves and inspire others
• The more positivity you GIVE, the more you will RECEIVE
• "When you discover WHO you really are, you can act with a certain amount of confidence."
• "Changing our thoughts helps us see the world in a different light."

Try these tips to incorporate more positivity into your life. They will give you a new perspective, a better outlook, and can be another piece to game-changing your business.

How would you define success? We know that we want it, but how do we get it? We answer these questions and more in today's episode.

We all have goals of success, both personally and professionally. We try to keep these parts of our lives separate, but they are more entwined than we may realize. Personal success can reinforce and support professional success, and vice versa. Let's chat about the secrets to success!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Personal and professional success contribute to our ultimate goal of happiness
• How do we achieve personal and professional success, and what does it take to get there?
• Four Secrets to Success:
  • Positive thoughts-Some call it mindset. Rhonda Byrne calls it "the law of attraction," and says "All you have to do is think your life into existence." We all know that sometimes positive thinking simply isn't enough.
  • Take action-Find out what you're good at and what people turn to you for. Think about your strengths and capabilities. Be at the right place at the right time and overcome struggles and obstacles.
  • Be persistent--Keep going until you reach success. Take control of the situation, stay in the game, find out what IS working, and steer away from harmful actions and behaviors.
  • Get your priorities straight--Use your resources wisely, stay focused, network, and don't become complacent.
• Use these secrets to rethink your goals and stay on the path to success. It's another piece to game-changing your business!

Resources Mentioned:

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams

As professionals in the health and wellness industry, we have a tendency to limit the amount of money we think we can make. For some reason, the idea of being perceived as materialistic caretakers has sapped away our ambition. The reality is that you need money to live and enjoy your life. This is where a savings plan will come in! You need to learn how to "pay yourself," rather than seeking after instant gratification. Success in your business does not make you a bad caregiver. We can model mindful money habits that will benefit our own wellness, as well as that of our clients!

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• The strange paradox around money we encounter as health and wellness caregivers.
• Why it is important to save.
• Why it is difficult to save.
• How I overcame my limiting beliefs about money.
• It is OK to have a successful business.
• You need diligence and ambition to grow your business.
• See a financial planner!

How important is your outcall business? Is it a priority or has it fallen by the wayside? This CAN be a booming business, but there are some guidelines to follow. In fact, I know several therapists who do nothing but mobile massages or straight outcalls, and they do very well with that. I started my business this way after I finished my schooling, but that was primarily because I didn't have the finances to operate a brick and mortar business or even rent office space. Let's talk about how to develop your outcall strategies for your business.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Remember that outcalls are easier when you're young and strong, but not sustainable as you get older
• The pros of an outcall business: no overhead expenses
• The cons of an outcall business: you have to carry your own table and supplies and take the time to set up and break down
• Tips for your outcall business:
  • Try to schedule several clients at one location, business, resort, conference, etc.
  • Keep your minimum hourly rate in mind so you don't lose money
  • Offer table and/or chair massages
  • Make sure you have enough room to work (ask ahead of time about the space available)
  • If your outcall business is on the side, then schedule it around your regular office hours and don't let it interfere
  • Ask questions upfront about set up and break down time and parking
  • Set rules and expectations ahead of time so that no one is surprised
  • Ask ahead of time about anyone with allergies
  • Travel as light as possible (I take my table, sheepskin, sheets, bolster, towel, oils and lotions, business cards, water, and a way to accept cards for payment
  • Set up an invoice ahead of time
  • Be professional and have a great attitude
  • Ask them about rebooking before you leave
  • Follow up with a thank you card, especially if you're dealing with a business or event
• Outcalls can be a great way to add to your practice or build your practice. Try some of these tips and see how they can work for you to game-change YOUR business!

"Many in the massage industry don't have long, successful careers." Have you heard this statement before? While it may be true of some, we know that some massage therapists DO have long careers, practicing for 10-15 years or more. So how do they do it? What makes the difference? Let's talk about some ways to put yourself on the winning side of this battle.

Strategies for a Long, Successful Career in Massage Therapy:

• It all comes down to self-care!
• • Take care of yourself first, so you can help others
  • Self-care isn't just about eating and resting well, but it's about surrounding yourself with those who support you
• Be grounded. Don't be overwhelmed with the emotional energy of others
• Be mindful of your posture, and take time after each client to rebalance yourself mentally and emotionally
• Keep a balanced workload. Do strength training for your core and your back.

Evaluate your practices and see where you need improvement to care for yourself and ensure a long, successful career in massage therapy. It's another piece to game-changing your business!

How is your current marketing strategy working for your business? Do you need a fresh approach? Today's show is about bridging the gap between "I don't have time to do this myself" and "I don't have the money to hire someone else." My guest says, "Let me SHOW you how!"

Reid Peterson, MA, CMT, is the founder and owner of Bodywork Business Pro. His company helps massage and bodywork practitioners increase their online presence and grow their clientele. Join us to learn how Reid's tips and advice may be just the thing to take your marketing strategy to the next level!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Reid's inspiration to become a massage therapist: At age 21, he went on a ski trip and got a massage that changed everything!
• His thriving massage therapy practice in Minnesota and why he wanted to do more
• Bodywork Business Pro: Reid's online marketing company where he can teach other practitioners what he's learned about business and marketing in the health and wellness field
• The trend in social media marketing and how Reid has tailored his courses to meet the need
• The benefits of video courses and tutorials to employ multiple senses
• The #1 thing that held Reid back: DOUBT
• How Reid fought to overcome the doubt that never really goes away by breaking things down into baby steps
• Reid's "Aha moment," when his first customer signed up for his course
• Reid's advice to others about becoming a massage therapist:
  • Have a trade partner to learn from and gain referrals from
  • Do your best to be your own boss
  • Start small with social media and create a three-month plan with action steps
  • Document your marketing steps with detailed notes
• How Reid uses YouTube videos and blog articles to promote his business
• The best advice he ever received: "Breathe and believe"
• A recommended book: Business Mastery by Cherie Sohnen-Moe

Resources:

Reid's website: www.bodyworkbusinesspro.com

Reid's email: [email protected]

Reid's YouTube channel: Bodywork Business Pro

Are you committed to your marketing strategy? Do you even have specific marketing strategies? Unfortunately, many massage therapists model their marketing after what they have seen others do, even if it doesn't work! Statistics show that 90% of massage therapists will leave the industry within the first five years. Doesn't that indicate that it's time to take a unique and fresh approach to our marketing practices?

I'm excited to have Tim Cooper joining me today. He's a remedial massage therapist, coach, author, podcaster, and educator. Prior to studying massage in 2003, he worked as a software design engineer and business analyst for over 20 years. In 2013, he completed his first marketing course and fell in love with the science of marketing and social psychology. Tim brings a unique blend of industry, technical, and business knowledge to his coaching clients and students around the world. His Global Wellness Professionals Marketing Summit is just a few days away, and you can learn all about it right here!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why Tim wanted to leave the IT world and started studying herbalism and natural therapies
• How he turned to massage and aromatherapy
• Tim's Wellness Business Breakthrough
• The big disconnect for healers between helping people and getting paid for it
• A big shock and a big failure: how Tim turned to marketing
• Walking away from one career to establish a thriving business in another
• Pushing forward and changing your mindset
• The biggest challenge in realizing that people may not use his herbal blends and comply
• The driving force behind the Global Wellness Professionals Marketing Summit: to help struggling therapists
• The reward in teaching others about marketing strategies
• Giving the wellness industry a shake-up in "building something strong"
• The Summit: 18 speakers on many different topics, beginning March 16, with a subscription offer for lifetime access to videos, audio, and transcripts
• Tim's advice to Game Change Nation: "Don't let anything or anyone stand in the way of where you want to be."

Resources:

Find out more about the summit on the Facebook page: GWP Marketing Summit

For your business, how much money is enough? How much is too much? Is there ever such a thing as "too much"? These questions are prompting today's episode and bringing awareness to the area of money. If we're honest, we must admit that money is on our minds all the time. Our mindset is usually "More is always better," but is that really true? Not having enough can certainly bring its own set of problems! The key is to find the happy medium that we need to live comfortably.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Consider what you want to have and experience in your life
• Put down on paper your bills and income
• Look at your day-to-day expenses and savings to identify what you need
• Break down your expenses into weekly and hourly needs
• Put some away for a "rainy day," emergencies, and retirement
• Don't forget taxes! Use IRS calculators to help you figure amounts
• When you first start your practice, you're "testing the waters" to see if your hourly rate is enough to meet your needs
• Along the way, you'll come up with things you want in your life and find ways to have them (For me, having a hot tub was a must!)
• Set aside a little extra as you can until you can afford those wants, needs, and "guilty pleasures"
• The bottom line is that we each must decide what is right for us regarding financial resources. We each want our business to be a profitable success, and managing money is another piece to game-changing your business.

Connecting with your client----are you good at it? If you can use a few tips on this issue, or maybe you need a fresh perspective, then this is the show for you!

As massage therapists, we know it's important to give an exceptional massage experience to every client, but it's the connection you make with them that will keep them coming back and secure your stake in their health and well-being. For example, my client base ranges from athletes and weekend warriors to those who need a medical massage, but they each want someone to think outside the box for them and their individual needs. Let's look at ways to connect with each client successfully.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• How I've expanded my client base with additional trainings and certifications
• How my clients typically find me through a directory
• When I have their contact information, I call them back, for these reasons:
  • To find out their specific issue(s)
  • To help them understand my sincere interest in their needs
  • To inform them of the commitment needed to see results—"If it took them 40 years to get these problems, then one session is not going to fix it."
• When they come into the office, I follow these steps:
  • Listen actively to what they say
  • Maintain eye contact to show my sincere interest
  • Put yourself in their shoes
  • Present yourself and your practice to them with confidence
  • Ask for feedback during and after the session about their pain level
  • Help them know they are more than "just a number" and that you are investing in their health and well-being
  • Follow up, ask them to rebook, and help them track their pain results
• Remember, creating a better environment for your client is key. When they understand that you are invested in them, they will rebook. Connecting with your client is another piece to game-changing your business!

"Do I need to raise my rates?" Have you asked yourself this question recently? If you've figured out that this is our topic for today's show, then you are probably already grimacing, but stick with me as we talk out this issue. This could be the show that brings more profitability to your business!

Maybe you know you should raise your rates, but you just don't know how to do it. Maybe you are afraid of how your clients will respond. I heard a motivational speaker recently who said that most of us who offer services are probably charging up to 30% less than what we should. Let's explore the topic together.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why don't we raise our rates?
  • Most often, we're too busy with appointments and forget to make adjustments based on inflation
• How do I handle raising my rates?
  • Let your clients know ahead of time
  • Encourage them to lock in lower rates with package deals
  • Change rates on brochures, website, and ALL materials
• Things I noticed when I raised my rates:
  • Clients didn't complain and thought the increase was reasonable
  • My mindset was blocking my good fortune
  • My certifications and training justify charging more than minimal rates
  • Clients can see the benefits of my services and are willing to pay
  • I could track the specific client who is seeking my skills and willing to pay the price
  • I had to learn to acknowledge my value and take credit for my abilities
• How do you know when it's time to raise your rates?
  • Know what your numbers are
  • Network with other professionals
  • Keep it simple and use email, social media, or your website to announce the changes

No one wants to sabotage their business and kill their profitability. Knowing when it's time to raise your rates (and doing it successfully) is another piece to game-changing your business.