Game Change Your Biz

Today's topic is Protecting Your Business and Your Future. This topic will extend over several weeks as we break it apart and address all sides of the issue. You know that the safety of you and your business affects your family and your livelihood. You never know what will come up, so it's vitally important to prepare and plan ahead. Let's talk about it!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Are you prepared for a fire, storm, or theft?
• Do you have the right insurance coverage? Here are some things to think about:
• • Have a business policy in place
  • Make sure you have proper coverage for equipment, supplies, and furniture
  • Check your declaration page for deductible information
  • Have the right policy depending on whether you own or rent your office space
  • Inventory your insurable assets—Document everything with pictures, serial and model numbers, and receipts
• If you don't have receipts for purchases, use bank statements for proof
• Update your inventory each year
• Store your inventory information at your business and at home. Consider a safety deposit box also
• In an emergency evacuation scenario, take methodical pictures of each wall and area of your business
• If you suffer a loss:
• • Take photos of the business premises and the damage
  • Report your claim to the insurance carrier
  • In case of theft, file a police report

Remember to be patient through the processes and have your documents in order beforehand. The goal is to get your business up and running again ASAP!

Today's topic is How to Delight your Client. This should be the ultimate goal for massage therapists, and we must remember that it is just as important to please our existing clients as it is to acquire new clients. View each massage as an area of opportunity to give the client a wonderful experience. This will make the client much more likely to leave a Google or Yelp review for your business and become a regular client. Yes, some of my tips are "common sense," but it never hurts to review the basics. Remember, it is usually the small things done on a consistent basis that make the biggest difference for your clients!

Basic Tips for Delighting your Client:

• Look at your practice through your first-time client's eyes
• Ask the basic questions to engage the client immediately upon meeting them. Ask about their needs for water, restroom, their medical issues, their pressure preferences, their room temperature comfort, and what brought them in for a massage.
• Keep the conversation centered around the client's needs
• Be responsive to the client's requests
• Let them know what to expect during the massage and after the massage
• Set up a treatment plan for getting their body back on track
• Explain to them where to place personal belongings and remind them to turn off their cell phone!
• Ask about prior massages
• Get client feedback, follow up with a survey, and direct them toward leaving a review

Remember that you are trying to create a wonderful experience for your client so they will feel comfortable returning to you for future massages. Don't be afraid to ask for that next appointment! Of course, these small practices can be another BIG step in game-changing your business!

Welcome to today's show with Theresa Sonneville and The Compression Closet. Theresa is in the Chicago area, but offers her expertise in compression garments to therapists and their patients worldwide via her website. The compression garments are specifically for lymphedema patients and they solve the problem of finding good quality compression garments. Theresa is certified by the garment manufacturers in fitting both over-the-counter and custom garments. Her website is geared toward therapists who want to help their patients find the right garment and the right fit.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why there needs to be much more education about lymphedema in the medical profession
• How Theresa "fell into" the field, working with the misdiagnosed and misunderstood
• The Compression Closet and what their simplified process offers:
• • Sizing tips
  • 5-digit SKU numbers
  • Convenient drop-shipping
  • 30-day return policy
• Theresa's entrepreneurial journey and how fear held her back
• "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."
• The "Aha" moment: "When I realized I didn't have to be an extrovert to be a successful entrepreneur"
• Advice about becoming a garment fitter:
• • Take advantage of manufacturer classes
  • Ask for help from the sales reps
• How Theresa promotes her business by meeting other therapists and fitters at manufacturer classes, shows, and events
• How social media, especially LinkedIn and Facebook, have helped Theresa's business
• The best advice Theresa ever received? "Learn how to prioritize time and stick to a schedule
• The "Eat My Frog" mantra
• A favorite book? The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
• How web designer Seth Barthen from Dandy Cat helped Theresa's business

Resources:

www.thecompressioncloset.com

Call or email Theresa: 815-342-0370 and [email protected]

Eat My Frog by Brian Tracy

The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

http://dcdesigns.io

Today's show is a visit with Cynthia Vance at Rejuvenation Body Spa in Virginia Beach, VA. She has been in business since 2015, offering a wide range of spa treatments at budget-friendly rates. Services include therapeutic and relaxing massage, including reflexology, along with beauty services like waxing, body scrubs, and weight loss. Her goal is to make you relaxed and gorgeous! Let's chat with Cynthia!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Cynthia's inspiration to be a massage therapist and aesthetician: to help people
• Why she wanted to open her own spa
• Why Cynthia had to build up her courage to overcome fear and open the spa
• What it takes to run successful spa: patience, time, and dedication
• Cynthia's "Aha" moment: when the business was set up, fully scheduled, and flourishing
• Her advice to others: "You have to have your whole heart into it."
• How Cynthia promotes her business with social media, local events, and teaming up with a local chiropractor
• The best advice she ever received? "If you fail, pick yourself up and try again. Don't stop."
• Upcoming for Cynthia: Kids Bash on August 26
• Other services offered at Rejuvenation: hot stones, aromatherapy, body wraps, and infrared sauna bed treatments
• Contact Cynthia to learn more: www.rejuvenationbodyspa.com or call 757-560-4999

Today we're talking about Fueling your Mind and Body through Eating Healthy. Keeping up with the demands of a busy practice will put you "on the run" each day. It's important to not neglect your personal health and self-care. We often preach self-care to our clients, but aren't always as diligent for ourselves. Therapists need self-care, too! Let's chat about how simple strategic planning can help you fuel your mind AND body.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Tips for taking care of YOU:
• • Stay hydrated with water
  • Limit coffee, tea, and other drinks
  • Eat a good breakfast—it really is the MOST important meal of the day!
  • Take time for healthy morning and afternoon snacks, like veggies and hummus, fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, etc.
  • Work in a lunch break to relax and refuel—Combine a basic protein with carbs, fresh fruits or veggies, nuts, and seeds)
• The bottom line is that you must take good care of yourself in order to take good care of your clients!

Today's topic is about Learning to Stand Out from the Crowd. How you do this depends somewhat on your location, as to whether you are the only massage therapist in your community or whether you compete with hundreds of others for your clients. Remember that your future is in YOUR hands, and you can build a financially and emotionally rewarding practice, so don't undervalue your abilities. Take charge!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Answer these questions:
• • What is your passion around your practice?
  • What roadblocks are hindering your dreams?
  • What steps are you taking to empower yourself?
• Key points to make your practice STAND OUT:
• • Have specific long-term goals
  • Keep everything in balance between your practice and your dream
  • Have online scheduling available
  • Post office hours and services offered on your website
  • Take stock of your strengths and weaknesses
  • Take the time to expand your skills
  • Build open communication skills with your clients
  • Have intake forms available online and in the office
  • Be excellent at your work and master your craft
  • Don't limit yourself!

Keep an open and positive mindset and seize ALL opportunities. Take these tips into consideration to truly make your practice STAND OUT from the crowd and game change your business!

Today's show features a conversation with Maureen Moore at Thrive Proactive Health, as we discuss How to have a Thriving Business. Maureen is a passionate holistic health advocate in Virginia Beach, VA, specializing in massage and various manual therapies. She has logged over 15 years' experience in the health and wellness field. Join me for more with Maureen!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• The inspiration to start Thrive: wanting to empower people to be proactive about their health instead of reactive
• How Maureen was inspired to become an entrepreneur by a family-owned coffee shop
• Why Maureen wants to leave a mark on the world through her work
• The biggest challenges in entrepreneurship: becoming business-savvy and explaining their unique niche to people
• The biggest support, from her husband, family, friends, and her business partner, Julie
• The "AHA" moment when she knew Thrive would be successful
• For massage therapists and physical therapists who want to own their own businesses, Julie says, "Know your WHY, your mission, and your purpose."
• Julie's time management tips and a typical business day at Thrive—which begins before 5 am!
• How Maureen uses social media to promote her business
• The best advice she ever received? "To be disciplined and consistent."
• Books that Maureen recommends: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and The Morning Miracle by Hal Elrod
• Upcoming events for Thrive on August 5 and 12

Resources:

www.thrivevb.com

Find ThriveVB on Facebook to keep up with news and events!

Today we are discussing why you should attend conferences as a massage therapist. No one likes to have to close their business for a few days, plan travel, and incur extra costs. The flip side is that the benefits to these conferences go far deeper than their monetary value. Let's talk about why you should make plans now to attend an upcoming conference.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Three main reasons to attend professional conferences:
• • To grow and develop as a massage professional
  • To build your network by meeting new colleagues in your industry
  • To fulfill continuing education hours required for recertification
• Other benefits to consider about attending professional conferences:
• • It's an opportunity to build your professional community
  • Participating in online training is no substitute for attending a conference
  • You will get fresh ideas on ways to improve your practice
  • You will learn about current research, techniques, and regulations
  • Attending a conference can help prevent burnout
  • Your clients like to know you are up-to-date with expert knowledge and current trends in the industry
  • You will build a community of therapists who can help and support you

Taking the time to attend conferences shows that you take your profession seriously and want to grow, learn, and improve. What you learn at a conference gives a reality check about where our industry is heading in the future and ensures that you will NOT be left behind. You know it's just another piece to game-changing your business!

Today we are discussing Earning Passive Income, something that can be very helpful to entrepreneurs in any field. If you don't have passive income, then you are in the trap of always trading your hours for dollars. There IS a better way! Let's jump right in!

• What is passive income?
• • Also known as "residual income"—do the work once and keep getting paid
  • Receive income even when you aren't working
• Three ways to successfully create passive income:
• • Product sales
  • • Very common but often overlooked
    • Instead of "selling," make a suggestion about a product that you sell
  • Affiliate marketing
  • • Easy for entrepreneurs to do (mostly online)
    • Can work with other health and wellness entrepreneurs
  • Sessions with other therapists
  • • Allow independent contractors to use your office space to work with your clients
    • Make sure the fee split is pre-arranged in order to cover your overhead and bring a small profit

These suggestions are ways for you to practice and improve your negotiating skills AND grow your business. The most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind to all opportunities and possibilities. It's another piece to game-changing YOUR business!

We're talking today about How to Become the Social Media Mogul. Social media can be a great tool for building and growing your business, but some entrepreneurs may find it overwhelming. Join me now and let's talk about utilizing this tool to take your business to the next level.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Steps in Becoming the Social Media Mogul:
• • Determine your social media goal
  • Become the wellness guru (or the guru in your specialty)
  • Become THE authority on the subject matter
  • Become visual—Get in front of the camera!
  • Take photos at events and post them to social media
• Tips to Grow your Business through Digital Marketing:
• • Do a promotion and offer a discounted specific service—but have a clear end date
  • Do a holiday promotion with specific discounts for THAT day
  • Do a referral promo to your clients via text message and social media
  • Offer periodic informational value via social media
  • Offer transactional promos about upcoming appointments
  • Send a text blast about availabilities during weekly slow times
  • Build your list of clients through offline options

I hope these tips are helpful to you in expanding your business and your social media presence. There you have it—another piece to game changing your business!