Career Specialization

What do you want out of your massage career?

I think this is an important question we rarely take the time to ask ourselves.

When we are in school, we have some idea why enrolled, but over time the intention blurs and we lose sight of our dreams and aspirations. I believe it is important to reach into our past to reconnect with why we chose a career in massage therapy. Participating in this exercise can serve as an invaluable tool to rekindle our passion and purpose and to fight back against the flames of burnout.

I went to massage school because it was something I always wanted to do. For many years I refrained from enrolling in massage school because people who loved me convinced me it would be a poor decision. They would say “Massage therapy isn’t for men.” Or something as simple as “You will fail if you do this.” Eventually I overcame the discouragement and became my own man. I did what I wanted to do and made a career out of it.

Knowing we want to do something isn’t the same as why. When we tap into the why it can guide us to a powder keg of passion.     

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a chiropractor, but I was too young to know what that profession was. What I really wanted to do was help people with my hands. Ask anyone who knows me, and they will say that I am not a builder/fixer type. Mechanical objects aren’t really something I am crafty with, but when it comes to massaging someone, I excel.

So, why did I become a massage therapist?

When was a child I was inspired and cultivated to explore my massage skills. I massaged my mother’s feet, back, and head as she laid on the couch resting. She was a hard-working woman. She was a nurse’s aide at a senior living facility and worked long, enduring, and late hours. If anyone needed a massage it was that wonderful woman. She and I did a lot of trades back then, and as I reflect on it; those trades were incredibly valuable in the development of my quality of touch.

I became a massage therapist because I was meant to. I love helping people and performing massage. My mother passed away some years ago, but sometimes I wish I could give her a massage just to show her how far I have come since rubbing her feet as a child.

Trades

In the massage world massage trades are rare. I think the reason is because many of us are either too busy, our ego gets in the way of believing the trade is fair, or we would rather just pay for it. I believe trades can serve as an invaluable asset for all massage therapists, especially when both parties are capable of open communication. I believe the best way to develop personally and professionally is to give and receive. Sometimes creating ideas in a vacuum can be incredibly difficult, when our ink well runs dry, we need to tap some ambient inspiration and drink from the wellspring of creativity.

Trading massages with another professional is akin to listening to music while writing, or drawing. It infuses us with the passion and purpose of another person’s hard work. With that power it can propel us to achieve accomplishments that otherwise may have been inaccessible.

My Career Specialization

Throughout my career I have spoken to numerous massage therapists. I love asking them what their specialization is. Many stare back blankly as though I had just asked a complex math question. Many have never pondered the question. Other times they say they don’t have a specialty because they are good at everything. When people say this, it is a good indication they are a generalist.

There is nothing wrong with being a generalist, it is great for a huge portion of the population who just want a massage.

Why should we have a Career Specialization?

I believe it is wise for a massage therapist to take some time to explore what it is they want to be doing with their career. Who do you want to help and how do you want do it? My specialization found me, apparently, I am good at neck, head, and upper back massages. I have also found many pregnant women enjoy my prenatal massage, and older populations love my approach as well.

When thinking about what you want out of your massage career, observe who is drawn to you. Sometimes the universe gives us what we are meant to have, rather than what we want. Look for the signs in life and your true road will be revealed.

If you pick your path at Jennifer Brand we will help you walk it.

I believe excellence should be cultivated. Therefore, I invest in my team. Sometimes it is challenging to pick a new road, like many things in life we are waiting for permission to embark on a new feeling or direction. Jennifer Brand wants to help people who want to slice out their out piece of the pie, so when you are ready to make a career out of massage, we are here for you.

How has this manifested in practice?

One of my amazing massage therapists Roxanne Fischer told me she wanted more out of her career. She was working hard performing Deep Tissue massage and wanted more. Rather than simply ask for a raise she showed me her value. She took her career to the next level and cultivated an incredible following. As a result, she created a new modality. At Jennifer Brand we reward those who are willing to trailblaze and create. So, I rewarded her for it.

Another one of my employees Brittany Baumer wanted to expand her client base and perform services that were more impactful. She wanted to learn lymphatic drainage, and so she went to school, paid and learned the skills necessary to practice it. I rewarded her for the effort as well.

I believe hardworking, passionate, and dedicated souls need to be rewarded. The best way to reward this spectacular kind of person is by helping them facilitate a fantastic career. If you want to have the things in life important to you, have patience, explore your creativity, and build your career into exactly what you want it to be. If you are on the Jennifer Brand team, I will help you make it a reality.