Life Beyond The Massage Table: A Podcast for Health & Wellness Businesses

Financial planning can be a really tricky topic for anyone who is self-employed, including massage therapists. We want to have a good life, both now and in the future, but there are so many things to consider. There is a business to build, clients to see, and of course, a personal life to live! No one wants to be working all the time, even if there are times we need to. But just like we plan for things like graduation or a milestone birthday, we also need to plan for other big life changes like buying a house and retirement. So for this episode, I am sharing my perspective as a fellow business owner and former massage therapist. I know how tricky it can be when you're a solo business owner! This is the fourth and final episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

They say many massage therapists quit or burn out in 3-5 years. But that doesn't have to be you! If you want to stick around your massage therapy career for the long term, I've got some tips and tools you can use to help your body (and mind!) be in it for the long haul. This is the third episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

Massage therapists are passionate about their careers, but this can sometimes lead to working too much and not taking enough time for self-care. This can lead to burnout and feeling like we don't have a life outside of work. So in this episode, we are discussing: Using your Enough number (see last week's episode!) to set goals How growth for the sake of growth isn't worth your time (and will only lead to burnout) Setting boundaries as a business owner (to avoid, you guessed it, burnout) How you should think of yourself as more than just your job title The importance of working to live (having your career support your life, not run it!) This is the second episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

This next series of episodes is going to talk about realistic, achievable business strategies that, when all put together, allow you to keep working as a massage therapist for many years to come. Over this set of five episodes, we're going to talk about financial factors, business planning, setting boundaries within your business, tools, and technology you can use to make your life easier, and the importance of taking time for your own self-care. Today we are talking about setting business goals. We are discussing: What are business goals, exactly? The concept of SMART goals Figuring out what your Enough number is in terms of income The importance of setting realistic goals that fit both your career and life. This is the first episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

Being self-employed as a massage therapist is the norm, at least in North America. However, the vast majority of people would be much better off as employees, rather than working for themselves. Why do I say this? There are a few reasons, which I go over in today's episode. This is the third episode in my short series on Controversial Topics Within Health and Wellness. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

One of the things massage therapists on the whole are sensitive about are questions about the efficacy of their treatments. There are a lot of therapist websites out there that have this big list of conditions, diseases, and disorders that they say massage therapy can treat. So in today's episode, we're talking about the science behind massage therapy - or the lack of it. But we're also talking about why it doesn't necessarily matter, at least in terms of running your business! This is the second episode in my short series on Controversial Topics Within Health and Wellness. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

We are closing out the year talking about some controversial topics in the health and wellness industry. No matter where you fall within this overall 'sphere', these are things you should be thinking about, in terms of how this has an effect on your business. This episode is discussing something that has been in the media a lot recently, and that is the link between the wellness community and conspiracies. There is a lot to think about, so I've provided some food for thought! This is the first episode in my short series on Controversial Topics Within Health and Wellness. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

A little update on what's going on with this podcast and what you can expect next! Spoiler alert: more episodes coming shortly! Find out more about this podcast at my website, https://happylittlebiz.com/podcast/. Shownotes for most episodes are available as well!

Today we're going over five tips to save time and money in your massage therapy business. Stuff that isn't the typical 'shop sales' or 'use coupon codes'... because we all know that! Ready to save some cash? This it the third of three episodes on Money Mindsets. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Unpopular opinions warning! Sometimes we need to think non-linearly about our income. We need to get creative on ways we can use our professional skills and resources to earn. It helps us get off the roller coaster that booking ups and downs can have.  You see, it doesn't have to be all hands-on hours or an hour of your time for a fee exchange. So in this episode, we talk about exactly that! If you want to increase your income without just booking more hands-on time, this episode is for you. This it the second of three episodes on Money Mindsets. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Money is a tricky topic, but one all of us must think about as business owners and, well, humans! There are multiple mindsets we can fall into that hold us back from having our best chance at success - so that's what we're talking about in today's episode. This is the first in a three-part series on money mindsets. Show notes are now available for all episodes at https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Social media detoxes have been a hot topic for years, but they seem particularly of interest right now. Can your business survive without social media? Can you take time away without losing out on clients? Listen in to this episode where we talk about this and the whole idea of 'detoxes' and whether social media is essential or not. Show notes for all episodes are now available: https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

You can always begin again. No matter what has happened over the last year in your health and wellness business - or in your life - you can still work towards goals and dreams. These goals may have changed, but that's ok! We're talking about planning, dreaming, focusing on what's truly important and trying hard to ignore the rest. Show notes for all episodes are now available: https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

2020 sure threw us all a curveball! Many of us have had to make major changes to our lives and businesses in order to make it all work. So, that's what this episode is all about! I talk about two key takeaways from this year, as well as discussing the importance of seeing the full picture and not just focusing on the positive stuff. I also talk about how 2020 has really changed my own life, so if you're curious about all that, tune in! Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

When building an online business, there are certainly some dos and don'ts! Here are my five big tips for any online business, whether you're providing online classes, booking Zoom consultations, or selling products. This is the fourth and final episode in my series on Taking your Health or Wellness Business online. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

In order to have an online business, you need to have people willing to pay you for whatever service or product you have to offer. That's why it's so important to cultivate an audience of the right people! When building an in-person health or wellness (such as massage therapy) business, you might have called this your client base. Well, this is the same concept, only digital! These are real people behind the screen, and you need to connect with them in a way that builds trust and confidence in you and whatever it is you are selling. So, how do you do that? Is social media a good way? That's what we're talking about in this, the third episode in my series on Taking your Health or Wellness Business online. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

One of the most confusing parts of building an online business is figuring out exactly what your product or service could be. Should you stick to something health or wellness related? Should you try something totally different? Are products better than services? How do you figure it out? Well, there is no one perfect formula for finding a business idea. A lot of it depends on you! But that said, there are absolutely ways you can sort through your ideas to pinpoint which one will be the best fit. And that's what we're talking about this week! This episode is the second in my series on Taking Your Business Online, for health and wellness providers. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Have you been thinking about creating an online business, or moving some of your services online? Wondering if an online business is a good fit for you? In this episode, we talk about some of the pros and cons of online business. I also talk about some of the stereotypes when it comes to this stuff since it's important to set realistic expectations! If you want to go on an online business adventure, join me and listen in! This episode is the first in my series on Taking Your Business Online, for health and wellness providers. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Finishing up your website and wondering how to launch it? Wondering about SEO? I got you! In this episode, we take a dive into finishing up your website and getting it seen by clients, so you can start getting bookings. This episode is the fourth and final in my series on Building your Best Dang Website. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Doing a DIY website and need some tips on how to make the most of your design? I got you! In this episode, we talk about what to look for and what to avoid in DIY website templates. It's not as simple as picking the first one that looks pretty! This episode is the third in my series on Building your Best Dang Website. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

When building your own website, the content is often the thing that trips people up the most. So I've dedicated this entire episode to just that! Here are my biggest tips for creating website content. Avoid making these mistakes and you'll be well on your way to booking clients! This episode is the second in my series on Building your Best Dang Website. Show notes for all episodes are now available: https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Want to build your own website for a health or wellness business (like massage therapy?) You can absolutely do it, and I'm sharing all my tips as a professional designer! When you're getting started, there is one major thing you need to do that will make your website that much more awesome, and attract way more clients to book in. Listen in to find out more and get that DIY website rocking. Show notes are now available: https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

When it comes to growing your private practice as a health or wellness practitioner, there is a lot of advice out there. How do you grow in a way that makes you more money without having to work a bunch more hours? Do you hire more people? Should you even grow at all? So in this episode, the final in our series on Building a Strong Private Practice, we're looking at exactly this issue. Show notes are now available at https://happylittlebiz.com

When you're running a business, there is always the question of whether or not you should DIY something or hire someone else to do it for you. There is a lot to consider, and not just the budget and cost! There are huge benefits to hiring others to help out, and that's what we're talking about today: finding that balance for your own private practice to make the most of it. All shownotes for episodes available at https://happylittlebiz.com

In this week's episode, we're answering the all-important question: How do you get clients to rebook? Spoiler: it's all about building great relationships! I provide you with tips on what you can do to build those relationships and create an environment where people will want to rebook, and also refer friends and family to you. As always, show notes are available at https://happylittlebiz.com

Got a new private practice, or trying to find new ways to promote your existing one? Need to find new clients? This episode is for you! In this third episode in my series on Building a Strong Private Practice, I take a dive into the whole idea of selling your services to people. It doesn't have to be as hard as some people make it out to be! Remember: show notes are now available at https://happylittlebiz.com

In this second episode on 'Building a Strong Private Practice', I go over five things that are essential for opening your own space. Whether you're a massage therapist, nutritionist, do yoga privates or are an acupuncturist, these are things I really think you need for your office. As always, head to https://happylittlebiz.com for show notes and additional resources!

When you work for yourself, there are a lot of things to think about. Location. Equipment purchases. Website. Where to find great clients. And those are all important, but there is a bigger thing you need to tackle if you want to really strengthen your business. What's that thing? Your Mindset. So in this first episode in my series on 'building a strong private practice', we're talking about just that! Show notes as always are found on happylittlebiz.com

Let's talk more about pivoting your business! That is, going from whatever in-person service you might have been providing: massage therapy, physiotherapy, yoga sessions … and switching it up to a new business idea and model. I know a good chunk of you are now in this position. You know the world has changed a great deal, and you aren't so sure you can go back to your previous career (or even if you want to). You want to look into something new. So let's talk about that! As always, show notes are available at happylittlebiz.com

Times are challenging right now. We have a global pandemic on our hands, and many of you have had to close your businesses temporarily. So for this week's episode, I'm talking about a variety of ways you can earn some income and keep things going for your massage clinic or other health/wellness business. Some are directly related to your 'regular career', others are just temporary work you can do. I hope this helps you in these tricky, unforeseen times. We're all in this together. BTW: Don't forget to check the show notes for all the various links!

Tax season. Every small business owner's favourite time, right? All jokes aside, it can be a stressful time of year for us all, but we can make it a bit easier on ourselves. In this episode, I talk about four things you can look at to make the process go a little smoother. Head to https://happylittlebiz.com/ for show notes!

In this episode, I talked about planning your year to make it an amazing one. How? With setting very intentional goals. That might feel like a topic better suited to January 1st, but hey, you can do these types of exercises at any time. First, we discuss the idea of choosing a Framing Word or Word of the Year. This is something we've talked about in the past, but I discussed it with some new ideas. I also talked about Danielle LaPorte's Desire Map process, which relates to setting framing words. Second, we chatted about the idea of manifestation. There is a lot to be said for this idea, and how it has a different purpose, and outcome, then your normal goal-setting stuff. Of course, we brought all that back to building a business (and life!) as a massage therapist or other health and wellness practitioner.

It's the beginning of a new decade and there's a lot of talk about business trends. But which ones are important for healthcare, wellness and fitness businesses? Today I take a dive into five important trends for you to know if you want to grow and develop your business.

Today we're taking a look back at 2019 to see what trends were big. Did my predictions from last year come true? We're also examining some big trends for 2020 and talking about ways we can implement some important changes to our lives and businesses in order to help ourselves and the planet. If health trends and healthy living interest you, this episode is for you!

Can Pinterest really help you get more bookings as a solo practitioner in health and wellness (such as massage therapy)? Yes! It's not just for recipes and hair ideas anymore. This week we do a breakdown of how you can use this really interesting platform to your advantage. How do you set up your account? What boards should you have? How do you find enough stuff TO post? Are ads worth it? And lots more! This is a big one for SEO, everyone! Also, show notes for these episodes are now available at happylittlebiz.com/blog.

Have you considered starting a YouTube channel or using video as a way to reach people and get more bookings as a solo health or wellness practitioner? It's something more and more people are doing! In this, the third episode in our social media series, we talk about things to consider before you jump in with both feet. Is YouTube really social media? Can anyone really produce videos? How do you set up a channel? How do you get the word out there about your videos? Should you put ads on yours... and can anyone really do that? Can you make an income from YouTube? Tune in to get some tips, tricks and advice! And show notes for these episodes are now available at happylittlebiz.com/blog.

Using Instagram as a solo practitioner in health and wellness - such as massage therapy or other professions - can be a little daunting! This week we do a breakdown of the many things you need to consider. How do you set up your account? How often should you post? Are ads worth it? Should you use Instagram at all? Tune in to get some tips, tricks and advice on this very popular social media platform. And show notes for these episodes are now available at happylittlebiz.com/blog!

In this week's episode we take a deep dive into posting on Facebook for your business. How do you set up a page? What kinds of posts should you make? How often do you post? Can you just use your personal account for everything? What if you don't WANT to use Facebook? So many things to consider. Let's get started! And show notes for these episodes are now available at happylittlebiz.com/blog!

Is social media tricky to figure out for your business? Wondering how you can make the most of it to attract new clients? In this mini-episode, I talk about where the next few episodes are headed, which social media platforms are good for health and wellness practitioners, and give ya access to a brand new QUIZ to help you out!

Do you ever find yourself pressed for time when trying to keep your social media updated? Need a way to keep things more organized? Want to start using more than one platform at a time? I got you! In this week's Candice Tries episode, I talk about social media management software and how it can help you run your business, even when your workday is extremely busy.

Have you been thinking about adding online booking to your health or wellness business? Already have online booking available but don't like the software you're using? In today's second episode on the 'Candice tries' series, I'm testing out and reporting on some online booking options.

If you've ever wanted to build your own website but were overwhelmed by all the different options, I've got you! In today's episode, we go over some of the options and I give you my rundown as a professional designer for which are your best bets! This episode is the first in a series called 'Candice Tries' where I review things that will help you in your practice: online booking software, website building platforms, and more! Stay tuned for more episodes.

There are issues with social media marketing that a lot of people don't talk much about. I think we want to believe it can solve all of our marketing problems. And while it is a useful tool for promoting our clinics and studios and practices, it also has some serious drawbacks. So today we're talking about those!

Are you an introvert? Or, do you think you might be one but aren't sure? Work in health, wellness or fitness? I got you! This week we're talking about another marketing truth, and that is how to do marketing when you don't like being in the spotlight.

In episode two about marketing truths, we're talking about something really important that I think many of us tend to forget: getting seen online isn't about beating an algorithm or getting the top SEO spot on Google. It's about connecting. Listen in to this episode for more on that.

There are a lot of misconceptions about marketing out there, and some of those tend to hold us back when we're trying to promote our businesses. Sometimes we even avoid it because of what we think marketing is all about! So let's drop some truths about marketing this week, shall we? For the next few episodes, we're talking about how to do marketing as a small business person without a big budget and without feeling like it's dishonest. Stay tuned!

Have you ever felt like success was out of your reach? Like the career you've chosen isn't working out for you? That no matter how hard you work you can't seem to keep your books full and income coming in? Trust me, we've all been there! So in today's episode, we're talking about tackling feelings of impostor syndrome or feeling like 'a fraud' in your business.

On this week's episode, we're talking about business growth. Can growth ever be back for your business? Wait, isn't growth what we're supposed to try to do? Listen in to find out my thoughts on this somewhat controversial topic.

Today we're talking about the importance of listening to your intuition when it comes to making decisions about your business. Often we're so bombarded by information - from family and friends, from social media, from the news, and from others that we forget about the most important thing: what we truly want in life. So today's episode is dedicated to that! Also: Anyone else remember the song from Roxette?

Today's episode begins a new chapter with this podcast! We're changing up things a little and redefining our philosophy for y'all. We also talk about what's coming next, so have a listen and let me know what you think!

If you're going to work in health, wellness or fitness, there are a lot of things to consider. One of the big ones is whether you'll enter a regulated or non-regulated profession. There are good and less good points for both sides! Here's some food for thought to help you decide.

On today's episode, I dive into some thoughts on working in mental health, even if you aren't a mental health practitioner. I also talk about the importance of understanding mental health and fighting the stigma that is so prevalent for anyone experiencing mental health challenges.

Hello hello! It's been a while! In this episode we chat about what's new with me, what's coming up for this podcast, and a bit about some awesome news for massage therapy in Canada.

Here we are at episode 100! In this week I'm giving some food for thought on a few trends in health, wellness and fitness careers as we head into 2019.

In this week's episode, we're talking about some health, wellness and fitness trends and myths that have come up over the last year! These are definitely conversation starters. Grab a cup of tea and listen in - and if you have comments on any health trends or myths, let me know!

In a lot of health and wellness practices, we see this push-pull between research and evidence-based treatments versus the less conventional, not proven by research methods. Both have their place and both can really help people! But: it's all about being honest with people about what you have to offer. Let's talk about that!

I've gotten questions about how to create a podcast! So here's my journey into podcasting. Whether you're thinking of doing your own podcast, or you're just super curious, come on over and listen in!

On this week's episode I'm talking about five books I recommend for that mindset of being authentic and true to yourself (even while you're building a business).

Each year I choose a word to focus on to help me in my business and life, and I think everyone sholud consider doing this. My "word of the year" for 2018 was "possibility". Now that the year is wrapping up, here's how that went. I hope sharing my journey will help you with your own!

It's almost time for the big holiday sales, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday! Should you participate in these with your business? Does it even make sense as a health and wellness professional? Here's some food for thought on this 'minisode'.

The need to empower our clients is absolutely essential to the work that we do. Here's a chat about why, and how sometimes we are failing at that, in spite of our best intentions!

Today we're giving ya a little food for thought about the next two months, otherwise known as the busy season for many health, wellness and fitness professions.

Do you want to change up your health or wellness business and incorporate new ideas, but really don't know where to start? Do you wonder how exactly to come up with great ideas, instead of doing the same 'ol thing just because it feels safe? That's what this week's episode is all about!

We face a lot of questions and decisions when running a business. But one big one is what to do if you feel like you might need to throw in the towel and quit. So let's talk about that!

Entrepreneur. You've probably heard the term many times, and have heard me use it on the podcast before. But, have you ever really thought to yourself: hey self, am I an entrepreneur? What's that really mean? Is there a difference between being a business owner and an entrepreneur? Let's dive in!

Marketing! What does that word make you think? For a lot of small biz people (not just you health and wellness peeps) it causes a bit of anxiety and stress. But a lot of that comes from not understanding what marketing really is! So let's talk about that. This week we're goin' back to school with Marketing 101.

When you work in health, wellness or fitness, there are some things you need to take into special consideration that you may not have thought of when working in other careers! Here's a little chat about some of those things.

Being the boss isn't just about making the rules and fixing all the stuff you didn't like about your old job! There's a whole mindset shift you need to make when you start running your own business. Let's talk about that!

In keeping with the fall vibes, I'm talking this week about building healthy work/life balance habits! It can be hard to make time for what's important in between getting everything done, but it CAN be doable. Here's some food for thought!

The fall sort of feels like the start of a new year! So let's talk about going back to basics for your business! Here are five things for you to think about and work on over the next few months to close out 2018 with a bang.

Here's another tricky boundary topic for y'all! Working with friends and family. Should you do it? Can it cause problems for your business? Should you mix business and personal relationships? Lots to chat about here!

A little chat about the sticky topic of boundaries this week. When building a business we tend to do a lot of 'oh I'll book outside my hours just this once' or 'oh I'll give a discount just today 'cause I don't want to lose this client'. But that's not a healthy way to build a business, as it's violating your own boundaries and not respecting your own time, money and abilities. So how do we do better without going too far the other way and being super strict? Let's talk!

Running a business can be tricky - especially when it comes to dealing with conflicts, complaints and other awkward situations with clients! I've called this episode 'humans gonna human' because that's really what we're talking about here. It all comes back to just being human. If you need some advice on dealing with these sticky situations - in your life or your biz - this may help!

So where does a business podcaster go for inspiration about her own business? A few places, actually! This week I'm sharing with you guys the places I go to learn more about building an authentic, happy business that is aligned with my life. Hopefully you'll be inspired by them too!

Hustle seems to be the big buzzword for entrepreneurs and all business owners these days. But what are we really doing when we focus on the hustle? Are we really building the business we love? Let's talk about my concept of happy little biz and why it's important to think about heart, not hustle.

We're talkin' about money mindset this week! A lot of us in health and wellness careers get stuck with such questions as what should we charge and how can we afford to live our lives in an ever-increasingly-expensive world. So let's break some of that stuff down, together!

Spoiler alert: the answer is no! As health and wellness professionals the truth is you'll be asked to work events for free throughout your career - some more than others. There are a lot of reasons why I don't think this is a good idea! That's what this episode is all about.

This week I'm talking about something I'm asked about fairly regularly: my meditation practice. Spoiler: yes, it can help you build your health and wellness business if you want it to! Sharing my perspective and experiences with y'all.

A listener requested I talk about things new practitioners working in health, wellness or fitness should think about. So here are five tips for you - or anyone who is struggling with their career and wants to try to change things up! Special thanks to my Instagram followers for their help with this one.

Sometimes as health and wellness practitioners we get so caught up in how to help our clients - the protocols, the treatment methods, and so on - that we forget about the big key thing all our clients are looking for. Here's my take on that.

As an introvert, I've always found networking to be a bit difficult! Does that describe you too? But networking can be a very valuable thing for our businesses. Here are my tips for doing effective networking as someone who doesn't really love being in big crowds. It's really about making one-on-one connections with people!

When you offer more than one main service in your biz, how do you blend them together? For example, if you do Thai massage and also offer nutrition counselling, how do you do your marketing so people understand what your business is all about and want to book with YOU or buy from YOU (and not from the person down the street)? That's what we're talking about on today's episode!

As professionals, we tend to have this idea that we need to know all the answers to the things our clients ask us. The trouble is... we don't! In fact, we can't! So this week we're talking about that, and how powerful those three words 'I don't know' can really be.

We tend to be so focused on the health of our clients and our loved ones that we forget about ourselves! So this week's episode is dedicated to finding ways to take care of our own health and wellness, in a way that fits into our busy lives.

When working on our businesses, whether it's setting fees, creating a website, or deciding what services to offer, we tend to look to others for guidance. While that's not a bad thing to get you started, sometimes we end up just copying them because it feels safer. Here's why that's not a good idea, and what you can do instead.

Because we work in healthcare or wellness we assume that because everyone needs our services, we're going to be successful. It's just a given, right? Well... that's not really true. If you build it, will they actually come? This episode talks about exactly that.

Ever feel overwhelmed by marketing? Feel like there's no way you're going to be able to keep up with all the various options like social media, blogs, email newsletters and everything else? Well, there is a solution: focus on one thing. Of course, that's requires some planning, and that's where this week's episode comes in!

Love tax time? Ok, me neither! But there are ways to make it a little less stressful! Today I'm talking about three tips I have to make tax time a bit easier.

It seems every day there is a new business article out there about how in order to be successful you need to grow your business. Let's talk about why it's perfectly ok to stay small! You don't need a big clinic or studio in order to be successful, meet the needs of your clients and have a good income.

A common thing I see people working in health, wellness and fitness doing is selling their services as preventing something from happening. Here's why that usually doesn't work, and how to shift your message so it does.

Just a little bonus episode to bring us into 2018! Today I talk about what episodes were my most popular of 2017 and give you a bit of an overview of where we're headed for 2018 with the podcast.

At this busy time of year, we tend to get very focused on what we're doing for others. Life is very busy and so is work! But something to consider is how this business is effecting our ability to do good work. And that's what I'm talking about today.

It's great to be passionate about what you do and how it can help others. But when you start to get defensive and angry about others who do work similar to yours, it can take you down a rabbit hole you really don't want to go down. Today I'm talking about that, and about how getting sucked into online rants about it only makes things worse. (Believe me, I've been there!)

It's that time of year again - time to start getting your holiday promotions, social media posts, newsletters and other marketing ideas ready to go. In this episode I give you some ideas to get you started, and also talk about why it's important to focus on marketing at this time of year, even if it might seem unnecessary.

Risk in business is something really important to consider. It's also something many massage therapists aren't really aware of. Let's talk about that, and how it factors in with how much you're being compensated (percent split or otherwise).

There's a general misconception when it comes to marketing. That is, that you only have to do it when you aren't busy or don't have many clients. Let's talk about that this week, and why marketing is important for cultivating relationships with ALL your clients!

This week's episode is a brainstorm of 10 things I wish I had known before I started out as a solo massage practice owner. But really, most of this applies to any business in health, wellness and fitness!

It can feel a bit daunting to come up with a plan to do online marketing. How often should you post? What kinds of things should you post? How can you do that when you've got a lot of other things to do? Here's how to make it much more manageable.

Just a little something about gratitude.

As solo business people we tend to, well... stick to being solo! We tend to focus on DIY-ing things for our businesses. We tend to think, 'If ya want it done right, you gotta do it yourself!'. This all leads to us being isolated in our businesses. But it doesn't have to be that way! Here are some thoughts and ideas on how you can make solid connections with other like-minded people.

This is the second part of the 'should I get more education?' podcast. We're talking about whether or not you should switch careers within healthcare. It's really about knowing what you truly want for your career and life. Some food for thought. By the way, the RMT in Ontario issue I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast has a petition going (as of the release date of this podcast). Here's a link if you'd like to learn more: https://www.change.org/p/cmto-remove-the-requirement-for-written-consent-for-rmt-treatment

There's a lot of talk here in Canada about whether or not Massage Therapy should be a degree program. And, there are a lot of people who feel they need to get a degree in order to do what they want with their life. So let's talk about that. Is that formal higher education really necessary? ** Super important note for my Canadian listeners: I'm not talking about Continuing Education Credits. I'm talking about getting more diplomas or degrees. Just so we're all on the same page here. ;-)

Some things in life you only really learn to do by doing them. Actually, I'd argue that most things in life are like that - there's nothing like personal experience to guide us. So when it comes to contracts, most of us don't have much experience to show us the way through. Not only that, but we get nervous because it can be emotionally charged, and it involves legal and financial implications if not done properly. Yikes! So let's tackle this all important topic today! Here's my advice on writing and negotiating contracts, based on my years of experience as a massage therapist and entrepreneur.

Quick episode for y'all today! Here are three quick wins for your practice that will help you steer your career in the direction you want to go. Also, a few administrative notes on how this podcast will continue.

Choosing a niche as a massage therapist - or in any career, really - can be really tricky! This week I break down the process I've been using myself to help focus in on the right niche for you, and how to use that in your marketing efforts (like your website, newsletter, brochures...)

Some recommendations on apps and other tech you can use in your massage therapy or healthcare practice! While it's really important to maintain that human connection with your clients, there are tons of ways technology can make your job easier and give you back more time in your day.

Thought this might be a fun topic this week since this is right around the time the new grads will be getting ready to start their massage therapy careers! Here are some of the mistakes I made when I was a newbie therapist trying to get my practice off the ground.

I did the one thing with my massage practice I never saw anyone else doing. At least, in my community at the time. I chose a focus area (or speciality, if we're bein' fancy) for my business and it didn't die. In fact, it succeeded. Here's my story. Maybe it will help you figure out what direction to take your own practice!

Using social media to promote your business is a bit of a double-edged sword. It's a great way to reach out to people, but it's also an easy way to lose a few hours of your day. Hmm. Let's talk about that. The blog post I referred to: http://www.raptitude.com/2017/06/want-more-time-get-rid-of-the-easiest-way-to-spend-it/

No matter what you're going to have to do some writing. Your website, newsletter, advertising, emails... It all involves writing and what you say DOES MATTER. I know writing often isn't people's favourite thing. For a lot of health care folks like yourselves, you'd rather spend your time on patient (or client) care and not on worrying about writing stuff. So this episode is to help make it a bit easier for you!

Everywhere I look, people are talking about the importance of the hustle. Or working on their side hustle. Or how you need to hustle if you want to make things happen for your business. But is hustle really what you want?

Do you have an 'us vs them' mindset in your practice? Do you find yourself defending your profession a lot, or feeling frustrated with clients or others who don't understand what it is that you do? You may need to start thinking about these things a bit differently. Today I'm talking about that!

Finding the people who are an awesome match for you and your practice is essential. This week I talk about that and a bit about a client of mine who's had major success finding HER peeps.

A lot of us struggle with feeling like we can't achieve the success in business that we wish we could. But know what? You don't need my permission, or anyone else's, to do it. You need your own.

Sometimes we tend to think of being our own boss as being this perfect situation. At least, until we become the boss! Here's a reality check for RMTs and anyone else in the biz - it's not all roses, but it can be so rewarding.

This week I wanted to talk to you all about pivoting your career. Are you a massage therapist who isn't sure you still want to be one? This episode is for you. Are you a massage therapist who doesn't get why people sometimes leave the profession? This episode is ALSO for you! ;-)

It's a common question I see for health care folks: what does being professional really mean if you work in that environment? From comments about attire to thoughts about how to speak to clients, we've all got our take on it. So let's dive into this topic, shall we?

The 2017 relaunch of my ecourse is here! Listen in to get a discount code. ;-)

Have you ever stopped to think about how the look of your clinic or treatment space sends a certain message to your clients? Just like with your website or other 'branded' materials, your workspace should also send the right messages! What do I mean by that? Have a listen.

A question I get a lot from people is how do you write good content for your website? Most health care people are not writers, so they feel a bit stuck with this. This week I give you some tips on how to create good content.

Well, social media is fantastic for a lot of reasons. It certainly lets you connect with people in ways you can't with a website. However, it's important to remember that social media is a good marketing tool. But it isn't, and shouldn't be, the hub of your online presence. Guess I gave away who wins this showdown, huh? ;-) Article I referenced about Facebook TOS: http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2014/10/who-legally-owns-your-facebook-posts.html (from 2014 but still relevant as of March 2017).

Do you sometimes wonder how to get everything done in a day? It can be really hard just keeping up with your clinic laundry and charts some days, let alone all the other stuff that's required to run a successful business! This episode talks about how to get more done in the time you have.

This week we're debunking five long held massage therapy myths. Stuff people (health care providers and the general public alike) tend to think is true but it really isn't! A few resources I used: WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/ Pain Science: https://www.painscience.com Cochrane: http://www.cochrane.org/ By the way: I got ahead of myself and I slightly misquoted about miscarriages. They happen most commonly at 7-12 weeks, not 10-12. Sorry about that!

This week I wanted to talk about that balance between being a healthcare provider and being a small business owner. This is especially important to think about if your services aren't covered by provincial health plans. Often health care providers don't want to think about the business side of things, but for the sake of your practice, you really need to.

So it's been a month and a half since we all made our new year's resolutions, or decided to set a focus word for the year. For some people it's really hard to make sure we follow through with our intentions! Here's some advice on how to do that.

What's really holding you back on building the life and business you've always wanted?

Today I want to talk a bit about search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO. There's a lot of info out there on this topic, and for some people, it becomes a bit of an obsession. How do you get your website to the top of Google searches? What's the best way to boost your SEO? Well, I'm all about being realistic and honest, so my take on SEO may not match what you've been told before...

The title of this episode is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I'm very serious about the content. If you find yourself wondering why you're not building long-lasting relationships with your clients, this episode is for you.

In health care your designation is a very important part of your career. Essential, even. But when we start acting like our education begins and ends with that designation, that's where the trouble starts. We start limiting ourselves because of it. But we shouldn't.

Today we're talking about Framing Your Year. What the heck is that? Well, it's the idea that you choose a word that will give you a focus in your business and life for the coming year. Something beyond your usual 'new year's resolutions'.

This is an issue that is rarely talked about, except perhaps among doctors and nurses. But I think we need to talk about it, because there's a certain stigma or tendency to ignore it. We stick our heads in the sand or pretend it's not as big a problem as it can be. What issue am I talking about? Caregiver burnout. Sometimes called compassion fatigue. The state where someone who is taking care of others gets to the point where they're feeling complete physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.

There's nothing wrong with a little competition! That is, if you look at in in a healthy way.

Holiday marketing doesn't have to suck!

A little food for thought about using social media for your health care business.

This is not your typical 'you should start a blog for your business because you'll get clients!' advice. So, should you start a blog for your practice? Let's talk.

As small business folks we have a tendency to think we need to run our businesses as cheaply as possible to maximize what we're making. But is that actually true? Should you really be DIY-ing everything?

Referrals are the lifeblood of any business. But it's important to be honest with yourself and the person who is being referred to you. Should you actually take them on as a client? Is that best for everyone involved?

All those inspiring quotes about life and business and success we see all over social media are great. But are they a realistic way to look at your business?

Ways to increase your income as a massage therapist without killing your hands, body, or mental state. ;-)

Here's a topic that every single one of us self employed people has struggled with: money! Either we don't make enough to pay the bills, we make enough but could use to make more, or we don't know how to manage it. So let's talk about it.

All businesses are going to have ups and downs, slow weeks and busy weeks. But you don't have to just wait and hope it all works out! Being proactive is part of running a healthy massage therapy business.

Have you ever felt like social media is really running your life? I have. So I did a social media detox and it made a big difference for my personal and professional life. Here's what I learned and how it helped my business.

The second episode of a two part podcast on something super essential: client communication. This one covers email newsletters, how to get started sending one, and how they can help your business.

A two part podcast on something super essential: client communication. This one covers the importance of email followups and prompt replies to clients.

The olympics and especially Michael Phelps have really brought Cupping Therapy into the mainstream consciousness. So it's the perfect time to take a cupping course, right? Well...

You might be familiar with the phrase "the customer is always right". But when you're running a service based business like a massage therapy practice, the customer isn't always right. Here's why.

A little chat about defining success as an RMT.

Yes, you can specialize as an RMT! Here's a little talk about how, and why it's so important.

A much talked about topic for RMTs: CEUs. Important but often overlooked. Let's talk about having a plan!

Ahh yes, networking. This can be a tricky area for massage therapists. Here's my advice on tackling that.

Do you tell your clients to get treatments and focus on self care, but rarely do so yourself? This episode is for you.

Let's talk about setting your prices as an RMT and some things to consider before you do.

An introduction to what the heck this podcast is all about.