Competition in the Massage Profession
As the number of massage therapists continue
to increase, many therapist become overly concerned about competition.
Many cities seem to have massage offices, spas or other facilities on every
corner.
Competition can be defined as:
The act of competing, as for profit or a prize; rivalry.
Rivalry between two or more businesses striving for the same customer or market.
The act of seeking, or endeavoring to gain, what another is endeavoring to gain at the same time;
The fact is that clients will come and go for
various reasons. They may have different needs at different
times.
You won't be able to work with
everyone.
Since a massage practice is about building
relationships with clients, recognizing that you can't fill everyone's needs may
be difficult to accept.
I have never felt the effects of competition
in 17 years. There have been many different therapists coming and going
for various reasons. People will go to others when the need arises.
Don't take it personally.
I have built a network of different massage
therapists who I refer to at different times - someone want someone closer to
their home or to experience a different technique.
Clinging to a client and needing to make
everyone else's clients yours is often a sign of insecurity and shows a high
level ego gratification.
Competition is a reflection of your
fear. You fear that there won't be enough clients for you or that you have
to take clients away from everyone else in order to be successful.
The only one you are competing with is
yourself.
