Putting Yourself on Sale

June 13, 2007 Julie Onofrio Ethics, Peer Supervision

The wealthy massage therapist values themselves and their work and charges what they need to make a GREAT Living.

This is one of the things Suze Orman talks about in her latest book “Women and Money” but it could really be called “massage therapists and money”. She really says directly what I have been beating around the bush saying all these years -

If you undervalue what you do, the world undervalues who you are. And when you undervalue who you are, the world undervalues what you do.

You are undervaluing yourself when you think things and do things for a discounted rate thinking that is what you need to do to get or keep that client.

  • When you are asked to work on 5 out of town guests on an outcall situation, you give them a break because you think they will like you better or whatever
  • You offer a sliding scale to those who you think can’t afford you.
  • When you raise your rates you try to explain it and make excuses for it. You don’t have to tell anyone anything about why you are raising your rates. You just need to do it.
  • A client offers you some artwork in exchange for their massage sessions and says their work is worth $5000 so you do a lot of massages even when you hate the piece of art
  • You start your business by offering really low rates thinking that is the only thing that will get people in the door
  • You say things like “I am not in this for the money” or I am doing this because I like to help.

    • The reality is that you need to make money to take care of yourself and your family. Anytime you give up your needs for someone else’s or what you perceive to be someone else’s you are sacrificing a part of yourself.

    There is a place and time to offer massages to special populations that really are in need of massage and can’t afford it but not if you are going to be a wealthy massage therapist. You may think this is selfish, but until you can take care of yourself – you won’t be of much use to others. You (we) need money to open up clinics and facilities where underprivileged people can get access to massage. There will also be a hidden agenda to your work feeling resentful of making discounts or working so cheaply.

    Being a wealthy massage therapist means that you understand your value and ask for top dollar for your time, energy and expertise.

    Part of the problem is that some massage schools are teaching you not to quit your day job saying you won’t be able to make it in the profession. They are telling you that you will have to take discounts to survive.

    I am not saying that it is easy. It does take courage and self confidence and faith in yourself.

    You have to be able to say no to those you don’t want to work with. You have to say no to working with people who always undervalue your work and take a discount. You can make exceptions and you have to remember that you are human.

    Mega World News Facebook Twitter Myspace Friendfeed Technorati del.icio.us Digg Google Yahoo Buzz StumbleUpon Weekend Joy

    Related posts:

    1. Raising your rates Raising your rates is always one of these controversial things....
    2. The Wealthy Massage Therapist Not many people will use the words wealthy and massage...
    3. Defining wealth Being wealthy means different things to different people. It is...
    4. Site Build It! Sale The thing I like most about SBI! is that they...
    5. Last chance sale on Websites My intention was to do a series of articles on...

    No comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *