Home 1 > Massage Therapist Example
An old school massage therapist could have had a landline with an answering machine and a paper calendar and been set for life. He or she could sublet a room from a wellness practice so her major overhead bill writing was limited to one major check per month, and he could accept only cash or checks to keep things simple.
However, consumers are now coming to expect more from everyone...
If you wanted to meet basic expectations for a business person in this situation these day, you'd need:
And it's with just these 5 items that you'd need to decide:
To some, this is doesn't sound bad, right?
But wait.
What was a very simple business, which kept folks out of their head and provided healing for all involved is now more complex and more mentally taxing and most folks have not properly oriented themselves and adjusted so they can do the added mental work without increasing their mind related stress, and that's something all need to learn how to do better for the sake of each other, as well as themselves.
However, consumers are now coming to expect more from everyone...
- Business Cards -- Everybody in business has to have something they can hand out...
- Website -- If you don't have a website with a photo and a little bit about you, I'd be more inclined to look elsewhere for support unless you came highly recommended via word of mouth. Likewise, I have no way to easily refer you to others.
- Communication -- If we can't email, or at the very least text I'll likely go elsewhere. I don't like leaving messages and playing phone tag.
- Payment -- If I can't pay with a Credit Card, I'll think about going elsewhere as that keeps my expense tracking simple and it's just something I've come to expect from people who claim to be "in business." (and if you hit me for 3% for using it, it makes me think hard about your ability to think about yourself and not about those who are spending 97% to buy your service).
- Calendar -- If you don't have a digital calendar, I'll think you are falling behind the times.
- Public Calendar -- If you have a public calendar and allow me to book without the email back and forth, I might really like that, but I don't consider it a necessity at this time for me and others shouldn't either all the time, if they think about small business from the providers perspective. It makes sense for some but not at all for others. Do you, the client realize when it does and when it doesn't? Do you, the client have any clue when and why you'd want to speak with the provider to schedule and how that might affect you positively in ways you aren't tuned to?
If you wanted to meet basic expectations for a business person in this situation these day, you'd need:
- A vendor for Business Cards
- An email account, a computer (with an external mouse) to check it. A mobile device to monitor it.
- A website and your own domain name, although you needn't take the more complicated step of formally connecting the too if you know how to forward a domain...
- The ability to process credit cards
- A vendor to support you with issues with you smart phone, tablet or computer and spare money in the bank to repair or replace these items when problems arise...
- And more...
And it's with just these 5 items that you'd need to decide:
- what email service you want to use
- what email address you want to use
- what website provider you want to use
- what domain name you want to use
- what credit card processing system you want to use
- what digital device you want to use (which leads to what operating system you want to commit to);
- and at this point, you'd in fact have at least 5 passwords you'd need to remember which is the first step towards realizing the need for a digital password vault
- and more....
To some, this is doesn't sound bad, right?
- We have gmail and other common webmail options now
- We have weebly or wix for simple websites that can meet simple and moderately complex needs
- We have (very confusing) domain name registrars who make it hard to understand how that system works for sure
- We have square for credit card processing.
- We have an even broader choice of digital calendars and contact systems
- We have things like password managers the few use correctly
But wait.
- All this person wanted to do was put his or her hands on others to relieve stress and earn a living.
- AND while much of what was just listed above exists now (2019) with shorter learning curves and a broader level of community support, even 3-4 years ago, much of it wasn't nearly as friendly and 10 years ago, when this massage therapist started getting shoved in, it was all simply disorganized, unstable and confusing
- Most who've been around for 10-20 years or more with hands on experience are now traumatized by the technology revolution in ways few can imagine.
- As for those who haven't been around long? They should get most of the technology, but surprisingly many are missing pieces because they never had to organize anything without technology. Worse yet, many don't have the ability to feel like the old folks, because they've spent way too much time in their head, without the help of those who live from their heart. Most don't even know what that is, and even less realize that that is what is needed 75% or more just to stay in balance, while the Brain rests, ideally 75-95% of the time. But that is for another lesson.
What was a very simple business, which kept folks out of their head and provided healing for all involved is now more complex and more mentally taxing and most folks have not properly oriented themselves and adjusted so they can do the added mental work without increasing their mind related stress, and that's something all need to learn how to do better for the sake of each other, as well as themselves.