By Gary Eaton LMT
Most people today have jobs. Very few of us have careers. What is the difference?
Well, I am sure there are experts out there that could give you exact definitions, but as far as I’m concerned, the difference is your mindset. A job is something you do in exchange for money. It is where you trade hours for dollars, you aren’t particularly attached to the job, and if something better comes along you would jump in a second.
A career, on the other hand, is much more than just a job. Yes, you are still working for money, but that isn’t the only reason. A career is something you are interested in, are passionate about, something that provides more than just financial reward.
So, what is massage going to be for you? A job or a career? My suggestion is, if you make it just a job you will be sadly disappointed.
To me, massage is a career and so much more. Massage certainly provides dollars in exchange for my time, but it also offers additional benefits and rewards. The many rewards of a massage career can far surpass the monetary gain.
First, to be a successful massage therapist it is important to love what you do. Passion for helping others is important, but you must also enjoy the act of providing massage. If you look at massage as a job you will quickly become bored and dissatisfied. That will negatively affect your performance and the result will be unhappy clients and you will struggle to keep them coming through the doors.
Massage offers an opportunity to change peoples’ lives in very positive ways. I have clients that I have worked with for two years and I have seen their lives change in very dramatic ways. I had a little something to do with those changes and the rewards for my efforts are priceless.
Making massage therapy a career and lifestyle brings you into contact with a wonderful variety of people, it provides incredible personal growth opportunities, and it is a career that is always evolving. As a massage therapist you are constantly learning. Massage school is just the beginning. The real learning begins when you start your massage career, and continues every day.
Despite the faltering economy there are many jobs out there to be had. But how many of them will bring you personal satisfaction. In massage, when you do your best your clients reward you with much more than money. Their appreciation and love for what you do and how you help them is something most people can’t get from their ordinary jobs.
Don’t make the mistake of looking at massage as just another job that pays better then minimum wage. If you make massage therapy a career choice and invest in it for the long haul, you will find the rewards will be much bigger than a normal job. And the monetary gain, which can be substantial, will ultimately be much less a reward then the satisfaction of changing peoples lives in positive, tangible ways.
If you are considering a career in massage make sure you take this into consideration. Massage as a job will probably be as disappointing as any other ordinary job. But massage as a career, approached with the right attitude, might just be the most satisfying endeavor you could ever choose.
Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.
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