We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tiffany , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

In the my career, over 14 years and counting, of working with people from all walks of life I have learned that even though the massage session is helping to relive pain with in the body, me as the therapist being completely present for my client gave them an opportunity be at peace. The ability to simply hold space for someone, not judging them, or the situation that is casing unrest and mental stress is one of the reasons I love what I do as a massage therapist. I have made it a part of the mission of my business as well, here’s the why behind this decision to make it part of my mission that can work for any costumer service business. When you take the time as a provider to give people time, space and the solitude of peaceful energy, people clients and staff are able to work though situations, find answers to questions, and let go of the negative emotions that block us from achieving the things we want in life. It is one of the greatest’s gifts I try to provide for clients, staff, and friends. My business tag line is “Healing the body to touch the Soul”, I know its powerful because I have been on the receiving end of this space holding intention, I have also had the profound pleasure of watching people realize their dreams and run after them living a life with passion and purpose.

Tiffany , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began my massage career journey in 2006. I was anew student in massage school having a the goal to use massage therapy to pay for physical therapy school. I like my classes and classmates. I graduated in 2008, and got my license, and started working part-time at a small town spa while attending classes at Campbell University to finish my undergrad academic work. Little did I know that in December 2009, I was forced to make the decision to unenroll and pack up my stuff and head home.

This was my first challenge, especially emotionally I felt like I had failed all the people who had supported me and my dream. After I moved home, to the small town of Hampstead, North Carolina, I became a full time massage therapist at the spa. The owner of this spa allowed me to work as much as I wanted. this was great so I thought. I found out that working as much as I was the owner was making a lot of money off the sessions and yet I was not able to afford living costs. I new then that at some point in my career I was going to work for myself.

Watch out here’s the next challenge, December 2011, the owner called for a meeting and announced that she was closing the business in two weeks. At first I felt totally unprepared and I could not see the path for my next steps. Still unprepared I gave myself the permission and the opportunity to fail at having business of my own. To say the least 2012, taught me about myself, that part of me that would never give up on my dream. That part of me that was igniting a fire that to this day propels me forward every day.

January 2013, I moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, $250.00 in the bank, no job prospects and loving grandparents who let me live with them until I got on my feet. Here is where I encountered Artists in Motion Massage Therapy and the former owner Michael Johnson for the first and life changing point in my career. Michael gave me a chance to be surrounded by other massage therapists that were successful and did interesting types of therapy for their clients. I felt that this was the place I needed to be in order to figure out to create a thriving career. Along the way I also learned that with creating a thriving career meant that I had to grow personally and leave behind the negative results, the bad experiences and the self doubt that I had developed in the year of failures. I had to learn to forgive myself and embrace the infinite possibilities.

After a few years I had the opportunity the begin managing that whole business, at the time we had a staff of three. I began a mission to build the staff and increase our online presence. With in a year I had accomplished both of these goals. I felt like was moving forward and bringing people with me that were headed towards successes as well. Then I was presented with the biggest and fear inducing decision, Michael was ready to move on from owning Artists in Motion and Massage therapy to pursue his dreams in the world of martial arts. He offered me the company for a purchase. Yep, you better believe I had my stomach drop to somewhere around my toes. I also jumped in and said yes! and purchased the business. I spent the next few years building and encouraging the staff as well as expanding my own abilities.

Then 2020, the year where I faced my greatest fears as a business owner. In March of this year like so many states we were being shut down, doors closed and no date of when we will be able to reopen. I felt helpless, turned to my faith and the discipline of martial arts. this helped me stay grounded and begin the planning that it would take to recover from this shut down. When the doors were allowed to reopen I went to work with a plan the focus on the enhanced cleaning protocols and extra screening for our clients.
I am happy to say the plans worked and our clients looked forward to coming back. We have down well and as I look forward to celebrating 5 years of ownership, I will be launching a wellness side of the business. Which will include Ionic Foot Detox, Presso-therapy machine and an automatic Chair Massage.

What sets the staff apart from every other massage business or spa? Well the massage therapists here embrace what classes interest them. Not one therapist has the same make up of continuing education classes. This allows every client to have a very custom and unique experience. For me and the therapists we meet people right where they are in life and how those life stresses effect the mind and therefore manifest with in the body. Yet another reason that our tag line is and will always be “Healing the Body the touch the soul”. I hope that as the company expands that this will remain the focus and mission, loving people with out judgement and meeting people with the stillness within the soul so that people can finding peace or work though the stress, or in many cases just take a break form the incessant call for attention with social media, news cycles, job and family responsibilities.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes, the fist book I read as a new member of Artists in Motion Massage Therapy was “Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. The next book was “The slight edge” by Joel Olsen, both book helped me tremendously the set my own boundaries and create new habits that actually helped me.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

In managing a team first know yourself, Dolly Parton said it best, “Find out who you are and do it on purpose”. In doing so you find out what kind of leader you are as well. Always listen first, be open to different ideas that could have big payoffs either in profitability or in how that group of people function as a unit. Analyze what does not work and be quick to make necessary changes. Embrace the art of encouragement and being available to the listen, teach, and or push team members when its important. When you have a group of people let their ideas be encouraged to be added to the development of the company.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.massageforgreensboro.com
• Instagram: @massageforgso
• Facebook: @massageforgso
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Photography credit Headshot: Luck photography, Burlington, NC Massage photos Artist in Motion Massage Therapy