We recently connected with Lorinze Bennett and have shared our conversation below.
Lorinze, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?
I remember I was fresh out the Army & I moved to Atlanta, GA for a while. My first job out of the military was working for the JCPenny Distribution Center, basically warehouse labor. I was having trouble getting a routine down for the the station I was working on. I had to scan boxes from a conveyor belt & transfer them to a pallet. It was at the point I wasn’t meeting the quota for the day. Most days I would come in & my line would already be filled with packages from 1st shift. So the lead at the time helped retrain me his way. Keep in mind he trained me the first time & this time he showing me a faster was to prep my line before I scan any package to a pallet. Then I started thriving to were I would clear my station then i would go help out on another station that needed to catch up. The best thing that he told me to do was to always expect for your to be filled up when you clock in. So I hope for the best, & try to have a plan if the worst happens.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Lorinze & I also go by Mr.Exhale. I’m originally from St.Louis, MO but I live in San Antonio. I’m also a Army Veteran (5 years of service). What made me get into massage therapy was because I wanted to get out of working in warehouses. My job in the military was logistics & I wanted to stay in that field but it was always an entry level manual labor position. The work would eventually take a toll on my body and mental focus. I’ve been providing massages since 2009. I do love what I do & it is therapeutic for me as well. Provide out call services & I specialize in deep relaxation sweedish, pre-natal & chair massages. What I think that sets me apart from other therapists is that I try to help the client to relax by exhaling deep (Mr.Exhale). Over the years I’ve learned that it is very difficult to squeeze or flex any muscle (group) if you’re more focused on emptying out the lungs with deep exhales out the mouth. I am aware that my style & technique may not be for everyone. I am currently employed by a nationally known clinic but on my down time I am a individual contractor & trying to push my brand around the city then venture out to other major cities in Texas. Since my license covers the whole state I believe there are endless opportunities for me to grow & expand. Eventually I want to grow into my own business were I can have a team of traveling licensed massage therapists throughout the state of Texas.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Once I graduated from taking the LMT course I enrolled into culinary arts school. At one point in my life I wanted to combine my services, for example, a couples’ dinner & massage party. Over some time, I realized that the cooking industry took away majority of your personal time to enjoy life or build a brand. And working for a clinic didn’t help either. I also wasn’t agreeing with the pay you received for the work you give. So I made decision that I would stop promoting myself in the food industry & just focus on giving 110% dedication to Massage Therapy.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
For me the most effective strategy would be exposure. For example I would wear one of my custom shirts with my logo to services, gatherings & events. With the same logo I blast it across social media via reels, stories & regular posts. I’ve invested in flyers, cards & stickers.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mrexhale314
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorinze.bennett
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKzu35aazwPK_S6bc-QOxAA
- Other: Email: rinn44@yahoo.com