Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arleta Zember. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Arleta, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I’m so thankful to be where I am today in my career—but even more than that, I’m grateful for where I am in life and what I’ve learned about myself. The idea of my massage and skincare practice, Skintalk, was not a linear path, and it actually wasn’t even the initial goal for me. Getting to where I am now comes down to one thing: I wanted better for myself than what I currently had. Through grit, determination and consistency, I took each day as an opportunity for growth.

I didn’t always know I’d become a massage therapist. Backing up a bit – I’ve done all kinds of jobs and started working from the age of 14. My story of determination is not unlike many other entrepreneurs. I moved out before graduating high school, and from a young age, I was focused on finding my way forward, even if the path wasn’t clear or easy.

Like many people, I was convinced I was “supposed” to go to college right after high school, but deep down I knew I wasn’t ready. At 18, I just wanted to experience life. Around 20, I enrolled in esthetics school with dreams of becoming a makeup artist. After graduating, I worked at a spa—but it didn’t feel like the right fit, and financially, it wasn’t sustainable. I started questioning everything. I wasn’t sure what path to take, and massage therapy kept lingering in the back of my mind, but I dismissed it, thinking I wasn’t allowed to take that path.

I tried other things I thought were more practical: dental assisting, retail, bartending, you name it. My early 20s was a time for trial and error and I tried a little of everything. My partner and I bought a house, and I convinced myself it was time for a “real” job with benefits and PTO, so I took a corporate position at a health insurance company. At first, it felt like progress. But when COVID hit and we were all sent home, something shifted. The isolation made me realize how far I’d drifted from joy and purpose. Day after day at my desk, I kept asking myself, Is this it? Am I really going to do this for 30+ years?

That question was the push I needed.

I enrolled in the massage therapy program at the Academy of Health in Milwaukee. I was lucky enough to have an incredible teacher, Debbie, who not only taught technique but also how to believe in yourself. She showed me that you can pivot as many times as you need to until you find the right path—and that you can love what you do and earn a living doing it.

Massage school was the beginning of a new life. It was scary to shift my mindset, but the moment I got the email saying I passed my exam and was officially licensed, I knew I had to go all in. I quit my job the next day.

I started out at a massage chain, thinking I’d stay there for a long time. But as I built deeper connections with my clients, I realized wanted to give them more—more time, more flexibility, more of me. So I took another leap of faith and rented a room to start my own business. That leap was somehow even scarier than leaving my corporate job. Suddenly, everything was on me. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was exactly where I was meant to go. It felt like something—or someone—was pulling me along whispering, You can do it. You SHOULD do it.

Eventually, I phased out my work at the chain and went full-time solo. After saving, planning, and a whole lot of self-trust, I found a beautiful studio space where I could take my practice to the next level.

Starting my own business was the scariest thing I’ve ever done—but also the most rewarding. For anyone wondering if they should take a chance on themselves… I say do it. Once you open the door to doing work that truly lights you up, there’s no going back. And I wouldn’t want to. My path to get here wasn’t clear, and it didn’t have to be. The most important part was that I kept trying. My favorite mantra when I feel lost in my life is: I’m not giving up on myself today. And that’s exactly it, if you want to reach for more – regardless of how big or small it is – you simply cannot give up trying.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi! I’m Arleta Zember, a licensed massage therapist & esthetician and solo business owner. I truly love what I do. I’ve worked a lot of different jobs over the years—from restaurants to corporate life—and for a long time, I felt like I was trying to force myself into roles that didn’t fit. When I found massage therapy, it finally felt like coming home.

I started my private practice because I wanted to create a space where people feel genuinely cared for—where they can breathe, slow down, and reconnect with themselves. There is something deeply profound about tuning in to your mind and body. My work is focused on helping clients regulate their nervous systems, release physical tension, and just feel better in their bodies. And I’ve found that sometimes the most healing part of the session isn’t the technique—it’s the feeling of being seen, heard, and safe.

One area I’m especially passionate about is lymphatic massage. This work is gentle and intentional, and it supports the body in such a deep way—especially for folks recovering from surgery, dealing with inflammation, or experiencing ongoing health challenges. The truth is, this population is often underserved. I’ve had so many clients tell me they didn’t even know lymphatic massage existed, or that they’d been looking for help and didn’t know where to go. Being able to show up for them in this way has been incredibly meaningful.

My studio is a place where you can show up exactly as you are. No pressure to be put together. No need to explain yourself. You can walk in feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure—and I’ll meet you there. I want each of my guests to know that for the short time they are with me, they have absolutely no responsibilities to take care of. My hope is to create a tranquil space where people feel safe enough to relax, lay down your burdens, and just breathe. You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t even have to know what you need. Just come as you are—and I’ll be here to hold space for you.

I’m not here to just run through a routine. I take my time with each client. I listen to their words, but also to what their body is saying. Some people come in for stress relief, some for pain, some just need a quiet hour away from everything—and all of that is valid. My goal is to offer care that’s honest, informed, and grounded in real connection. This work takes consistency and heart—it asks a lot of me, and I’ve had to learn how to pace myself so I can keep showing up in a meaningful way. I heard a quote on one of my favorite podcasts, Two Massage Therapists and a Microphone, that stuck with me: “When you’re taking care of others, your time isn’t really yours. When I take care of me, I take care of us.” That’s exactly it, and applies to both my clients and myself. I pour a lot into my clients, and now I know that taking care of myself is part of that work, too.

What I appreciate and value the most is the trust my clients place in me. Building this business has been scary at times, but it’s also been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I want people to know that in my space, you don’t have to be anything but yourself.

You can find me at Skintalk Massage Therapy & Body Care, located in Columbus, WI. To learn more, book a session, or just get a feel for what I do, visit www.skintalkllc.com, follow along on Instagram at @skintalk.massageandbodycare, or connect on Facebook at facebook.com/skintalkllc.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Starting Skintalk wasn’t something that happened overnight—it was a slow build, years in the making. I started dreaming about having my own business back in esthetics school, almost 8 years ago. Even then, I had this quiet little voice that said, “One day, this will be yours.” And from that point on, I was making decisions with that vision in mind.

I didn’t have a big loan or outside funding. I just kept my head down and did the work. I took jobs that paid the bills, side gigs that kept me connected to the industry, observed the successes of people I looked up to, and saved every little bit I could. Like many business owners can relate to, there were sacrifices—plenty of them—and quiet moments of doubt. But I was focused. I believed that if I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, eventually I’d land exactly where I was meant to be.

But I didn’t do it alone. My partner, Kyle, played a huge part in helping me get here. His emotional support, his constant belief in me, and just the way he’s always been there to catch me if I stumbled—that gave me the stability to take risks. When I was scared, he reminded me of my strength. When I felt like giving up, he grounded me in love. Honestly, without that kind of partnership, I don’t know if I’d be standing where I am now.

So yes, this business was built on years of planning, saving, and hustle—but it was also built on trust, partnership, and love. And I wouldn’t trade that story for anything.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that work was supposed to be about survival, not passion. I grew up with this belief — like a lot of people do — that you get a job, you find one with benefits, and you just stay there until retirement. The goal wasn’t joy, it wasn’t creativity, it wasn’t personal growth — it was stability. It was about playing it safe, sticking to what you “should” do, and being grateful for a steady paycheck.

Massage therapy, in my mind, wasn’t for “people like me.” It was for the dreamers. The ones who took risks. The ones who somehow had life just work out for them. I thought I had to stay in the mold I’d always known — find a traditional job, stay put, and not expect too much beyond that. I didn’t believe I was “allowed” to chase something that felt so deeply right for me.

But when I hit a really low point in my life — emotionally and mentally — I remember my partner looking at me and saying something that has stuck with me ever since: “If life feels like it has no meaning, it’s up to you to create it.” That was the moment everything started to shift for me. I realized I had been waiting for permission, or for the “right time,” or for life to somehow magically line up. But the truth was, the only person who could give me that permission was me.

When I finally let go of the idea that I wasn’t meant for more, and I took that leap into massage therapy, I became one of “those people” — the kind who doesn’t settle, the kind who builds a life on purpose and passion instead of fear and limitation.

And that’s the best lesson I’ve ever unlearned.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.skintalkllc.com
• Instagram: @skintalk.massageandbodycare
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skintalkllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arleta-zember/