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

Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

“I’m in remission!” After spending 3 years fighting cancer and many complications, I was finally in remission and feeling like myself again! It was time to get back to work, but this time it would be for me.
I wanted to make every one that supported me through the hardest time of my life proud of me. Not only did I want a place that was mine to enjoy doing what I love to do but I wanted a place for others to spend time and get away from everything they have to endure on a daily basis. It was time to bring the joy of a second chance at life as a gift of relief for anyone with the weight of the world on their shoulders, even if that was only for an hour or two. I could not wait and started right away by applying for a $10,000 loan, I got my business license first and luckily a massage table was included in massage school tuition.
After working for a business that provided a table to work on, it was time to bring out my table that has been in the closet for the last 13 years! I always knew I would need it one day.
Still having many doctors appointments I needed a schedule that would work for me, so going back to my old job was not an option as they made your schedule.
I started off with mobile massage and quickly realized that carrying a 50lb massage table up and down stairs with supplies would quickly become tiring.
I also remembered that I was doing this to get people away from everything they have to take on daily and here we were in the middle of their home, they needed a place to get away from the pile of laundry or the sound of the dish washer running.
I needed a place where I could leave my table and all of my supplies so I wouldn’t tire myself out carrying it to each appointment.
One morning as I dropped my boys off at school I passed A Salon Suites, “Do they have an extra room where I can massage?” I quickly called the phone number on the door.
It was the answer I have been looking for the entire time. Not only did they have an extra room, this room would be mine for $335 a week and I can decorate it however I would like! Working for a business you’re unable to make changes to the room, everything is placed as they want it, down to the towel warmer.
The first item I brought into my new room was my 13 year old table. Still strong and still reliable. Here we are 13 years later, far away from the 18 year old girl that thought Massage Therapy would only be to gain experience in the Physical Therapy field to get away from her cashier job at Papa John’s Pizza.
It was time to make this room mine!
Store after store grabbing every blue and gold piece I could find, late nights on the computer putting together business cards, medical forms and making sure everything was perfect, my room was finally ready.
It was me. It was me after the storm.
It was calm, relaxing, and peaceful.
I started with clients that have been anxiously waiting for me to return to work. They came running in the door with no hesitation, even though I made it clear that I would be a little rusty.
Unfortunately, this place wasn’t as peaceful as I thought it would be due to one of my room walls having a big coffee franchise on the other side of one of my walls!
“What do I do!” I loved everyone in the building but this room was for my clients.
“I have to find another place”
Again, as I dropped my boys off at school I passed Phenix Salon Suites.
“This can’t be real!”
I have had my eye on this place for so long! ” It won’t hurt to go check it out and talk to the owner.” I opened the door and there in front of me was a ceiling to floor waterfall! Peaceful, relaxing and refreshing. Everything I have been looking for for my clients.
The owner described that the back of the building is designated for quite services. Patient and kind, he brought me to each room to see if they would be a fit.
Room #119. It was perfect! I signed the contract that day!
I had two weeks left at my prior suite with clients on the schedule and also had to move my entire business to my new suite! This was going to be tough but I was looking forward to the calm after the storm. It was time to move!
My family knew this was important to me. They jumped in and helped me right away. My sister came in and painted the walls and hung up the curtains, my dad and step dad hung up shelves, cabinets and hooks as I’m not great with any of these things and needed to protect my hands as they were going to have a lot of work to do after my room was all set.
I slowly brought my business piece by piece over to my new suite as I worked on clients in between. They were a little confused why the walls were blank or items were missing but I told them I was doing it for them. When my new suite was finally complete, I couldn’t believe it but it was even better! Better because this room was full of love. My family and I put everything together.
This room is full of love, it’s peaceful, it’s relaxing and it’s mine.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As an 18 year old girl, I was looking forward to going to college for Physical Therapy. I knew to be successful in the field I needed to gain as much experience as possible. Many Massage Therapist work with Physical Therapist to help assist them with loosening tight muscle.
After I graduated high school I went right into school for Massage Therapy and fell in love with it right away. Taking care of my health has always been important to me and Massage Therapy was just another form of taking care of my body as long as being able to assist others in taking care of theirs.
With just an hour massage you can relax muscle tension, boost blood and lymph circulation while managing stress and pain relief.
After 15 years massage therapy has provided me with so much joy as every day, I feel like I’m giving someone a gift.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Being a massage therapist, I know how important massage is for the body. There have been many times I have received massage myself and just felt like my problem areas were not addressed or as I spoke to the therapist they only looked at me as another client.
My strategy is intention, focus and consistency.
With every client I meet I take the time to focus and listen to them and why they have come to me. During our time together I intentionally want to help them and make sure what I am doing is beneficial for them. I take notes on each clients session just to remember the small things. These small things someone brings up may seem little to us but if they are talking to us about it, it is because it is big to them. Remembering the small things let’s my clients know that I am listening to them and I do care about them.
Being consistent gives my clients quality care and real results!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Being a massage therapist having a hand injury can be detrimental to our career.
Being a mom to 2 boys keeps me on my toes.
With learning how to skateboard as a kid myself my boys were finally at an age they also wanted to learn!
Unfortunately, after a 4 year battle with cancer, 13 years massaging and only a year after opening my business a rock trapped under my skateboard while on a ride around the neighborhood with my boys and I broke my hand!
I thought I would be done massaging forever. I deal with other people’s injuries daily and know they never seem to recover the same.
But here I am 15 years later!

Contact Info:

• Website: Thank you for contacting Custom Body Massage! At the https://booksy.com/en-us/880094_custom-body-massage-llc_massage_29251_las-vegas#ba_s=sh_1

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Custom Body Massage