We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bernadette Mitchell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Bernadette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
I started my work life in administrative positions. I attended a vocational-technical high school which prepares you for the work force. I was not able to choose my own vocation (because of my parent’s wishes), which would have been cosmetology or interior design. I always knew I had a creative entrepreneurial spirit. So, throughout the years, I continued in the legal field as a paralegal, legal assistant or legal secretary.
One day, my last employer sent out an email for everyone to come to Classroom A. They told everyone if you hear your department, section or job titled called, please go to Classroom B. About a third of the room left Classroom A. After everyone left, they locked the doors to our classroom and informed that effective immediately everyone that went into Classroom B, were no longer employed with the company. Everyone was shocked. Surprisingly, they pulled out food, drinks and we watched movies for the rest of the day which allowed everyone in Classroom B to clear the premises. The company laid off personnel from the top down – those with company cars, expense accounts, etc. I knew on this day that I needed a Plan B.
My mother always told me that I was good at my hands and how I would be “laying hands on her” when she had a stiff neck or other form of pain. My grandmother had me massaging her legs and feet that were no longer there (due to a double amputee above the knees). Mother would always say I should do this for a living. I always thought why would I give up my legal job with the high salary and benefits for massage. That day of the layoffs changed the game plan and my life forever. While over a friend’s house, he had a brochure on the table for massage school. I picked it up and read it and I had an epiphany…I was going to register in this school.
I went to massage school at night for a year while working during the day. I was apprehensive at first going back to school in my 30’s and feeling like I would be out of place with younger students. What I learned was – I was not the only adult learner in the class making a career change. Those younger students that I thought I would be intimidated by, I ended up encouraging and helping them and they looked up to me! In the process, I became an honor student! People on my job always asked what I was going to do when I completed the course, and I would say I wanted to do massage part-time. Although that was not true at all because during the time I was in school, we had additional lay-offs and I wanted to get out of there.
A friend told me about Groupon, a marketing program that was just beginning and I thought why not. How would I get random clients without paying a lot of money up front. Well, that turned out to be just the blessing I needed as I sold over 1100’s vouchers. How was I going to work full-time at the firm and do all of these massages? So, stepped out on faith. I talked to a friend that had a wellness center and asked if I could come on board and he said yes! And there it was BES Natural Solutions! I put in my two-week notice.
It was challenging to retain these clients as while there are people who are looking for a regular therapist to see, some just want the inexpensive deal. That’s alright too and I had to learn to accept that. After that, I hustled to get client’s marketing through social media, going to vendor events, and putting a business card in anyone’s hands that would accept it. That was eleven years ago, and I am still striving to achieve my dreams. If you are that young entrepreneur – keep pushing, keep striving. Don’t let anyone block your dreams. Everyone is not going to see your vision and it’s wise to understand that and keep it moving. What God has for you, is for you!
After taking the national exam and jurisprudence test,
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
When I began my massage career, I just had simple relaxation in mind. However, it seemed everyone that laid on my table had some health disparity they were dealing with. This catapulted me to take continuing education courses that were more medical based. In addition, I went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in alternative health and wellness – once again graduating with honors.
There is a place for medical science in addition to alternative holistic health in our society and I found a number of clients were seeking a way out of taking a lot of pharmaceuticals. Many have had surgery, going to have surgery, been in PT, chiropractic care and acupuncture and still have not achieved what they really needed. I began reaching out to the medical community and a number of lawyers to offer my services. I followed up with insurance companies by becoming credentialed to accept insurance. While all insurance companies do not accept massage therapy as a treatment, some offer massage on a discount basis as an alternative treatment.
So, I continued to apply to all insurers in order that one day I would get a physician – any physician to seriously accept massage therapy as an alternative treatment for their patients. Finally, the day came. I received a letter from the Veteran’s Administration inviting me to sign up to become a provider for their network of services! And there it was…finally doctors who refer their clients for massage therapy and insurance provider that pays! YES!!
This is officially my niche market – medical/orthopedic massage for pain and dysfunction. During the course of my career, I have received training in geriatric massage, oncology, prenatal/postnatal, medical massage, lymphatic drainage, cupping therapy, and kinesiology taping. To add to my niche market, I provide care and treatment to men and women after receiving cosmetic surgery. I am most proud of this work and benefits my clients receive. Imagine experiencing the healing aspects of pain to actual healing? There is no feeling that could truly capture the experience of complete awe.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have had to pivot my life and business on a couple of occasions. The first occurred when I learned I had Meniere’s Disease. Going to work one day, suddenly the earth began to spin literally, and I could not catch my bearings. I was able to get it together long enough to make it to the nearest hospital. I was told I was experiencing vertigo which I had no idea what that was. Over time, it became worse, and I could not drive, walk or leave my home as the sensations were so overwhelming. I lost my job that year because I really fell apart not understanding what I was experiencing and finding it so hard for doctors to tell me what was going on with me. It actually took me two years before I received a final diagnosis and received vestibular therapy to help me cope with life. After three years, I was able to return to full time employment again. This was when I was employed with my last law firm.
Covid-19 was one of the worse times ever. I was doing very well in my business when suddenly the world stopped. Just about everything and everybody. March 15, 2020, and not able to reopen until May 2021. Landlord still wanted to be paid for my suite as well as other household bills that needed to be paid. I was blessed to have some of the money and a loving husband that was working from home and helped as well. Applying for grants, loans, unemployment that seemed to take forever to come in. The state was requiring a lot of changes in order to reopen which included purchasing a lot of equipment (PPE supplies, etc.) that I did not have the money for. However, I was encouraged to reopen because I wanted to help people overcome this tragedy. People were in pain. People were stressed. They were scared and needed that therapeutic touch to get them through and let them know that life will eventually return to a new normal. This included those who had covid and needed to recover from it and those that were dealing with the stress and pain associated with our world scenario. Not only was it my goal to help others, I needed the help myself by helping others.
Since, May 2021 I have been still open and continuing to persevere through these challenges and making them work for me – not against me.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been word of mouth. Word of mouth can go very far! The reason it has been effective for me is that I listen to what my client’s say. I intuitively listen to their bodies, I educate them, and I do great work. I use my skills and talents to provide education on social media platforms where others recommend me to someone else – just because they heard me speak and share my experiences, strengths and hopes that helps others. My online reviews further guide people to recommend me to their friends and family.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.besnaturalsolution.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/besnaturals
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BESnaturalsolutions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/besnaturalsolutions
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/besnaturalsolu1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvTs9oOkVTUY2m-w_COJXEg/featured