We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Kuhn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

My father is my hero. He was a simple man who did extraordinary things. Not extraordinary by societyies standards but extraordinary by Gods, family/friends, and anybody that came in contact with him standards. I learned so many lessons from him by simply watching his actions not necessarily things he tried to teach me.

Where do I even begin, as a child it was normal for a stranger to be in our home because my father knew no strangers. Anytime he could help somebody he did, sometimes it was friends and sometimes it was the homeless.
Just a few things I learned from his actions are:

-Everybody deserves to be loved
-Nobody should ever be given up on
-We all have a purpose
-If you’re not helping others with what you have been given then you don’t deserve to have it
-Success isn’t income or things, success is relationships and how you make others feel

These are just a few of the valuable lessons I learned from watching him. He lived a good life and died with loved ones around him. He was in so much pain during the last few months of his life but as he was taking his final breath here on earth with his head in my arms he looked up with a huge smile and said “It’s Amazing, It’s Amazing, It’s Amazing” then closed his eyes for the last time. This has now become the biggest influence on my journey.

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?

I started my career at the young age of 20, working in factories while simultaneously embarking on the journey of marriage and parenthood. I had four wonderful children and life was good. But then my life took a drastic turn at the age of 28 when I was diagnosed with narcolepsy—a diagnosis that reshaped my world and those close to me permanently. Battling the effects of narcolepsy was an immense challenge that led to the loss of my marriage, my home, and even my job.

Through my own research, I knew I needed a new job that was low-stress, as that was the only way I could function with my narcolepsy. I wanted a sense of normalcy and control back in my life, so after researching many options, I decided to embark on a new journey to become a massage therapist.

I was almost 40 and I had to go back to school while living with my parents in order to make things work, and I felt like a failure. But fast-forward to today and now I stand 13 years medication-free after a decade of relying on medication for my narcolepsy. Additionally, I lead a narcolepsy support group of over 3,000 members, offering a haven of understanding and connection to those facing this condition and its challenges.

I have since established myself as a provider of massage therapy services and have even ventured into the realm of personal training, offering online training services. In 2023, I proudly launched a new venture—Massage Business Solutions—an endeavor dedicated to assisting massage students and employees of establishments like Massage Envy and chiropractic offices to transition into independent business ownership. Through this endeavor, I provide business-in-a-box consulting for aspiring massage therapists.

I’m most proud of the fact that becoming a victim was not something I would allow. If there is only one thing somebody gets out of my story then I want it to be this. No matter what life hands you, you are in the perfect spot to begin achieving your dreams. Do not wait for anybody else to believe in you, you are all you need.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

While I was working at the Ohio State University as a massage therapist, my personal massage practice began to take off in 2015. It was good timing because a few weeks later without any notice, the university decided they were no longer going to cover massage for their employees and students through their health insurance policy. This unexpected decision rattled the foundation of my business, especially considering the substantial effort I had invested in becoming an approved massage provider under their insurance plan. It was also a blow to my personal practice, as I was faced with a reduction in income, yet still had a very large spousal support and child support payment that had to be made each month. Not wanting to give up on the dream of owning my own business but needing more income, I ventured back into the conventional workforce, accepting a position in a chemical factory during the night while continuing to offer massage therapy services during the day.

Over the next few years, I maintained this dual-track lifestyle, unwaveringly focused on my vision for the future. I held onto gratitude for my health, mental wellness, and stamina, recognizing that they were the pillars supporting my efforts during those demanding days.

Finally, in January of 2020, the rough years of tenacity and dedication led to a triumphant moment. I was able to cast off the constraints of my factory job and embrace full-time ownership of my massage therapy business. As I reflect on this journey, I am reminded that resilience isn’t just about pushing through adversity; it’s about recognizing the need to recalibrate, adapt, and take intentional steps toward our aspirations.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

There are several things that have helped me build my reputation within my market:

1) Working with College athletes- This may be the biggest factor that sets me apart because it gave me so much experience working with different types of muscles and injuries on a regular basis. When professional athletes entrust their bodies with your care (and that is what is making them millions of dollars), it speaks volumes.

2) Client reviews – Client reviews can make or break your business, and I’m thankful for the positive influence they’ve had on my online reputation. I’m proud to say I have over 150 reviews, with more Google reviews than most of my competitors – which is often the deciding factor when a new client chooses to book an appointment with me.

3) Giving back to the community – A key principle that guides my professional journey is the importance of giving back to the community. Whenever opportunities arise to contribute positively to the local community, I seize them. I give away free massages to charity fundraisers or offer discounted massages to people when I can tell they really need it, but maybe can’t afford it. This commitment to community engagement not only aligns with my values but solidifies my reputation as a practitioner who is genuinely invested in the well-being of both individuals and the community as a whole.

4) Mentorship – Sharing the knowledge and wisdom gained through my experience of building a business from scratch is both fulfilling and instrumental in building my reputation. By helping others navigate challenges and avoid certain pitfalls that I’ve encountered, I’m able to support others on similar journeys and provide valuable guidance that I wish I had when I was starting my entrepreneurship journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dkmotivations.com www.614success.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkmotivationsandmassage/. https://www.instagram.com/the614success/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.kuhn.100/. https://www.facebook.com/Davidkuhnmassage
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/davidkuhnmassage
• Twitter: @614Kuhn