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

Rebekah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I was working as the Lead Massage Therapist for a company. I wasn’t worried about finding clients or staying booked. I had an entire book of regulars, a good relationship with the staff, and things were running smoothly. However, my creative side was not fulfilled, and there was so much more I wanted to offer my clients and community. I’m a highly ambitious person, and I wanted to go out on my own, but I was scared. My mother always told me I should start my own business, but I didn’t yet believe in myself and was afraid of failure. I would sit and daydream about working for myself and having my own company. I decided there was only so much daydreaming I could do before I’d eventually have to take the leap!
After seven years as an employee, I went out on my own. Looking back, the timing was perfect. I love owning a business and have seen how much potential I have. I wish I had started sooner, but I needed time to gain the courage to take on such a big risk. Once I began to believe in myself, I started getting excited about the success and making all those daydreams a reality.

Rebekah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I became a massage therapist because I wanted to help clients destress and retreat from their busy lives. I’ve been a massage therapist since 2012, and now as a business owner, I can focus on creating a sanctuary for my clients. I seamlessly balance results and relaxation in all my sessions by using soothing techniques that help move the nervous system into a calmer state. I’ve learned that once the body feels safe to relax, deeper muscles are more accessible, and using a medium/firm pressure, we address the areas holding tension.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I began by building a community first. When I started my business, I focused on developing relationships with other business owners and health care providers. We created partnerships that worked together to create a network of referrals and recommendations. Once that network was built, other business owners began to reach out, and the network grew. These relationships created an easy and fun way to have quality clients walk through my door, sharing my values of supporting locals and building community.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Honesty. Transparency is one of the core values I hold for my business. That means setting expectations and boundaries upfront. I want my clients to know what is expected of them, and also what they can expect from me. It also means encouraging conversations, even the tough ones, because honest feedback is vital to the professional relationship.

Contact Info:

• Website: Truemassagesd.com
• Instagram: @Truemassagesd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Truemassagesd
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/O1dF9xb83rb

Image Credits
Sydney Barrett