Financial planning can be a really tricky topic for anyone who is self-employed, including massage therapists. We want to have a good life, both now and in the future, but there are so many things to consider. There is a business to build, clients to see, and of course, a personal life to live! No one wants to be working all the time, even if there are times we need to. But just like we plan for things like graduation or a milestone birthday, we also need to plan for other big life changes like buying a house and retirement. So for this episode, I am sharing my perspective as a fellow business owner and former massage therapist. I know how tricky it can be when you’re a solo business owner! This is the fourth and final episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

They say many massage therapists quit or burn out in 3-5 years. But that doesn't have to be you! If you want to stick around your massage therapy career for the long term, I've got some tips and tools you can use to help your body (and mind!) be in it for the long haul. This is the third episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

Massage therapists are passionate about their careers, but this can sometimes lead to working too much and not taking enough time for self-care. This can lead to burnout and feeling like we don't have a life outside of work. So in this episode, we are discussing: Using your Enough number (see last week’s episode!) to set goals How growth for the sake of growth isn’t worth your time (and will only lead to burnout) Setting boundaries as a business owner (to avoid, you guessed it, burnout) How you should think of yourself as more than just your job title The importance of working to live (having your career support your life, not run it!) This is the second episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

This next series of episodes is going to talk about realistic, achievable business strategies that, when all put together, allow you to keep working as a massage therapist for many years to come. Over this set of five episodes, we’re going to talk about financial factors, business planning, setting boundaries within your business, tools, and technology you can use to make your life easier, and the importance of taking time for your own self-care. Today we are talking about setting business goals. We are discussing: What are business goals, exactly? The concept of SMART goals Figuring out what your Enough number is in terms of income The importance of setting realistic goals that fit both your career and life. This is the first episode in my short series on How to Stay a Massage Therapist for the Long Haul. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/show-notes/

Being self-employed as a massage therapist is the norm, at least in North America. However, the vast majority of people would be much better off as employees, rather than working for themselves. Why do I say this? There are a few reasons, which I go over in today's episode. This is the third episode in my short series on Controversial Topics Within Health and Wellness. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

One of the things massage therapists on the whole are sensitive about are questions about the efficacy of their treatments. There are a lot of therapist websites out there that have this big list of conditions, diseases, and disorders that they say massage therapy can treat. So in today’s episode, we’re talking about the science behind massage therapy - or the lack of it. But we’re also talking about why it doesn’t necessarily matter, at least in terms of running your business! This is the second episode in my short series on Controversial Topics Within Health and Wellness. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

We are closing out the year talking about some controversial topics in the health and wellness industry. No matter where you fall within this overall ‘sphere’, these are things you should be thinking about, in terms of how this has an effect on your business. This episode is discussing something that has been in the media a lot recently, and that is the link between the wellness community and conspiracies. There is a lot to think about, so I've provided some food for thought! This is the first episode in my short series on Controversial Topics Within Health and Wellness. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

A little update on what's going on with this podcast and what you can expect next! Spoiler alert: more episodes coming shortly! Find out more about this podcast at my website, https://happylittlebiz.com/podcast/. Shownotes for most episodes are available as well!

Today we're going over five tips to save time and money in your massage therapy business. Stuff that isn't the typical 'shop sales' or 'use coupon codes'... because we all know that! Ready to save some cash? This it the third of three episodes on Money Mindsets. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Unpopular opinions warning! Sometimes we need to think non-linearly about our income. We need to get creative on ways we can use our professional skills and resources to earn. It helps us get off the roller coaster that booking ups and downs can have.  You see, it doesn’t have to be all hands-on hours or an hour of your time for a fee exchange. So in this episode, we talk about exactly that! If you want to increase your income without just booking more hands-on time, this episode is for you. This it the second of three episodes on Money Mindsets. Show notes are now available for all episodes at happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Money is a tricky topic, but one all of us must think about as business owners and, well, humans! There are multiple mindsets we can fall into that hold us back from having our best chance at success - so that's what we're talking about in today's episode. This is the first in a three-part series on money mindsets. Show notes are now available for all episodes at https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Social media detoxes have been a hot topic for years, but they seem particularly of interest right now. Can your business survive without social media? Can you take time away without losing out on clients? Listen in to this episode where we talk about this and the whole idea of 'detoxes' and whether social media is essential or not. Show notes for all episodes are now available: https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

You can always begin again. No matter what has happened over the last year in your health and wellness business - or in your life - you can still work towards goals and dreams. These goals may have changed, but that's ok! We’re talking about planning, dreaming, focusing on what’s truly important and trying hard to ignore the rest. Show notes for all episodes are now available: https://happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

2020 sure threw us all a curveball! Many of us have had to make major changes to our lives and businesses in order to make it all work. So, that’s what this episode is all about! I talk about two key takeaways from this year, as well as discussing the importance of seeing the full picture and not just focusing on the positive stuff. I also talk about how 2020 has really changed my own life, so if you're curious about all that, tune in! Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

When building an online business, there are certainly some dos and don'ts! Here are my five big tips for any online business, whether you're providing online classes, booking Zoom consultations, or selling products. This is the fourth and final episode in my series on Taking your Health or Wellness Business online. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

In order to have an online business, you need to have people willing to pay you for whatever service or product you have to offer. That’s why it’s so important to cultivate an audience of the right people! When building an in-person health or wellness (such as massage therapy) business, you might have called this your client base. Well, this is the same concept, only digital! These are real people behind the screen, and you need to connect with them in a way that builds trust and confidence in you and whatever it is you are selling. So, how do you do that? Is social media a good way? That's what we're talking about in this, the third episode in my series on Taking your Health or Wellness Business online. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

One of the most confusing parts of building an online business is figuring out exactly what your product or service could be. Should you stick to something health or wellness related? Should you try something totally different? Are products better than services? How do you figure it out? Well, there is no one perfect formula for finding a business idea. A lot of it depends on you! But that said, there are absolutely ways you can sort through your ideas to pinpoint which one will be the best fit. And that's what we're talking about this week! This episode is the second in my series on Taking Your Business Online, for health and wellness providers. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Have you been thinking about creating an online business, or moving some of your services online? Wondering if an online business is a good fit for you? In this episode, we talk about some of the pros and cons of online business. I also talk about some of the stereotypes when it comes to this stuff since it's important to set realistic expectations! If you want to go on an online business adventure, join me and listen in! This episode is the first in my series on Taking Your Business Online, for health and wellness providers. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Finishing up your website and wondering how to launch it? Wondering about SEO? I got you! In this episode, we take a dive into finishing up your website and getting it seen by clients, so you can start getting bookings. This episode is the fourth and final in my series on Building your Best Dang Website. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/

Doing a DIY website and need some tips on how to make the most of your design? I got you! In this episode, we talk about what to look for and what to avoid in DIY website templates. It's not as simple as picking the first one that looks pretty! This episode is the third in my series on Building your Best Dang Website. Show notes for all episodes are now available: happylittlebiz.com/category/show-notes/