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Healthy Competition

I walked into work months ago and the office manager said a lady stopped by the office and wanted to meet me. The lady was moving to town and going to open a new massage business at the new chiropractor’s office. I did not think much of it. Massage therapists had come and gone in my small town. I had an established business and pretty much forgot about the newbie coming to town.

Months later I went up to the open house with my dad. He was welcoming the first colleague in his forty years of practice. He mentioned to me that he was pleased to have someone else in town. He said when you have another good chiropractor in town; it is good for your business and for the profession. He made an interesting point. I would rather have many good massage therapists in town than one bad massage therapist. He and I had some cookies and punch. Finally I got to meet, Amy, the new massage therapist. After conversing for a while, she mentioned trading sometime soon. I admittedly was reluctant to try someone new. After a few weeks, I finally set up an appointment. What was the worst that could happen? After all, I was going to get a massage out of the deal (and I would not have to leave town).

I walked into her office. It was a warm, professional atmosphere with soothing music and a very comfortable table. All of this was accompanied by a FANTASTIC massage. One of the best I have had in my life! She told me had been in practice a few years longer than me and loved the field of massage therapy like me. I was so grateful to have this new colleague inn town. I know I have a lot to learn from her and hope we can both continue to teach others about the benefits of massage therapy. T here is plenty of business for both of us.

If nothing else, this experience has also helped me see I had become a little complacent in my own business. There were small things I could do to provide my existing clients with a better massage experience. What Amy and I have is GOOD, HEALTHY COMPETITION! I would not fault my clients for going there; In fact I have even sent a few up there already. She is trained in some areas I am not and I have heard nothing but great results. Her being in town is great for the community, for me, and for the massage therapy profession.

I hope others take the time to meet your colleagues and see what they have to offer to you, and maybe your clients ;)

Welcome to town Amy!

Ivy J. Hultquist, L.M.T.

Advanced Massage Techniques – 50% of continuing education purchases donated to charity.

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Comment by Teresa Parrish on June 24, 2010 at 12:08pm: Thanks for sharing, you make some really good points.

Comment by Rajam K Roose on June 22, 2010 at 8:47pm: Ivy, what a healthy and refreshing perspective to read. It's tiring to meet other therapists and have to deal with undercurrents of that "competitiveness" -- in reality it contributes to tearing our profession apart when we should be standing together.

Comment by Laura Allen on June 22, 2010 at 11:42am: I shamelessly stole the term "collaborative competition" from my fellow North Carolinian, Felicia Brown, and I use it all the time. There ARE enough aching bodies and stressed-out people to go around, and competition is a healthy thing. Those people who suffer from professional jealousy and crappy behavior towards other MTs need to take a deep breath and get over it!

Since my office is in a highly visible Main St location, it often happens that people will walk in the door and want to get taken in. Most of the time we cannot accommodate that. I will get on the phone and see if anyone else in the area can do it, if they're in pain and we can't get them in soon. And you know what, they come back HERE every time because we are nice enough to do that. Sometimes they stand there and say "You are really calling someone else for me?" That helps my business and it helps whomever I'm sending them to, and the bottom line is, it helps the client.

Comment by Ivy Hultquist on June 22, 2010 at 8:55am: Thanks Rick and Jenny!
When said "different techniques" I meant other modalities and specific training. She has specific training in massage for TMJ/TMJD and lately it seems I have had a lot of people with such issues. Also, I guess I am comfortable sending clients somewhere else. For maternity leave I had to recommend clients go somewhere else. I did not want them just to quit receiving massage therapy for the three months I was gone (which unexpectedly turned into a year). I had provided what I thought was a great service for them for years and I guess I was confident most would return when I was able to work again.
I am in a small town and I have been too busy for many years. I absolutely love having someone else that is qualified and that I trust to recommend clients to when my schedule cannot accommodate them.