Imagine uncertainty. Imagine boredom. Constant daydreaming about doing something different. Day after day, working the same job. Doing the same mundane tasks. Tasks that only help your boss. What do they do for you? Anything meaningful? Unlikely.
Then you realize that the only thing they do is provide you with a paycheck. You collect your paycheck and go home to spend the rest of your day tired and exhausted. Only to rinse and repeat the next day. It’s so sad to realize that most people in the world are living this way.
Not realizing their true potential. Not realizing the value they could give to the world. When I was in highschool, they told me that I had to pick a career. How does one do that? Pick something they want to do for the next 40 years when they are 17 years old?
It is such an unfair thing to ask of someone who is essentially still a child. I can’t even conceive of the next 5 years, let alone 40. In fact, I can’t think past Friday! Nevertheless, I was supposed to make a decision… about my future. So I did some thinking and realized a few things.
I knew that once working, each day would consist of 8 to 10 hours of work and 7 to 10 hours of sleep. I would probably have minimal time to myself. In fact, from now until I retire, I will simply be working my life away.
Once I knew that this is what’s to come, I realized that it is so important for me to do something that I truly enjoy. Because of this, even on my worst day, I can think to myself, “Even though today wasn’t the best, I love what I do…” I have said this exact phrase to myself many times in my career. Have a terrible day? Repeat the mantra. I love what I do.
This was especially needed on days where my boss or colleague was hard on me. Each time, I reminded myself that I love what I do. There are a lot of people that would just spend most of their days over the next 40 years literally hating their life. I didn’t want that for myself. I wanted to do something that I loved. This is something I realized at 17.
So the most important thing was to decide on a career that I would hopefully enjoy. I knew I didn’t want to sit all day and I wanted to be able to move around. I also knew I wanted to be inside. I enjoy the outdoors but want to enjoy them on my time. I didn’t want to have to be either freezing or overheating outside and trying to work at the same time. That just doesn’t sound fun. Now, I know work is not supposed to be fun. However, I think you can either truly like what you’re doing or learn to enjoy aspects of it. I acknowledge that most people dislike their job at times.
I also knew I wanted to help people somehow, or at least do something that could make a difference in the world. Even if it was a small one. Now I was getting somewhere. I knew what I was looking for in a career but I still didn’t know what that career was. So I had to research. I made a list of over 100 different professions and went through them one by one. I tried to think realistically and decide if I would possibly enjoy what each job had to offer.
I eventually ended up with a list of only a few options. If I remember correctly, those professions were: interior decorator, bartender, massage therapist or a real estate agent. There were two more but I can’t recall what they were.
Looking at this list, I realized that I wasn’t very creative, so interior decorator was out. I would look at an empty room and have absolutely no idea what to do with it! It was just sad. To this day, I am not a very good decorator. Anyone who knows me just had a good chuckle.
I also didn’t want to spend only weekends working late at night. So bartending was out as well. On top of that, it’s not enough income.
Real estate agents are required to be on call 24/7 to show houses. Imagine… you’re just settling into your evening, then you get the call. Now you have to rush out. Nah. I know myself… that’s not for me.
So that just left Massage Therapy. Hmm. This could work. I get to work every day in a quiet, relaxing environment and help people feel better at the same time. It could offer a lot of flexibility. It could also offer minimal flexibility traded for more stability. It all depends on what kind of lifestyle you want. You can set this career up to work for you the way you want and need it to.
Now I’m on to something! This could work! Excitement sets in. On top of that, I was hoping I could find something in the health field that I could do. I had always enjoyed biology and learning about the human body. Also, as there was and still is currently too few RMTs in Ontario, work would likely never be an issue. Then there’s flexibility for where you choose to work. Spas, clinics, mobile therapy, or working from your own home. You can also teach, write books or buy property to build your own spa or clinic. So many options!
This job fit. It works for what I wanted my lifestyle to look like AND it fit me as a person. The only downside is that most RMTs work for 15 years or less before they retire. This is due to how physical the job is and how hard it is on your joints.
Now I had a plan. I would educate myself in the field of Massage Therapy and be an RMT in Ontario. I had a 10 to 15 year plan. I think there are a lot of people out there who wouldn’t like this solely because it’s a very short period of time. Essentially, it means that by the time I turned 35 years old, I would have to retire from this field.
I just turned 30 a few months ago and as slow as the time felt going by, I now realize how fast the last decade has disappeared. As predicted, I am starting to feel the wear and tear on my body. No matter… I always knew I wouldn’t want to remain an RMT for 40 years Not because I don’t like it, but because life is so short. I believe it’s too short to do the same thing everyday for your entire life. That, and it would drive me nuts!
It is one of the reasons I was okay with becoming an RMT. I get to change it up. How exciting is that?! This career is so flexible. I can continue to work and just work less, or I can hire someone to take over my clientele. I can also transfer my business from my home to a storefront and hire multiple staff. Or I can retire and completely shift.
Choice. Flexibility. It is limitless. This profession is wonderful. I originally chose it because I wanted a way to help people and make a difference in people’s lives. Without realizing it, I have literally set myself up for success in such an unconventional way. By choosing this career, I have given myself endless options.
Today, society puts too much pressure on young people to decide on a career. While having a career can be important for a lot of people, I think it’s more important to try and find something that you’d love doing. I guarantee that by doing something you love, you’ll have far more good days than bad, you won’t be bored at work and you’ll get more out of life because you’ll be enjoying your work.
Figure that out first and then choose a few career options that will support that. Once you figure those two things out, you need to decide whether you want to do the same thing until retirement or if you’ll need to change it up. At the end of the day, make sure to put yourself first and choose a career that is right for you and one that will help you achieve the life you want to lead.
JOIN OUR START A MASSAGE THERAPY HOME BUSINESS FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
If you’re already a Massage Therapist who is interested in opening your own business or are already making plans to open your own business, I have an amazing Facebook community that I would love for you to be a part of! It’s a safe and positive space with other Massage Therapists all working towards the goal of owning their own small home-based business. Click the image to join!
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