Some words from Australia.

I am, as you perhaps have read, a temporary contributor to this publication. “I didn’t realize the job was available” I hear you cry – or, ”was he elected to this position? – if so, I didn’t vote for him..)

So, I have an opportunity to speak to you, and listen to you – give me a little time, and let me pass on a few ideas about manual therapy.

When I moved away from my previous occupations, into the field of massage , my parents, and a few friends, thought I had taken leave of my senses. In Australia, and, I understand, in many other overseas countries, the term massage has a lot of baggage attached to it, mostly because of the prostitution industry, but this situation is not helped by the poor behaviour of many so-called massage therapists.

I have been in the business, and the profession, of massage for over 25 years. That doesn’t mean I have seen everything, or that I have achieved everything, or that I have all of the answers; but I can say this: my small business has survived, in a township of maybe 100,000 people, because of three things*.

I had original training, which, looking back, I would classify as basic. My real learning came from my clients – the more practice you and I have , the greater our chances of advancing; I would add, if your skills are not high, then practice will not make perfect, further practice of bad styles or skills will only confirm the earlier imperfection.

What you desperately need, when you launch yourself into any business venture, is a good reputation – something you completely lack when you first graduate. This reputation stems from the feedback from satisfied clients – clients that you are still trying to capture…this is a real dilemma, and one that I try to warn my students about, before they become discouraged.

Reputation, in the profession of massage, or manual therapy, is elusive, hard won, and fragile. If you were say a medical practitioner, then very often the existence of a University Degree somehow conveys an image of reliability, dependability, and trustworthiness. In our, can I say, lesser profession, we need to earn our reputation in various ways.

You will be judged by

ü      the way you dress,,

ü      the way you behave in public, and

ü      the appearance of your home, your clinic, your car, your possessions.

and this is before the client experiences your touch.

Unfair !!  I hear you cry, and you could be correct,  but –,ask yourself -  “would you allow your young daughter, your elderly mother, or your loved one to attend the clinic of this person ? “

*Oh, the three things ? *Basic ability, *preparedness to learn, and *reputation

Mr. Bernard Scully

Newcastle, Australia

 (www.theinsideout.com.au)