Overall Well-being & Health Goals

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alexandra Martin, RMT & Osteopathic Manual Practitioner student from Ottawa, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a Registered Massage Therapist and providing injury prevention, optimizing physical function, rehabilitation, and stress reduction. I offer a variety of styles of massage, including modalities such as cupping, ART®, and CranioSacral Therapy.

Tell us about yourself

I was in a car accident in 2012 that should have been fatal, but I was fortunate (to say the least) to have made it out alive. And to have only broken my lower leg (tibia & fibula), along with some bruising and other trauma. While I was recovering and reorganizing my life, I met an RMT that was talking about the benefits of massage, and it felt like a light bulb went off. How had I not considered this profession? It checked a lot of boxes for me, and I needed a new chapter to set sails on. Shortly after, I enrolled in school, and the rest was history. I love helping others, I love connecting with people, and I love the variety of my job.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment thus far was to believe in myself to start my own practice. RMTs in Ontario are mostly self-employed, with the exception of some salary positions. Therefore we end up being contracted through other professionals, clinics, spas, etc. I was working at a chiropractic clinic for the first four and a half years of my career and had decided that I wanted to have more control over my practice. I was very nervous, but once I had made the decision, there was no turning back. I built a treatment room in my house and a website, working with a graphic designer to build a logo, and the rest fell into place.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing for me was to find a good work-life balance and setting boundaries. I pressured myself into thinking I had to answer people right away and that I had to say yes to every request.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

The number one thing is to believe in yourself! It is scary and uncomfortable, but that is how growth happens. The second tip I would say is to build firm boundaries and put yourself first. Lastly, accept help when you need it and lean on your support system. You don't have to do it alone, and there are many ways to get something done. Your family and friends want to see you succeed!

It's okay to fail. Failure is how we learn. Even if something didn't work out in the past, it doesn't mean you can't try again.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.alexandramartinrmt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandramartinrmt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandrarmt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandramartinrmt/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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