Make Time to Take Care of Yourself

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joy Lackey, Owner of Allium Massage, located in Boulder, CO, USA.

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

Allium Massage provides mobile massage for busy parents in Boulder. My goal is to bring massage to the whole family, offering pediatric, perinatal, couples, and sports massage.

Tell us about yourself

During the 2020 shifts, I started focusing more on working with parents during pregnancy. I had been doing sports massage before, but I felt like I needed to do more to help families succeed while adjusting to massive changes in their lives. For many parents, especially moms, their massage is one of the few times when the focus is entirely on them and their own needs. It's stressful being a parent, and seeing my clients light up when I arrive is what keeps me going every day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating connections with so many people in Boulder. I've been able to meet people from so many different walks of life in this business, and it's helped me grow and build community in ways I could never have dreamed of 5 years ago.

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

Dealing with depression (or any health issues) as a business owner is tough! It's important to stay on top of your own health and get the treatment you need so that you can show up for your clients and still be present for the people and activities you love when you're done with work.

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

Pick a niche. Most of us can work with all kinds of clients and customers, but it's much easier to refer to someone who does something really specific. When I decided to focus on prenatal massage, my old clients didn't leave, but suddenly it was easier for them to know who to refer — if they have a friend who's pregnant, they send them my way!
Don't give up. It's a cliche because it's true: the master has failed more times than the apprentice has ever tried. I went through so many iterations of my business before I found something that worked for me. It was incredibly frustrating, and I felt like a failure a lot of the time, but it was a necessary learning curve to go through to figure out how to run a successful business.
Put your 2023 vacations into the calendar now! You'll get the work done, but you need to be deliberate about recharging and spending time with your loved ones as well.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://tamaralackey.amtamembers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alliummassage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliummassageboulder/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joylackey/

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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