Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lauren Morris, Owner of Glow Massage PDX, located in Portland, OR, USA.

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

I am a massage therapist and run my own studio out of Portland, OR. I have a passion for helping people who are struggling with chronic or acute pain and enjoy empowering clients to keep moving and stretching to help improve their day-to-day living. I offer a place of relaxation, grounding, and pain relief that keeps people coming back each week.

Tell us about yourself

I have been a massage therapist since 2015 and, like many massage therapists, began working for spas and chiropractic clinics. My biggest motivation for going out on my own was a necessity.

I was working too many hours and getting injured in the process. In 2021, I finally became brave enough to start my own business, and it has been nothing short of wonderful. Each day I am motivated to keep learning new skills and techniques so that I can best help out my clients. I have learned some techniques that also help my body, in the long run, to be able to stay in this business for a long time.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In the massage world, the easiest way to get people in the door is to offer discounts, which is great for getting people in but not so great for the bottom line in earning potential. So, I would say my biggest accomplishment has been building a big enough community through referrals and social media to be able not to have to offer discounts all of the time but to be able to pick and choose when and how I can gift massage. Also, I was able to do this in less than a year, which is a big deal!

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

I think one of the hardest things is finding the people who are on your side and can help your business perform better in the long run. I think it is easy to take on too much due to fear of making a hiring mistake, but I think that accepting help and learning from others can be one of the best assets to a new business owner.

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

I would say the first tip is to talk to everyone about who you are and what you do. Some of my favorite clients are people who I met out at an event or outing and mentioned my job without any stress of telling them to book. Second, I would say surround yourself with people who support and wish you well. Say goodbye to those nay-sayers. You do not need that negative energy in your life. Lastly, I would say just do it. There are always going to be reasons not to start something, so taking those first steps toward growing a business is better than not taking any steps at all.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

A mantra that I say to myself often is, "what's the worst that could happen?" That has been a great indicator of whether I should or should not make some sort of decision, and it has not steered me wrong yet. Usually, the worst thing that could happen really is not even that detrimental, so I like to take big swings, and so far, the journey has been great.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.glowmassagepdx.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glowmassagepdx/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glowmassagepdx/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmorris58/

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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