Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kyle Perry, Owner of Perry Massage, located in Lobelville, TN, USA.

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

We are a massage therapy studio and wellness center dedicated to providing clients with the best massage experience possible. The majority of those walking into our business receiving services are females ages 35-60, but we host many different age and people groups in our spa-like business.

Tell us about yourself

I’m a hard-core entrepreneur, which means if I decide to do something, I’m all in. Massage therapy is a career I’ve been passionate about since I started in 2018; it just clicked for me as if it was waiting for me the whole time. My business was born out of the extended driving I did back and forth to Nashville and other towns. It just got tiring sitting in the car six days a week. I gave my all working for others, but I really wanted my own business to be able to have the freedom and creativity to grow and expand on my own terms. With that freedom comes more responsibility, though. It isn’t for everyone, but I really enjoy that entrepreneurial drive. What drives my motivation is humility and my core beliefs. They define who I am. Being humble enough to admit you were wrong in certain areas will take you far, as well as a good to-do list. A list is meaningless, though, if you don’t have the dopamine to complete it. My values and belief in Torah, the Bible, and a higher power (Yeshua or Jesus) keep me going. Believing there’s a Father in Heaven who loves me just as I am but requires me to shoulder responsibility defines who I am. For instance, Torah says to: Have a just balance (don’t steal from others), Do to others what you want them to do to you, and don’t be ego-centered if you succeed and think to yourself: yes! I did that. It was all me and nothing else.

Instead, stay humble, and remember who provides you with everything to enjoy. Those are the hidden motivators inside me that no one sees that make up my moral compass as I grow my business and go about my day. Saying the Shema as a reminder of where my priorities need to be is a healthy way to stay balanced as I grow my business and life. That’s my motivation.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Continuing to see growth, transforming our business from the inside out, and bringing on more contractors and booth renters that we’ll hopefully be able to provide a living wage.

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

The struggles that no one but yourself sees, and how you decide to conquer them. If something breaks, you have to fix it; if something goes wrong, it falls back on you. You are the reason for success and for failure. It’s on you, so it’s your choice, and what you do makes a huge impact. The smallest of details goes a long way. Keeping up with all the to-dos can seem daunting, but the struggle is worth it if you can keep your head above water. You’ll see the shoreline if you keep swimming.

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

  1. Aim for perfection and Get **** done. Self-discipline leads to freedom, and if you mess up, that’s better than not trying. (In most cases).
  2. Strategically place your priorities and systems. Be smart. Network with the right people and don’t hire crappy contractors; buy Facebook marketplace; everything doesn’t have to be new. Start small and grow out.
  3. Running A business is like being on an XY axis. The X is how much you enjoy doing your specialty and the price you’re willing to do it for. The Y is how much customers want what you’re selling; the best businesses succeed when customers want a good or service, and the business owner and employees are passionate about what they do. It doesn’t always work that way, though, you could pour your soul into your passion, but if customers don’t want it, it’s not going to succeed. Find a business that is somewhere in the middle: You’re passionate about it, but it’s also demanded by consumers. Don’t be in a business where you’re super passionate about the product, but no one wants it, but it’s also important not to be in a line of work you despise going to in the morning, but everyone wants it. Find a happy middle ground, and your business will more than likely thrive.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.perrymassage.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerryMassage/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perrymassagetn/

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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