It’s been my dream since I started massage therapy school in 2014 to have my very own clinic but let me tell you this wasn’t a brisk walk.
Here are my cliff notes:
- 2014 – Start massage therapy school
- 2016 – Graduate massage therapy school (20 months of a highly intense program)
- 2016 – Write 4 provincial board exams. I failed 1, and failed that one 2 more times.
- 2019 – FINALLY start my career as an RMT
- 2022 – Open my own freakin clinic at 30 years old!!
I almost didn’t become an RMT due to one academic board exam and thank goodness I didn’t listen to the people that told me to take a different path. If you are one of those people, and reading this, thank you for your motivation!! I worked at a few clinics, all differently run, and in a way that’s how I built the vision of what my clinic could be.
Where things got a little crazy….I had a baby last July (2022) and 3 months later got the keys to Enhance. So back to work I went cause who in this world can afford to run a new business with very little savings, no EI, and a newborn. Thankfully I have a village of support but it was crunch time! I wanted to be open for January so we had 2.5 months to completely renovate the space. It was NOT a nice looking space before! From October 15th till January 3rd my parents spent countless hours making it look like my dream space. My dad went to his full time job, then to the clinic to work, go home and straight to sleep, every single day. They had a little help, a family of trades came in handy, and other family members learned how to help. Me, well I was kind of useless but it was my job to take care of the admin side. All of our practitioners, I interviewed with my daughter Abigail on my chest. Abby was 3 months and already working!
Fast forward to now, 10 months of being open, we are doing it! And no, it’s not just me anymore, everything is WE. I grew up as a competitive athlete, there is no “I” in team and that is how I run my business. Every practitioner or employee that is at Enhance has made the space what it is now. A fun, succeeding business, and safe place for our community to get help, be treated, or relax. Now…if you’ve seen the rooms, there isn’t much decor because well to be transparent, we can’t afford it. YET!! Each month is better, each month is busier, each month is more fun. I’m literally living my dream! With copious amounts of stress, but I’m here for the ride.
But wait there’s more, just to add to the craziness, I planned a wedding during this time, my husband and I got married this past June (2023). This is how my life works, and always has, when it rains it pours whether it be good or bad. The last year has been GOOD! AMAZING! HARD! There’s been many tears, but also so many moments where I sit back in my office, watching my amazing admin Brooke greet the supportive community Maple Ridge has. I’ve never seen a community come together like this! I can honestly say, every person that has walked through the doors of Enhance has made an impact on my journey.
My dad, who was always my hockey coach, always reminded me of one specific quote.
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
I’m working my ass off but if you’re reading this, I probably couldn’t have done it without YOU. I will be forever grateful, and humble for my continuing journey. No easy one, but I wouldn’t change a thing.