Stop With the 6-Figure B.S.

Today we’re going to tackle this 6-figure goal that so many therapists seem to be touting as the be-all-end-all of success, and why I think this approach is B.S. 

It seems like the massage industry is getting more and more like the coaching industry and other entrepreneurial ventures, in which the term 6-figures is thrown around as some sort of crown jewel…the ultimate characteristic of success; like if you hit the $100,000 mark, you’ve made it. And if you don’t, well you’re not really successful yet.  

First and foremost, $100k+ isn’t for everyone. There are plenty of therapists who are perfectly content staying well below that. They may live in an area where $50,000 puts them in a nice, comfortable income bracket, especially if their spouse is working as well. They may want to stay solo and not work as much as it would take to make that $100k. They may only want to work part time so they have more time for kids or family or other obligations in life. They may want to work specifically with lower income clients who just can’t afford to support that 6-figure goal.  

Now, let me say this…if you have that goal of 6 figures, that’s great. Go for it. Work your hind end off and make that money. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having that as a personal goal…but we’ve got to stop pushing this as some sort of be-all-end-all of success, like those who don’t achieve it just aren’t doing enough, or doing things the “right” way. 

And let me fill you in on a little secret…there’s all kinds of people out there touting their 6-figure success, and they’re broke. Some are straight up lying and living far beyond their means to present this picture of being well off, and some are making that amount, but they can’t handle their money, so they’re spending more than they’re bringing in, so they’re still broke. Obviously, that’s not everyone. There are definitely therapists out there raking in 6 figures and doing great. But my point is that you shouldn’t let anyone tell you your worth as a therapist, your success as a therapist or as a business owner, is defined by your revenue or your income…that’s b.s. Here’s the thing; your success or failure is defined by YOU! And you should always be aligning your life goals with your business goals – that’s what’s going to determine your success. Not some arbitrary number of digits on your tax documents. Screw that. If you don’t line up your life goals with your business goals, you very well may find yourself miserable in your business. I still daydream about opening my own clinic again, and having several therapists, and offering all kinds of different services and teaching classes to the public, and all kinds of stuff like that. But guess what…none of that lines up with my life goals right now, so I’m not going to pursue it. Would it probably mean a bigger income for me; yeah. But at this stage in my life, I have two small kids and I want to soak up as much of their childhood as I can, so my goal is to work less. I designed my entire business around that…so that my income could continue to grow without having to increase the demand on my time. That’s my version of success. In fact right now, to be completely honest, I’ve gone against that over that last few months and I’m feeling the consequences with very little sleep and working 7 days a week to try to catch up. So I’m reorganizing and restructuring things to get back to what I had and what I know I want my work life to be like. 

What’s YOUR version of success? Is it that 6-figure income? Great! Is it not an income mark at all, but rather a comfortable income with a reasonable number of hours that allows you some flexibility for family? Is it to have a certain type of business, like a big high end spa or a clinical style business where you work alongside other healthcare professionals? Whatever it is, your version of success is your own – and it goes far beyond just a number.