Paula here. Realness is a big value of mine, so I'm going to share a post I wrote on my personal Facebook page here. Especially since it has everything to do with this business.
(This is the part where I overshare by some people's standards. If you don't want the deep stuff, feel free to bounce out. I won't take it personally. Heck I won't even know. This is the internet after all. )
I know I don't share much about being a business owner. It comes with a different set of struggles than having a J.O.B. Even more so when you have a heart centered business. And then add on top of that employees.
I haven't always made the "right" choices. I've made a lot of "mistakes" and learned a lot of lessons. Many of them the hard way. I've put too much effort into the "wrong" people and too little into the right people at times. But I've always tried.
Over the last almost 13 years, I have been blessed to have a few fantastic people work with me. People I will be immensely grateful for for the rest of my life.
I've also had even more very intense lessons. I've had poor boundaries, been taken advantage of, and had people slander me publicity (while on payroll). I even had one try to turn my whole staff against me and take them with her to a town over.
Needless to say with all that, it's crossed my mind a time or two to close shop. Not give up on my personal practice ~ I love what I do and my clients too much to do that. Rather to throw in the towel on the whole employee/group practice thing. It gets exhausting to pour your heart and soul into something and not have the people around you support adequately (and yes, I do take ownership of my part in that).
Then walked in Dena and Tawney. At their own times of course.
Dena was my last student at Ohana School of Massage. I'm now convinced that she was one of the big reasons why I started the school in the first place. When she walked into my life I had been already on the fence about closing the school. (It's difficult teaching adults in the midst of massive change when you don’t have enough support yourself.) After meeting with Dena I knew I had to teach at least one more year. This woman was going to be a fantastic massage therapist, I just knew it. So rather than teaching a group, I modified the program and taught only her. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Then there's Tawney. Another Divine Timing. Tawney was a newer massage therapist with a passion and curiosity for learning that rivals my own. Not to mention her technique was nothing like I had experienced from any other massage therapist I'd interviewed before. The day Tawney started was the day my other massage therapist gave me her notice. Tawney stepped up and surpassed expectations. All while being true to herself. Another massive gift.
Then life kept happening. Without going into details, this year has been rough. And with my lease being up in the beginning of next year, I was faced with the decision to let Ohana go or keep moving forward.
Unlike other times when I've been at this tipping point, I don't feel alone this time. These two ladies have my back. They show up ~ mind, body, and soul ~ to work every day. They give client-centered care. They are dedicated to their own healing journeys. They walk the talk. They embody each of the values of Ohana in their own uniquely beautiful ways. They gave me hope back. They are the reason Ohana will continue as it is. I am so grateful and blessed to be moving forward with them.
If you've hung it out for all this, thank you for being interested and curious. Those traits will get you far in life. Even further if you compound them with intentional action.
My hope for you is that you find what your passionate about and do that.
That you do your own work so that you can show up more authentically in the world (we need more of that).
And that you are fortunate enough to have good people by your side as you go. They make the world of difference.
P.S. Have to do a shameless plug here. If you haven't tried a massage from Tawney or Dena yet, I recommend you do so. They're each uniquely amazing. And I wouldn't keep someone on staff who I wouldn't joyfully pay for a massage from.