In the beginning, there were the beta members. They were a tenacious band of testers who bravely traversed the primitive lands known as MassageBook. It was a bleak place, clunky in form and flawed in design.

But this crew was persistent. They were dedicated and loyal. They believed in what we were doing, and we believed right back at them.

Our efforts are ongoing and our vision is always in front, but we like to think we’ve come a long way since 2013. No doubt, we’re forever grateful for that group. It’s a been a wild ride, and we thank you for always being on board.

The MassageBooker of the Month is a new program we’re introducing in 2019 as a way to connect with one of you, an amazingly awesome bodyworker who is part of this flourishing community.

Getting back to our roots for round one went without question, so we’re pleased to introduce Ann Wayman as January’s selection.

Ann has been with MassageBook from the get-go, and she’s been navigating her way through it ever since.

We chatted with Ann to dive deeper into her career as a massage therapist, discover the secrets behind her many years of success, and to simply get to know her on a more personal level.

You too can get to know Ann. She’s insightful, charismatic, and overflowing with genuine care for what she does and who she does it for!

Ann’s journey into massage therapy started out of curiosity. She simply wanted to learn more about it. That curiosity has yet to cease, and it’s blossomed into a career that’s left her fulfilled and empowered over the past 20 years.

She’s a California native to the core, and she currently operates Table for One Day Spa in Westminster, where she serves a loyal client base through maintenance designed for both the body and the mind.

MassageBook: Tell us, Ann. How’d you get into massage therapy, and where’d you receive your education?

Ann: My certification was through the holistic massage program at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. It was part time at first because I was still working for the school district, but I figured, why not? Massage therapy intrigued me, so I decided to go with my instincts. I took my time with each class, and little by little, I was able to complete all the required hours. But here’s thing. The learning doesn’t stop as soon as you walk out those doors. You’ve got to continually take classes and educate yourself if you want to always be improving.

MB: Sound advice. Take us through what life was like when you first finished school.

Ann: I went to work for a franchise type place before some of the bigger names ever came around. I immediately realized that it was a whole different ballgame out there. I was so used to working on friends and family in class, but now, I was working on array of people with all sorts of needs. I quickly learned that I had lots to improve upon, but I stuck at it!

MB: Any there any particular struggles that come to mind during those days?

Ann: Ya know, I used to think that I’d be able to do this all day long. Well no, I soon found out that I couldn’t. I call it manual labor. Every client comes in with different issues, and I try to customize each session to suit their needs at that time. I want my first of the day to have the same experience as my last. It’s physically demanding, and you’ve got to be ready for it.

MB: What about the flip side? Any successes that motivated you to keep at it?

Ann: The problem with the type of place I was working at is that you’re only going to get so far. Realizing that was a success in itself, so I decided to go mobile on my own. But that’s a lot of hard work too! Always lugging your equipment around and going from home to home. I knew that I wanted clients coming to me. Everything’s there, and I can shut the door at the end of the day.

MB: It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out now with your current setup. What role has MassageBook played in its success?

Ann: I’ve looked at a lot of different programs over the years and used another one back in the day, but you guys have got it set up perfectly for me. I wanted something that dealt specifically with massage, and I was thrilled to find you when you first came around. So I decided to give it a try! There were a few hiccups in the beginning, but you’ve got it nailed down now. I love that you’re always tweaking things too. It’s all right in front of me when I need it. A few of my favorite features include automated messaging through Autopilot, requiring prepayment to deter no shows, and being able to keep track of all my daily sales activity. Plus, your customer service is top notch! I haven’t found anything else quite like it online.

MB: Awesome! Success stories like yours are why we do what we do and why we love our jobs here. What do you love about your job?

Ann: The people. Everyone I’ve met over the years. They come from all walks of life. There’s something about that one-on-one connection. I make it a point to listen to them, and that’s how you start building a clientele that really trusts you.

MB: Offer us some wisdom. What advice do you have for your peers?

Ann: Take care of yourself. You need your hands and body. Work hard but don’t overwork yourself. Find that sweet spot. Network too! Think of that elevator ride where you’ve got just a short time to get your card out there. Can you do it?

A sensible question to ponder. Take time to think about it. Opportunities are all around. The next one could be going up with you right now.