How long until "success"?

[Nolan B]

So, for those of you who feel you have reached "success" (however you define it) in your practice -- whether it's being as busy as you want to be, making enough $$ to have a comfortable living, etc. -- how long did it take you to reach that point?I'm starting my 5th year, and I had my best year yet in 2004. So, I would say it took me a good 4 years to be earning an income that I feel comfortable with. (I'm self-employed, and have been so from the start of my MT career).I realize this will be pretty subjective for everyone, but I'm most interested in the amount of time you perceive it took you to get where you are today.Thanks, everyone!

 

[Holly M]

I just opened my office last January.  It took me until about September to get into a good cadence.  I'm not yet where I want to be, but if I continue at this steady pace, I anticipate I will be comfortable by the end of the year.  Comfortable for me will be a steady stream of clients that I don't feel like I'm working so hard to attract each and every client.  Word of mouth is growing, but it has taken a while to attract enough of the "chatty" type of clients.  

 

[piink]

Great thread!I have also been SE'ed since I started...6 years ago.  I set big goals, and each time I reached them, I made bigger goals.  Every time I started making a profit, I would either increase my space, make more upgrades, or advertise more.  I finally convinced myself that it's okay to stay at the size we are now, and begin actually making good money! :  But, now I am getting bored because I love the adrennaline rush of growing and promoting and creating new projects.  (Hence me starting my new upscale mobile spa business!)To make a long story short...My business probably acheived it's first level of "success" in 2 1/2 years.  However I have been chasing a carrot since then by changing my version of "success".  I feel financially successful only now that I have slowed down on increasing overhead.After all this time...it's weird to have money left over at the end of the month!   ;D

 

[White Al Sharpton]

Well, I have recently taken 2 steps back so that I'll be able to leap forward.  I opened my own office after working 2 years in a spa/corporate-owned health facility.  After being in the spa for 2 years, I had built up a really great clientele.  To the point where I would say that I was "successful".   I have now had my own office since Aug. of this past year.  I am building my clients up on a weekly basis and I too seem to spend more money as I make more money.  Whenever I have "extra" I buy something for the office instead  of pay myself.  I gotta quit doin' that.    :I know that it's still going to take quite a while.  I would like to think that in 1-1 1/2 years I'll be right where I want to be.  So I guess that would make it almost 4 years since beginning my massage therapy career.  

 

[OriginalPenguin]

I would say my success came around the five and a half year point.  

 

[Amani]

I feel very sucessful, I left a full-time job, working part-time at a spa  (2 years) for my own business in Jun '04.  I had saved up money in case I wasnt' able to make it at first, and have never had to touch my savings.  I'm able to support myself while doing what I love = my definition of success  ;D