Monday, September 19, 2011

Observations after my first week of work...

in BULLET format! Cause that's how I roll.

-having the six-year-old you live with cheerfully call out, "Make some money!" as you're leaving for work is terminally cute and will put a smile on your face and in your heart that'll last your entire shift.

-tips are good. GREAT tips are better.

-having cash in your wallet again is the BEST, though. Even if you spend most of it a day later at the EPIC Steampunk Exhibition!

-taking the entire summer off from massaging, then jumping right back in with eight-hour shifts is probably not a good idea. (I'm totally out of "massage shape", and my ass was kicked both Friday and Saturday.)

-having your new boss tell you that all the clients LOVE you and that they're already rebooking with you is completely worth the fatigue and soreness you feel at the end of the week.

-it's probably a good idea not to be too pedantic. Correcting your new colleague, who just earnestly informed another colleague that "ambiguous" means "obvious", will likely NOT endear you to said colleague.

-learn to deal with heavy local accents. Don't automatically assume that a client is from a foreign country, even if you can initially barely understand her!

And the most important observation after my first week back at work:

-HAVE FUN!

13 comments:

North said...

w00t! Sounds like you are slipping into a great groove!

Old NFO said...

That's great news Christina! More/repeat clients means $$ in the pocket!!!

Home on the Range said...

I'm so happy you're back at it and having some fun! Big hug and thanks for the phone call!

DaddyBear said...

Woot! You rock!

Christina RN LMT said...

Thanks, Everyone!

'Drea said...

Besides doing massages, do you have a certain routine that you do to stay in massage shape?

StairMaster? Lunges? Yoga?

Curious...

Kevin said...

Very cool! Sounds like you're really enjoying yourself.

Christina RN LMT said...

'Drea, I've been hitting the gym, too. I do cardio on an elliptical and strength training on machines and with free weights. But my stamina is pitiful at the moment. Give me a few more weeks...:D

Thanks, Kevin! It's good so far, so knock on wood it continues.

Blondefabulous said...

There's no winning in the colleague correction thing because if later someone else had corrected them, they'd be upset no one else told them earlier! LOL.

Glad everything is falling into place!

Mike W. said...

Congrats!

Sounds like maybe next summer you should up the cardio part of your routine.

Evyl Robot Michael said...

Curious - what is appropriate tipping for an LMT? What about an intern studying the art?

North said...

Evyl: My rule is 20-25% minimum for anything that falls into "personal" as massage would.

When things are excellent 30-40%.

I don't know how common this is.

Christina RN LMT said...

Blondie, I have to bite my tongue many times, but I've learned the hard way that silence is often golden.

Thanks, Mike! Yeah, I sat on my butt WAY too much this summer. *sigh*

Michael, a 20% tip is excellent. Interns are generally prohibited from accepting tips (because they're not certified/licensed yet), but if you leave some money on the massage table, well...they can't exactly chase after you, now can they?! LOL...

NORTH, ZOMG! You are a fantastic tipper. That's truly above and beyond and I'm sure your service providers appreciate it.