From Hands-On to Hands-Off

Embracing the Transition to Running My Business

I founded Office Vitality in 2011, and for nearly a decade, I was convinced that being hands-on with the tools was the only way to maximise my profits. If I did the massage jobs myself, I’d surely take home more, right? Then COVID-19 hit, and the world shifted towards remote work, becoming the new norm.

Simultaneously, I developed RSI in my hands, which forced me to step back from hands-on massaging and focus solely on running my business. It was a pivotal moment that transformed my approach to Office Vitality.

For the past nine years, I’ve led a team of therapists and always believed I needed to be on-site with them to keep things running smoothly and prevent financial losses. I also thought personal, face-to-face pitches were crucial for securing new clients. In the early days, I would offer free trial sessions, travelling into central London to massage for free while presenting a PowerPoint on the benefits of our services. It worked, but it left me exhausted. One day, I questioned the value of offering my services for free—didn't it cheapen what we provided?

I then adjusted my offer: clients would receive the first three hours free if they signed up for additional sessions. This change worked, but upon further analysis, I realised it wasn’t the offer that secured clients. Instead, I channelled my energy into building a robust online presence. I hired experts to help craft a strategy that would allow me to focus on what I love—running my business and sharing knowledge about health and wellness.

The lockdowns pushed me to concentrate solely on our online presence. Then, in January 2022, I made a bold move: I decided to work remotely for half the year and live in Thailand, my happy place. Initially, I worried this decision might lead to failure, but it was my best choice. Since stepping back, the business has doubled, thanks to my dedicated focus on running it effectively.

Having been a masseuse for so many years, I can relate to my team and understand their challenges. Now, I have the time to connect with my staff, ensure their well-being, and manage client calls I used to miss while massaging all day. The result? After two years of COVID-related closures, the business has not only bounced back, but doubled its client base in the first seven months.

The savings from reduced commuting and London expenses have allowed me to invest in growth and marketing strategies, ultimately improving our financial health. I now have the time to focus on details I previously overlooked due to burnout.

I feel fully aligned with my business and can see the bigger picture. My next step is automating more administrative tasks, allowing me to concentrate on high-impact areas. While I initially missed the physical aspect of massaging, I’ve found new ways to stay active and maintain connections in my work life.

This journey has been transformative, and I have no regrets. If you’re considering stepping back from hands-on work to focus on running your business, I encourage you to leap. The rewards—both personally and professionally—are well worth it.