[00:00:00] Austin: Well, I must stay outta the gate. I don't know if I'm talking to an angel or an angel. The viewers on YouTube will notice in the backdrop of Chris's set here appears to be some sort of angelic shrine, which I think is apt and fitting because you are an angel and an absolute. What'd I say, uh, legend in the universe of, uh, all things beauty.
[00:00:25] So thank you for being on the show. Carissa. Welcome to the body beauty show.
[00:00:30] Carissa: Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm excited.
[00:00:34] Austin: Yes, I am. I feel like there's lightning in my veins and I feel like I'm just Disneyland. This is gonna be a lot of fun. So let's start. Why not? There's no better place to start than to start.
[00:00:45] So here is where I think we should. You 17 years ago were working as well. Let's just say a corporate tier, meaning a corporate tier or a muske tier, a corporate tier, whatever. [00:01:00] And after doing that for what probably felt like in eternity, you found yourself dare I say, overworked, underappreciated, and I would dare say grossly.
[00:01:12] Underpaid and that's where the story starts. So I would love to hear how Carissa came to be specifically the opening of your first spa and I'm doing opening and, and quotes here because it was not quite, but tell us about the story of how Carissa came to be, who she is today. Starting 17 years.
[00:01:36] Carissa: Um, really started out, just have a passion for helping people.
[00:01:40] Um, so wanted to get into something that felt could have chose massage therapy, um, just schooling to, into it's a great touchy you feel good vibe. Dragged my mom, along with me through school, I said, you need a career change too. And, um, after we completed school, we were [00:02:00] gonna open up our first spa. That was our, our big goal.
[00:02:02] That's what we wanted to do. Um, got to the point where we got almost into the building and everything fell apart. So, um, the building wasn't zoned com or commercial, it was zone industrial and they wouldn't change it. So all this hard work that we were getting into, um, basically just kind of fell flat on its face.
[00:02:21] Um, So we were kind of at the point where, where do we go from here? Um, my mom luckily found something in the massage therapy industry. She started doing it pretty much outta school since our business didn't launch, we said, Hey, go build your clientele, go get some experience. We'll, we'll kind of see where this follows later.
[00:02:38] If I can get into it, I'll do it. Um, and over the years, I never felt that into massage therapy. I went back to college thought maybe nursing. I was just trying to find my call, um, over and over again, I found myself in human resources, which, um, comes to that overworked, underappreciated, no one likes HR like, oh, HR is coming.[00:03:00]
[00:03:00] Like, it's, it's not a great title to hold. I loved it because I loved helping people, but it had such a bad commentation to it that, um, It just didn't, it didn't make me feel happy. I'm like, what am I doing this for? I'm, you know, I'm doing this day in and day out. Where's the passion, where's the excitement.
[00:03:17] And we find ourselves in these, in and outta jobs. And at one point after starting over with, I can't tell you how many different companies you find yourself, the ethics and the. It's just it's so, Ugh. The corporate world was just getting me and I was like, I'm here for the people. My clients are my employees and I wanna make them happy.
[00:03:36] And I mean, that's the whole part of HR is, is people. And so many companies lose that big picture. And I just kind of talked to myself and I was like, do I wanna do this for 30 more years? Nope, I don't. because it's just, you give so much of yourself and you work so hard for something. I basically came down to a point where I said, Hey mom, I wanna [00:04:00] open up a spa again.
[00:04:00] And she looked at me like I was crazy. wait. And this was three weeks after the first failure. This was 14 years after the first one. Yeah. So a little bit of time is there OK. So yeah, we just, my mom was like, there's no way that, you know, okay, whatever you wanna do. And I was like, no, I'm really serious. I'm burned out.
[00:04:23] Um, which at 34 years old being burned out at a corporate job, like I shouldn't be burned out at 30 , 34 years old. So, um, I was at least in a comfortable job where I could, um, put some money away, get something, going, get my licensing back into, um, good standing and stuff. Cause we got my certification. I just never got back into it.
[00:04:47] But a big career shift from, uh, managing a HR department to a hands on customer service. But I was just like, Everything was fallen into place. The lo the licensing, the, the building. And it was just [00:05:00] like, this is meant to be if it's just coming so naturally, then this just might be the time to get us, um, into this place.
[00:05:07] And, um, we opened up our doors three years ago. We're celebrating three years, um, this month. And, um, I mean, COVID hit six months later. We're just like, oh no. um, so anyone that has started up a business and gone through COVID or been established or not established, I started with zero clients and I was just like, uh, now I have no income.
[00:05:31] Great. We're shut down. Being in Michigan, we were shut down for three months. So we're. This is perfect. but we kept working on renovations. We kept tackling things we didn't give up. We're like, Nope, we're gonna reopen. We did. We got to hear, like, we're just gonna keep sticking at it. And within a few months of reopening, um, we slowly just were kind of seeing, we don't wanna get shut down again, but just started taking regular clients and stuff and got to a point where things were [00:06:00] starting to get steady and.
[00:06:02] I kind of was like, this is it. This is all I got is massage. Like I know I can do more. We gotta, we gotta do something else. Let's do something exciting. You talk to your clients, you see what's missing in the area. You see opportunities. I wanna be different. I don't wanna be like every other massage place.
[00:06:16] I don't wanna be like every other business. You gotta set yourself apart from the other place. What makes you special? What makes you unique? And you gotta listen to your clients and see what they want. And I just luckily stumbled across Artis and. Started out with the cryo skin machine. And it's been so significantly life changing, not even just as a business owner, but the things I'm able to do for my employees and for myself and the growth that we have had, it's opened up opportunities for other women to become self-employed and.
[00:06:51] While just doing some amazing stuff and being results based. It was just like, this is it. And let's get into it. There's more, there's not just cryo skin. There's [00:07:00] more opportunity. And our clients are loving it and wanting it. So I'm like, Hey, let's do this. So. It's just been a billowing effect. And now we just started doing the endos spheres on top of the cryo skin, because we just said, Hey, the cryo skin gives us amazing results, but there's more we can do.
[00:07:15] There's more stuff out there and looking into other machines and other opportunities. I was like, Nope, this is what I wanna do because I believe in it because it's results driven. It gets into there and that's what we want. We want people to see what their money's doing for themselves. So in a lot of places, miss that around here in this area, they just are like, cool, I've got this, gimme your money.
[00:07:37] Bye. And we're we don't want that. We wanna make sure that they feel like we actually care. Because that just gives you it's it's good karma. It's good business. It's a, it's a good way to say, Hey, I wanna make sure that you're gonna get this, you know? Yeah. There's parameters that you gotta kind get aside.
[00:07:52] Like we a little bit more, but you work, but at the results we've had thus far. Do [00:08:00] you wanna keep continuing? And if not, that's fine. We can find other alternatives or work with you and coach 'em along the way to get better health and better dieting and better lifestyles, because that's what we do as massage therapists and in the health and wellness industry, we want their whole life to be better.
[00:08:14] It's about the longevity of things, not just always that quick, immediate result and stuff, and just trying to help coach 'em through those things. So it felt like this peering with Artis and our, and our machines have. Just kind of natural. It's been so easy for us to implement. So it's been quite an amazing journey, so still soaking it in
[00:08:33] Austin: So do you have any idea how committed you are
[00:08:42] Carissa: been told that a few times it takes a lot and I would think a lot of people don't understand it, but I love it. I'm passionate for it. And it's.
[00:08:55] Austin: You, you said something that, um, [00:09:00] maybe the unsavvy listener would've missed, but the thing that just Mike Tyson, upper cut throat punched me in the ear in all the right ways in, in a very much so, Hey, it's a birthday party.
[00:09:14] I have velvet gloves on not a. Uh, Mike Tyson in the ring, knocking my eyeballs into the back of my sockets and out of the back of my skull sort of punch. Wow. That was the hell of a, uh, illustration there, uh, verbally anyway, back to you, uh, what, what you said that stood out to me was, and I quote, I did not quit.
[00:09:39] So I wanna, I wanna, I wanna segue here for, for brief moments and, and drop a few observations. As I just realized, I've yelled into your ear with your air in your ear. So God deaf ,
[00:09:52] Carissa: they're falling out.
[00:09:54] Austin: Uh, you're so committed that not even [00:10:00] a 14 year latency between your first quote failure, which by the way, failure is just a seminar and success that you haven't had.
[00:10:06] By the way. Yeah, but that 14 year latency didn't even stop you. COVID didn't stop you. In fact, before we got on the show, you told me that six months after COVID and being locked down for three months, you actually got busier. Due to COVID because people realize, oh, wait a minute. Uh, oh, life is short. Self care is important.
[00:10:32] Yeah. Sign me up. How about 200 bucks a month in my budget for massage or 1500 bucks for a pack of aesthetic treatments or whatever, I'm gonna take care of myself because I see the agility of life, uh, and you grew, and that wouldn't have come to be unless you were committed. And so I want to drop a little bit of a, uh, a nice tincture, a dose of contrarian wisdom.
[00:10:56] Brought to you by not yours truly, but relayed by yours truly or yours [00:11:00] unruly, a KME, which is that Carissa is Testament to the fact that yes, 90% of businesses will fall on their face and fail. But sorry, I'm yelling again. I keep forgetting. You have AirPods and ears. okay.
[00:11:18] Carissa: it's all good. I'm passionate.
[00:11:19] Austin: I'm passionate, but a hundred percent.
[00:11:24] Of committed entrepreneurs will succeed, even if it takes them 14 years of their beautiful lives to bring it to be. So that said, can't resist asking this question as you've been on this 17 year journey. Now, are there misconceptions about the operation of a beauty business? That most gurus or whatever advocate for that you have seen as being, uh, no, that's not the case.
[00:11:56] This is the truth, this, whatever this is.[00:12:00]
[00:12:03] Carissa: I think what most people miss and I, I go to other places, check out other stuff, just to see who's evolving and who's growing, but so many people miss that opportunity and that's essentially it, our world grows so fast, whether it's technology or social media. I mean, marketing today is so different marketing 17 years ago.
[00:12:23] Um, That if you don't keep on top of things or stay engaged with what's going on, you'll find yourself outta place and outdated and, and not competitive. And I have, we literally started from me and my mom. We drag on her clients and I said, Hey, I'll start at zero. Me and her. And we're adding our ninth person.
[00:12:44] Less than three years. It's just been that type of growth because we're trying to attract like-minded people that want to evolve and grow and be in their own space and, and take control and be set different from Medi spas or massage, whatever it [00:13:00] is in this industry, we wanna be unique to us and our clients, but take that opportunity.
[00:13:04] And so many people are like, what? Online booking what's that it. I need to call in and make an appointment. I'm like, write it out of a paper and pencil. There are so many people that are still getting out of that. I'm like you are missing so much opportunity by leading people to a website that functions.
[00:13:19] I mean, those type of things are not common. At least not in our little, we are in a little town in Michigan, but I mean, with bigger cities supporting it. But some of these bigger cities catch that concept where some of these smaller areas don't quite catch on and you've gotta grow and adapt to that. And I tell you, I don't have to be on phone book appointments.
[00:13:37] They book themselves just by leading where our website just go. That's what I, and you, your different stuff. And it just, it has exploded to what it has been. I didn't know when we opened this, that we would offer all these different things. It's just naturally. And grown and supported the business to where I'm.
[00:13:59] [00:14:00] Working myself to death, to be able to take care of our clients and our people provide a beautiful space for them to be and come and retreat to it's a big city feel without being in the big city and all the big prices and stuff like that. They feel like in the comfort of their own backyard, they've got a little day spa.
[00:14:16] They go, Hey, I don't have to go, you know, to Chicago or these bigger cities that are closer by to get some of these services that, um, Amazing and results driven. So it's, it's just, I feel like so many people stay in their lane. They don't wanna learn something new when it's like, there's so many things to step outside of that.
[00:14:35] And that's, that's what I find so exciting for us as is me as a business owner is looking outside of just what we know and we do. It's like, I, I wanna use CBD. I wanna use different tools. I wanna use different stuff because that makes us different. So. Um, I think that's the exciting part about it. And it's always something new.
[00:14:56] A lot of people don't thrive and change. I get excited about change. I'm like, [00:15:00] Ooh, what else can we do? it's probably, probably makes my girls crazy, but I love it. so I think that's a big thing that people miss is not embracing the change of what is in this industry that there's so much more out there to offer people.
[00:15:15] So that's what I find exciting,
[00:15:20] Austin: Cara. Do you have a message along that set of rails of this being one of the misconceptions of, I need to stay in my lane. It's a misconception, two of the three that I heard there. And I'll come back to the other first and third a minute, but do you have a message to massage therapists that are hell bent on staying in their lane?
[00:15:44] What would you tell massage therapists that are stuck on staying in. Their.
[00:15:53] Carissa: Well, my mom's one of 'em kinda old dog trick. She's like, don't, I like my, where I'm at. This is where I'm comfortable and [00:16:00] that's OK for the people that wanna do that. She's kinda like, Hey, I'm gonna be retiring soon. But the people that have a lot of time left massage therapy is a very physical job.
[00:16:09] We are literally working on people and if you do tissue, it's a workout. And some of these other machines can kinda get you that same way. I'm like, oh, we're gonna get some Mendo fears. We're getting that upper body workout. But what it is. Outside of that, you. Work smarter, not harder, you know, there's other opportunities to get results, whether it's lymph drainage or pain and muscle relief for something else that you can bring in without having to do something that's so taxing or just a better bank.
[00:16:40] For your, your time. It's like I could, if I'm gonna sit here and take a massage plan, I love massage. Don't be wrong. And my clients will kill me if I ever stop. But , I wanna make sure if there's something else that I can offer them, if they do have, um, pain and stuff, massage will get to that and stuff. But some of these other machines are made to like the endos spheres is amazing for the [00:17:00] pain and inflammation.
[00:17:00] I have clients that are just like, after one session, like this is amazing. If I can just give 'em some alternative to a massage and you they're just like, who knew mine blown that something so simple could do that. But for me as a business owner, it's like I could do an hour massage for say X in our area.
[00:17:21] You know, let's say a basic relaxation or massage is like 60 to $80 for an hour. If I'm gonna spend an hour with someone on like endos spheres. Yes, I have overhead that's different in everything with my machine, but it's 200 or $300 or how many, however, their sessions are broken out in their packages.
[00:17:38] Well, what sounds better for my hour worth of time? Yes, I've got a little bit more overhead with my machine, but it brings in a higher revenue. So there's more of that to, to come in and, and share and, and give back out to, like I said, if it helps me pay my, for my overhead or helps take care of these things, then I don't have to do two or three massages.
[00:17:59] Two one [00:18:00] endos spheres or cryo skin session. It's, it's a much better utilization of my time, or it just gives my body and my mind and, and myself something to break up the day. I can do a massage here in endos sphere, in a cryo there I do all three in a day and it gives me some versatility as well. And my body is not as taxed because I'm not getting in there for the massages and doing five or six a day to like, you know, really, really get stuff out when I can get other, um, Other results out of these other machines.
[00:18:27] So it's just, it's just kind of opening your mind to, there are other tools, there are other things that you can do to provide your clients some stuff. And then there's some aesthetic benefits as well. So it's like. Who doesn't wanna have less. So you like who doesn't wanna lose a little bit of fat? You know, it's like, I can't do that with massage yeah, but I can't massage that fat off.
[00:18:50] Totally. So it's, um, it's giving them another alternative. They feel better about themselves when you're part of someone's, um, especially their wellness journey or making them [00:19:00] feel better about how they carry themselves. I have gotten people in tears after sessions because they. Sessions of what changed cryo endos spheres, because it makes just a little bit of difference on how they carry themselves massage.
[00:19:14] They go, yeah, I feel better, but I mean, you do a toning session on a man who's maybe a little ch like a little, you know, had some extra weight and he wants to just tighten it up and his chest has completely transformed and some Tony he's. They, they wanna cry because they feel better in their skin who doesn't wanna be a part of something like that.
[00:19:35] That is what I mean. I even got goosebumps. I love being
[00:19:44] journey that you make people feel instead of she comes, she's gonna fire me. I don't like that. I wanna actually be. A positive person in someone's life. And that's what drives me day in day. I just wanna be here for my clients to make them [00:20:00] feel better if it's a massage. Great. If it's cryo great. If it's atmospheres great.
[00:20:04] I, even, if it's the other girls in their sessions, we want people to be healthier, feel better about themselves. And it's not always about the surgery and the, you know, all that other stuff. People don't want those instant results and wanna shell that out. I get it. You do you, you know, but if there's a way that you can come in and come out and get on with your day and still get results and save yourself some money and you're okay with taking that time and that longer stuff, and you're not doing it.
[00:20:29] Harming your body. It just makes so much sense. We try to do things as holistically and as healthy as possible. I mean, there's certain things that, yeah, you're gonna get that with some other, um, you know, aesthetic benefits in the Medi spa type stuff. So, okay. The people that wanna do it, I get it. But we can try to do things and offer different solutions that are your Bo just helping your body.
[00:20:52] Progress and do things better because the toxins that are in our society and everything that our bodies are subjected to every day, [00:21:00] if we can detox, if we can get that stuff out, we can help our body get rid of it. Why not just educate people on it, just get 'em to learn about it and understand it, and then get 'em to just engage in exception.
[00:21:13] Hey, try this out. I'll give you a little quick five minutes just to see how it feels and then they go, oh, that's it. I love it. Let's do more, you know, you just gotta get them an understanding of like, these are results that I've seen with other people I've had great. I've had stellar. I've had so like, okay.
[00:21:30] But we took a bigger, deep and dive and go, okay. Were they drinking their water? Were they actually doing a diet and exercise? Are we looking at the, the, I can only do so much here. And I tell my people, I. You can spend a lot of money moving here. You can spend a little money. It depends on what you do when you hit that door.
[00:21:46] You know, you there, I might not see you for two weeks. I might not see you for a couple days. You've got to keep up with it at home. If you wanna continue to see the results here, we're doing the work here. We need to make sure we're setting you up for success and you try to coach 'em that way. So they have better results [00:22:00] because then they feel like their money.
[00:22:02] Didn't just go to waste. And I try to emphasize that as much as possible. I don't wanna just take money. I want people to come in, invest in themselves. Feel better, get the results because they'll come back for more or they're told the friends,
[00:22:14] Austin: so, Hmm. So, if we look at the misconceptions you mentioned, the first is mm-hmm, something like, and we're gonna come on to one in three in a minute, but the number one was the necessity of digitization, meaning, Hey, mm-hmm, , we're not living in the era of the horse and buggy, AKA pen and paper.
[00:22:36] We're not living in the era of the model T AKA. Uh, I don't know, a snail mail or, or, or, uh, um, uh, VHS. Oh yeah, we have Spotify now. Okay. That's the first thing. The third thing is that we've gotta be willing to change. AKA do not be a Neo Luddites who refuse to adopt the what's that the printing press the [00:23:00] Luddites, uh, in history.
[00:23:01] Anyway, don't be a Neo ludite and third avoid. Or rather the misconception would be, I just need to stay in my swim lane. So what I wanna ask you is, as a result of you deciding to get away from staying in your swim lane of, I am only a massage therapist. I only will make $80 an hour until the day I die.
[00:23:19] And with tip maybe $99, maybe 90, if they're cheap, maybe a hundred Austin comes in and tips me correctly. But as a result of you choosing to avoid just staying in your swim lane and broadening your horizon, let's say you were able to take your revenue from $80 an hour doing just massage manually to two, $300 an hour by putting yourself in an iron man suit, AKA technology through cryos skin and inves.
[00:23:51] Yes. Wow.
[00:23:56] Carissa: It's I mean, last year alone, it was like our first [00:24:00] solid year of business post COVID. So, you know, the, the first kind of stumbling blocks, but first full solid year and first full, solid year having cryos, we got it at the beginning of last year. So we've had it over a year and a half now with cryo.
[00:24:13] And I was like trying to find anything to write off on my taxes. I was like, please, please, please. I need some deductions here because the income was so significant in your. Full year. Most people see losses as a business in the first three to five years. My accountant's like, okay, she might know what she's doing over there because I'm like, I don't mind paying my taxes, but I wanna reinvest back into my business first because I wanna those write offs at the beginning of my business.
[00:24:42] I wanna make sure I keep putting it back in there. So I'm willing to invest in a machine I'm willing to invest in. I have a building I have to remodel and I'm doing all that stuff, but you know what? I'm not taking that as. I'm using the money that's coming in to put it right back into the business, instead of drawing in more debt and loans and [00:25:00] borrowing, I don't have any bank loans, um, or anything.
[00:25:03] It's just something I'm doing and sustaining by the revenue that my machines are bringing in. I mean, I'd like to say payday, but I'm not. I wanna make sure that I have. Again, that atmosphere, we just remodeled to bring in two more, open up two more spaces for two more practitioners. And we got a little, she shed.
[00:25:23] So we have a break area, which is what I'm in now. So it's to the point where I'm evolving that I'm running outta space and stuff, but I'm using my revenue from what I've got coming in from these machines to put it right back into my business, instead of borrowing and, and scraping and like, oh, am I gonna pay this?
[00:25:39] Am I gonna pay that? It's just thinking smarter. And I think so many of our clients are. Holy map. Why? Like, and I'm like going, because I'm not afraid to take those chances. I'm not afraid against to go, go against the grade and guess what? If it doesn't work out, you know, I, I, we started out on the subscription.
[00:25:56] I said, so what's the worst that's gonna happen. I send the machine back and I [00:26:00] gave it a try, you know, uh, what's the worst that can happen. We got some people to it doesn't work. And we say, okay, we try, but it works . And so you're just. I think I need to buy this thing and continue with it. And yeah, whether it's the technology or anything, it's just, I, I'm almost kind of like, kind of pinch myself sometimes and I'm going, that's all.
[00:26:24] It was, it was just that. See, and then I get other girls to get trained on it because I'm so busy. I can't keep up. so now I gotta go get other people to help do the work. Oh, what a horrible problem to have so, wow.
[00:26:39] Austin: Who should be adding these devices, cryos skin, and SPHS
[00:26:43] Carissa: any type of wellness, um, industry, any type of, I mean, even massage therapists, it's like massage.
[00:26:48] And honestly, I think it correlates so well with massage because we are familiar with the body. We are, you know, it's not like someone. I mean, essentially [00:27:00] you get to training, you can learn how to do it, but I think if you're intuitive enough or you've got a business and you're a massage therapist and you're already hands on with the body and you're familiar with.
[00:27:08] You just know how to work, that, that muscle, that festival, that fat and everything to get that stuff outta there, because you're you touch it. You're not, it's not foreign to you. I've had a couple people that got certified and that wasn't their, that wasn't their thing. You know, they go, oh, I've actually gotta touch people.
[00:27:25] I've gotta actually kind of get up in, you know, it is a, a certain amount of comfortability of working on people's bodies. It just is what it is. So my people that I've actually done better with it are my other massage therapist. I said, If you wanna make some extra money, we can get you busy and massage.
[00:27:41] We can also get you certified in cryos skin or endos spheres. I've got a couple girls that came and did, um, the certification for endos spheres. They're my estheticians. And they're it. We're all familiar with working on the body and comfortable with it. So anyone that is kind of got that customer service hands on, whether it's wellness, therapy, sports, anything, um, [00:28:00] I think they do better.
[00:28:01] I think they feel more comfortable with it, but I mean, it. I I've, I've talked to other people that it's like, as long as you can get past that, you know, you're working on people's bodies. If you feel comfortable with that and being in people's face. Anyone can do it. If you believe in yourself, um, you don't even have to be existing to, you know, existing therapist or something.
[00:28:22] I believe for some of the machines that you guys offer. And just as long as you get the certifications and you go through the training and the training has been great, I've loved, I've loved the training facilities that you guys provide and stuff too. It's very thorough. And the online stuff that we do, I.
[00:28:36] I work on people over and over and over. And then I say, okay, let's roll it out to paying clients. I wanna make sure that I'm not just in there going, what the heck am I doing? Thanks. Let me have your money. You know, so as long as you get comfortable with those machines, it makes it much easier. But I think some of the trainers have said, oh yeah, you can tell you're familiar with working on a body cuz we're just like, yeah.
[00:28:56] Okay. We just gotta get going with this and stuff. So the endos spheres was just. [00:29:00] I don't need to train these guys. They got this it was just because we're comfortable in people's space already. So I think it just naturally comes to you. You're used to steps you're used to that type of stuff, but, um, I think it's just a little bit maybe, maybe easier for to on, but it's been great.
[00:29:16] So now I've got four. I don't even know I've lost crack. About half of my girls know how to utilize some of these machines that I have. So I don't have to be the only person to do it and take on the work. Now it's just. Share the, share the work and share the love too. So it's like I wanna make, see them successful as well, too.
[00:29:33] So.
[00:29:34] Austin: Wow. Can I ask you a really nosy question? Sure. I know
[00:29:42] Carissa: how tell you
[00:29:48] Austin: has, has cryos skin and industrys done to the piggy bank.
[00:29:54] Carissa: Well, I have a savings like I've never had before. Um, I mean, [00:30:00] which is great. It's a great thing to have a cushion in your, in your business. Um, like I said, the building that we got we've pretty much remodeled. It was a flipper, it was kind of a little rough.
[00:30:10] It made that a lot easier, a lot more. Um, I probably doubled my income in one year last year, so. I was over six figures last year, my first year, just having my cryo skin. I can't do that as massage therapist. That's a lot of massaging that is not real. So it is, I would say at least 50% increased my, my income just in the first year of having cryo alone.
[00:30:33] I was like, if cryo skin can do this, let's bring on endo fears and we've already seen some amazing growth because of, of the. And because we have that existing cryo skin clientele that they're like, I'm already engaged. We've already been working on me doing this, this and this. Let's get to that cellulite.
[00:30:50] Let's get to that muscle toning. Yeah, let's do it. And, and then you educate 'em in the, in the pain and inflammation and all the other benefits that come with it. Some of it's gonna be aesthetic and some of it's gonna be [00:31:00] for the pain and stuff, but if we're getting to that root, cause it just, it just melts all together with what we're already doing.
[00:31:07] As wellness and massage therapists and practitioners, and we've got estheticians and we've got, you know, other people in the aesthetic as well in our, in our building. So it's like we got our own little day spot and it all just gels together. And for me it's been great. And that's why I wanna share with my girls is like, I want them to have a piece of that pie too, because I wanna put back into them.
[00:31:28] They I'm nothing without them as well either. So, um, the fact that they see that and know that I want them to succeed and be their own bosses. You. I carry the weight, but I don't mind .
[00:31:40] Austin: Wow. But yeah, that's incredible. So cryos skin alone doubled your revenue, endos spheres, exponential that because they, they work symbiotically.
[00:31:50] That's incredible. Mm-hmm and you, you could not have achieved as results as a therapist because I mean, literally if you're doing, I mean, what is the ceiling from massage therapy or therapist [00:32:00] in a week, like 30 hours a week at the most 20.
[00:32:02] Carissa: Oh, that's a lot of massage. I would say at the most, we usually take, I mean, usually a comfortable spot for us would be 15 to 20 massage clients because it's so physical and you're taking on a lot of, um, energy too, if you have a lot of talk, basically.
[00:32:17] Yeah. But, um, so it is a very physical, taxing job. And then you do all your own self marketing and all your other stuff. So you gotta make. Time for that checking in and out. We don't have a receptionist cause we want, we like to keep things personal with our clients. So yeah, there's only so much you can physically do in a week.
[00:32:33] And I've had upwards with of weeks and during the summer, particularly with cryo and, and now endos spheres as well, where I'm taking 30 clients a week between the three, because there's that much demand for it. And I tell you if some of my other girls were more full-time I could keep them busier with it as well, too.
[00:32:50] So it's um, It's definitely something. And it's nice when you can share that work with other people. So you're not doing 30 a week. Yeah. But, [00:33:00] um, but if I'm like going, if I'm gonna take 30 of 30, like you've gotta see what weighs down and what's gonna be, um, the physicality of, of the job as well and what it's gonna bring in.
[00:33:11] So I'm not even, I mean, we're not even what into the fourth quarter of this year, and I'm pushing over six figures already with, with, um, With having these two machines. So wow. Been pretty great.
[00:33:28] Austin: cause I'm, I'm doing the math here. So if you're seeing so 15 clients a week is the average. Yeah. And that's like, that would say was average sweet spot.
[00:33:36] So to do and do more than that is like almost inconceivable because your hands will explode is taxing. Yeah. Very taxing. So that's, that's at that same rate without a holiday. Devi out the entire year. That's a $72,000 a year ceiling for the average therapist. Yes. And that's,
[00:33:55] that
[00:33:55] Carissa: would be very, very good income if you were making that as a therapist.
[00:33:59] [00:34:00] Yeah.
[00:34:00] Austin: With, with 9.1% inflation. Yeah. The basement of currency, uh, the housing market up, I think what's the national average, something like 20, 30%, uh, for home purchases. So what is a massage therapist to do? I guess you could you'll work for a big corporation and make what, 15, 20 an hour. So a fifth of this figure.
[00:34:25] Mm-hmm good. God. So there's almost a crisis for massage therapists where they're almost by way of the pressures of inflation, the constraints on time and bodily constraints, because you're not robots. Mm-hmm that are, uh, reptilian humanoids, like, uh, some of our previous presidents may or may not have been, um, insert conspiracy and tenfold app here.
[00:34:49] Carissa: Comment yeah, I plead the
[00:34:51] Austin: fifth, your honor. So there is almost no way that a massage therapist can enter a six figure a [00:35:00] year space short of right equipment and self right operation of their own entity, their own business, their own business of them. Wow. I didn't realize it was that staggering that's baffling.
[00:35:13] So 72,000
[00:35:14] Carissa: was like almost, it was. When I left the human resource industry and I was up in the manager's director level of, of human resources. So I was on the upper tier of that. And. Last year, I made more than I ever made in human resources. And I was in human resources for 14 years, 13, 14 years of experience.
[00:35:37] And you know, it's like, holy cow, that's, that's a huge difference. And I can put it into myself and it's just, you just go out, work for it. I mean, it's there it's. This is kinda easy to do if you want it, you know, it's, it's, it's there for people to take advantage of. It's fun. I love doing the work. I'm always like, Ooh, I got some scan.
[00:35:59] I got some [00:36:00] SPHS because it's fun. It's something different. Um, and you do make a different bond with your clients who do see them a little more frequently and stuff too. Um, but it. That was the part to me when I got through the end of the year and I went to my tax person, I was like, oh, that's why I was like, I need to find me some ride offs and stuff, because it, it makes a big difference to, um, like I said, having that money in the bank, I don't stress about it.
[00:36:29] And it's like, oh, you know, It it, and once you build that clientele and you, the word of mouth and everything like that, now the cryos skin's established. And now it's just getting to inform people about the endos spheres and the different benefits with that. So it's, they go hand in hand and our clientele are like, oh, that's great.
[00:36:45] Or they reach a whole different clientele because of. The wellness attached to the endos spheres that all of our clients are already in there for because they got circulation issues. They've got fibromyalgia, they've got, you know, all these different issues that we're already [00:37:00] trying to tackle with massage.
[00:37:01] It's like, well, we could probably help with that. If you wanna try a session or even just see how it feels and they get a little taste, they're like, oh yeah, that's really interesting. So it's not always down to the aesthetic sides of it, which is what I love about the endos spheres is that we're actually tackling things that are deeper.
[00:37:17] Deeper into the body and actually getting to things that so people can have a better quality of life, but the, the money is the bonus side of, yeah.
[00:37:33] Okay. Cool.
[00:37:38] Doesn't money, have everything with, you know, thanks when you're a massage therapist and you're not stressed you don't wanna push that off on your clients. yeah. But, um, then I'm able to do a lot more for people and, and, and, and share that back out there when, when I'm not trying to do anonymous massage therapist budget.
[00:37:54] So definitely makes that so much easier.
[00:37:58] Austin: wow. Yeah, [00:38:00] that's amazing. It's amazing to see that there's something. Seemingly so simple to stand up that can take you from five figures to six figures, relatively pain free, and it allows you greater surface area to have profound effect on the lives of your customers.
[00:38:18] Like you said, some of these stories of your customers have been life changing where they look in the mirror. Oh my God. Yeah. I look a decade younger. It's incredible. Mm-hmm
[00:38:27] Carissa: yep, absolutely. It's a good feeling. Yeah,
[00:38:32] Austin: you're, you're doing meaningful work, which is
[00:38:34] Carissa: absolutely. Which is really important. One make a difference in lives.
[00:38:37] Absolutely.
[00:38:38] Austin: Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Love that. Well, I, I want to ask you, excuse there's, you know, we alluded to all three of the, the misconceptions, roughly speaking. So again, the first is the necessity of digitization and I'm extrapolating from what you said. Yeah. Getting away from this. Hey, I've done this the same way.
[00:38:57] Since the thirties, I use a pen and paper and a, [00:39:00] and a printed calendar for my appointments instead of thinking, well, what does the customer today want? They want to go onto your website. This is me speaking. In fact, I'm gonna do this tonight for Aviano massage. I wanna push a button show up and I'll talk to somebody and leave.
[00:39:15] Okay. We wanna, we wanna give, we wanna give our customers what they want, which is a digital experience. Predominantly for things like booking, et cetera. So we wanna think about where, what we can digitize to make the customer experience better. Number one. So that's the first misconception is not doing that.
[00:39:31] Second is this idea of I have to stay in my lane and not look at other options. I've been using the, uh, I don't know, what's the, what's the oldest, uh, manual technology in the book. I've been doing wood therapy. And ice cubes my whole life. I'm gonna stick with that until the cows come home. No, maybe look at getting out of your swim land and broadening your swim land.
[00:39:54] And third is don't be so anchored to the rudder of your [00:40:00] past that you're not willing to change. Mm-hmm . So there was one other thing that we, we were playing with before the show. Um, we talked initially, which was exploring how people, uh, should go about the researching products and the distinction in your experience between America made products.
[00:40:16] So this might be the fourth misconception, which is that, Hey, if it's not built in America, I don't want it. . So the distinction between American aesthetic products and European aesthetic products, any notes that you would drop. On that front
[00:40:45] ladies and gentlemen, we're having some technical issues. oh, there she is. Okay.
[00:40:49] Carissa: Okay. There we go. We're back. We're back. We're back. Like you lost you there.
[00:40:56] So back to what you were saying with, [00:41:00] um, And now with the technical issues, I've lost you. What was your fourth miscon misconception
[00:41:05] Austin: yeah. So the, the fourth misconception. Yeah, no worries. The internet is weird. It's just going space and then relaying technology. Exactly. Exactly. So the question was the fourth miscon misconception means something like most people.
[00:41:22] You would think, and I don't, I can't speak for most people cause I'm not most people me sure. Would think that American made products in the aesthetic space are superior to all else because we were patriotic and whatever. Right. But you mentioned that it's actually the case that European aesthetic products tend to be better.
[00:41:42] So the question is something like a, do you have any notes on that particular point and then B how do you go about thinking about doing research on new products? As it relates to the first point there.
[00:41:53] Carissa: Absolutely. So, um, people that are in kind of, um, the beauty or the wellness [00:42:00] industry, and I talk with a lot of other professionals in this industry as well with our esthetician and stuff like that too.
[00:42:05] Um, I am, I'm a big advocate for trying it before you buy it. Like, I don't wanna put stuff on my shelves. I do sell products and stuff, but I don't wanna put anything out there that I personally won't. Because that's my money that I'm putting out there for it to just sit, if it's just gonna. I have no interest in putting it out there.
[00:42:24] So I definitely wanna look into the research, the quality is it clean? There is a different standard with the European standard than the FDA. I get it. I'm not, I'm all for American made products. I'm not, um, discrediting it or anything like that. But there is when I say European standards, I'm not talking China, I'm not talking, you know, I'm not knocking them to, but there is a different quality when it comes from different parts of this overseas, but the European standard has been.
[00:42:50] Drastically different in my experience, um, I have American name products here too, so I'm not, I'm not knocking that, but, um, that would be more, um, my [00:43:00] CBD and stuff like that, that I would normally carry. But when it comes to aesthetics, um, And machinery, there is a different quality standard. So I feel like they're more based on that results driven.
[00:43:11] I feel like a lot of the different Medi spas that I've looked into in the area, they're like, this is what I'm sticking to. This is what I know. Every other med spa does it because it's. Advertise people are familiar with it, right? They don't go against the grain. They don't try anything new. They're not broadening their scope again, staying in their comfortable lane.
[00:43:30] That's what I know my Botox know my Juvaderm. I know my, you know, whatever it is with.
[00:43:49] I don't want like action that offers those things. Okay. There is some to some extent that, but I'm like, I don't wanna do that. I wanna do better. I know there's other stuff out there that can provide a different [00:44:00] result. I've been one of those people where I say, Hey, I wanna go check this out. Let's see what it's about because I can't speak to it if I don't try it myself.
[00:44:08] So, um, I've tried Botox, I've tried these things and I'm like going. Yeah, I don't wanna spend $500 every three months for you to shoot my forehead, you know, do I like the way it looks sure. But can I get those results elsewhere? Can I do it more cost effectively? Can I do it without injecting something into my body?
[00:44:27] Sure can. . So by doing that and experiencing, I can give people that relation of. I'm not against it, if that's what you prefer to do, but there are other alternatives and educating them on how they can get results and not just in your forehead for $500 or how much ever your, your, your units cost. But to the extent of we can do more with your face, we can do chin sliming.
[00:44:52] We can, you know, we can cover more ground with your money if. Give you opportunity and options to, [00:45:00] to do it. And effectively I love the chin slimming. I was like, oh yeah, let's get in there. and it wasn't painful. It was cold, but it wasn't painful. And it worked my whole face slimed down significantly when I did it.
[00:45:12] And I was just like, my weight hadn't changed, but I could definitely see and feel the difference. And when you do it and your clients see it and they go. Okay, she's done it. She knows what she's talking about and you gain that trust with your clients as well, too. So same thing with products. If it doesn't work for me, it might not work for everyone.
[00:45:32] I get that people react differently to those type of things. So cryo might not be for everyone. I've had my hard clients that I'm just like, man, why are we not getting those results right away? We gotta work towards it a little bit different. Are we drinking our water? Have we had any lifestyle changes?
[00:45:47] Are you on steroids? You know, certain things really going, OK. Working against the grain. I need to know about those things. So we know what we're working with so we can combat 'em go overcome 'em those sort of things. But the more you know about. [00:46:00] What you're working with and the products that you're utilizing and can I help get you better results by, you know, maybe we need to supplement it with something, maybe some vitamins, are you down on collagen?
[00:46:11] You know, all these other things that our bodies might need, you've gotta be aware of that. And other things in the industry that can help you and help your clients. It's just another opportunity to not only bring in other the revenue. , but it helps your clients get the results that they want and need.
[00:46:26] And that's what we want is the results. So just by looking at those things and those different things, you know, you've gotta test the products. You've gotta see what works. You've gotta do your research. Talk to other professionals. I've been cryos skin groups. I talk to other professionals that you utilize this, and I say, Hey, what's working for you guys.
[00:46:46] Those.
[00:46:50] Those things to say, you've had great learning about different techniques and other things that people are utilizing. Everyone's gonna have different experiences, but you've gotta engage in that community and stuff [00:47:00] too. Um, and do the work and really know what you're working with. So you can be more informed cause your clients are gonna questions.
[00:47:04] They're laying there for 30. What are you doing? You any of those fat cells in, you know, so the more you understand it and feel it, I think it's different. So I do like, I, I feel like I've had better results, um, and more. Success with those European machines. I, I love that. I am proud that we have machines that are from France and Italy.
[00:47:25] And you say that and people go, Ooh, that sounds expensive. That sounds really cool. you know, but they love the fact that they, they understand there is a different standard as well too, but you take the time to say, I don't just got a machine. I didn't go, just buy something off at Amazon and say, I got in, I can get your, I mean, I've seen those groups too, where I.
[00:47:44] Oh, and they're asking you, how do you do this with this body? And you know, all the, and I'm just like, how are you, why are you asking people what you're supposed to be doing? And you're contouring people's bodies that makes me like you're liable for that stuff. And that's what [00:48:00] I'm just like, I love the fact that you get the training, you get everything with these machines.
[00:48:04] So I can confidently go in and do what I need to do and take care of the people's needs and, and meet results. And. That to me says a lot, not everyone's gonna be about that, but it's worth the investment to me because it pays off so much more in the end. So
[00:48:26] in a long about round way
[00:48:30] but yes, I, I definitely think the standard of what you guys offer is far better than anything else that I see at some of these places around here. and guess what? I have people I have. I've gotten the tummy tuck. I've tried the cool sculpting. I've tried this, I've tried and they're like, it didn't work.
[00:48:50] And they're in my spa going, I wanna try this. And holy cow, it's working and I can be more strategic with the, with the cryo skin. I can get into those areas that some of these [00:49:00] other machines can't do. They've got problem areas and they say, they turned me away for cool sculpting. Cause I've got a scar over here.
[00:49:06] And I said, well, I can get around. I've got a little tool that I can work around these areas and be more specific where some of these other things they can't even get done. And I have women that have had, they have tummy tucks, and guess what? They're in here getting cryos skin done and they're losing inches.
[00:49:21] It's like, so sometimes these immediate things that we think are so great. They're still coming and to getting what we have done, but because we're educating them on their diet and their exercise, you can get immediate results by going and getting a sleeve or going and get in a lap band or whatever, and getting a tummy top.
[00:49:42] But if you don't change the lifestyle to go inside, you're still gonna gain weight in certain spots and you're gonna do stuff. So it's about educating people a little bit more.
[00:49:54] Austin: So
[00:49:54] Carissa: my, my.[00:50:00]
[00:50:03] Better too. Well,
[00:50:09] they lose you again. There we go. Oh, there you .
[00:50:12] Austin: No worries. So let me ask you this question in, in closing here. Mm-hmm , let's say I am billboard, man, and I have access to all the billboards of the American. Every billboard in America, along every highway I 25, I five, the 1 0 1, whatever, you could put whatever message on that billboard.
[00:50:41] And it was a message to massage therapists and it could be about anything. It could be a, if it's helpful, a quote, it could be something that you learn. It could be your own view. It could be anything. What would you put on that billboard for massage therapists?
[00:50:57] Carissa: There's just so much more opportunity out there.
[00:50:59] If you [00:51:00] are just open to it and not afraid to try it, just try, try new things, try new opportunities. If it doesn't work, at least you can say you tried. I mean, I think that's what I have stuck to so much over the years is that. Not everything is gonna be a success, but you can at least say you tried. I didn't know if this spa was gonna be a success.
[00:51:20] I jumped out of a secure salary job and said, let's give it a go. But at least I can say I tried because I wanted to follow something that was gonna make me happy. Find your passion, find something worth, doing, make a difference in people's lives, but find something that is really going to make like your purpose.
[00:51:45] I think that's the big, biggest thing in life is find your purpose and how can you, how can you stand out? I don't wanna be just another person floating through life. I wanna make a difference in people's lives. And so I just really encourage anyone to find that step [00:52:00] out of their comfort zone. Take that chance, take that risk, try something new because probably more times than not, you're gonna find that it was a great risk to take, um, and just stay dedicated to it.
[00:52:12] And if it doesn't. You know, at least she gave it a shot, but for me, it's worked out pretty good. so clearly take that risk. Yeah.
[00:52:25] Austin: well, I will leave the audience with this quote and then we'll give you space to, uh, to give them, um, well, a plug let's say to find you. So here's the quote that I will leave the audience with.
[00:52:36] What is worse to try and fail or never live to tell the tale. And with that, I will turn it over to you. Where can the listeners and the audience members find you Carissa? If they wanna connect?
[00:52:50] Carissa: We are in Southern Michigan in little town.[00:53:00]
[00:53:00] It. But is our liquids, Z a T a R a um, facebook.com. That's how we get everyone is into our website. You see all the different services that we offer and have, but just our little, uh, guitar means driftwood. We got a nice little beachy vibe. We got a lot of little lakes around here, so it's, uh, very cozy place and stuff, but you'll just know that when you come in here, all our girls are very, very much pastored about taking care of you.
[00:53:27] I'm making you feel good. So, so you can find.
[00:53:30] Austin: I'll I'll say it again. Cuz the, the audio cut out. So it's Zara day spa. I'll I'll link this in the show notes as well. Z a T a R a D a Y spa Zara day spa.com to find Chrissa her team. So that is it from me. Unless you had anything else you wanted to pepper to the audience with genius wise, insight wise or otherwise.
[00:53:53] Uh, and if not, we can, uh, we can hang our hats there for today. So.
[00:53:58] Carissa: That sounds great. I appreciate it. [00:54:00] Yeah, it's been awesome.
[00:54:01] Austin: Awesome. Well, Kris, I appreciate your time. Thanks for making this happen.
[00:54:05] Carissa: Yeah, thank you. All right. Bye byebye.