I got my first job in a restaurant when I was 13 years old. I worked in the afternoons after school, on weekends, and during vacations. I washed dishes, learned how to cook, waitressed, and whatever else needed doing. I bought my first restaurant when I was 19 and stupid! It was a learning experience, and I found out what it was like to go in debt at a young age. Still, I went on to own three more that were successful, and I stayed in that career for more than 20 years. It took me that long to realize I was killing myself with stress.

One day, I looked at my husband and told him I figured I had cooked 875,000 meals, and I was done! If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd still have to have a job. I'm not one of those people who can sit around. The owner of a massage school that was near my house happened to be having lunch in the restaurant that day, and I walked out and told her I had made the decision to sell out. I told her I'd type, file, sweep the floor, or whatever she needed if she would give me a job. A few weeks later, I sold out to my sister-in-law and started working at the massage school. The second day I was there, I decided I'd enroll in the school.

I ended up being the administrator there for five years. Then I left and opened a private practice. In five years, it grew to the point where I now have a dozen practitioners, including massage therapists, a chiropractor, an aesthetic nurse, and an acupuncturist working there.

A few years ago, I broke my left arm in five places, and my ability to do massage decreased drastically. I joke with people that I'll pat them with my left hand and rub them with my right! I've always loved writing, and due to my lack of ability to perform much massage, I started devoting my attention to that. I also became a provider of continuing education and offer classes in my own facility, as well as traveling all over the place to teach.

I have authored the Plain & Simple Guide to Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Examinations (2nd ed, LWW, 2009) and One Year to a Successful Massage Therapy Practice (LWW, 2008), and am currently working on a third book to be published by LWW next year.

Switching gears, and careers, was the best thing that ever happened to me. I still work long hours, but I love it. In my old life, I was always gratified when someone complimented me for serving a good meal, but I know it didn't change anybody's life. Being a part of the massage profession allows me to see great life changes happen for people all the time. It's wonderful to be a part of helping people to feel better. It's the best job in the world.

Visit her website at www.thera-ssage.com