We will also be announcing a little competition around the website with a great prize so stay tuned.

We have a lot of students ask about creating website for their own business. Most people use the internet to search for Reflexologists nowadays, so if you don’t have a website you are losing out on big business.

So the person who Lauren trained with, and who taught her how to create all our websites has just done a free workshop with some great tips that I thought you would find helpful if you are looking at getting a Reflexology website built.

http://www.laurenrecommends.com/CreateYourOwnWebsite

Lauren’s teacher is Christina Hills. Christina teaches non-techie people how to build their websites without a webmaster.   And she has put together a guide (PDF + Audio Download) that you can grab right here:

http://www.laurenrecommends.com/CreateYourOwnWebsite

Christina has taught hundreds of non-techie people how to easily build their websites themselves in the Website Creation Workshop.

You can build virtually any kind of website you want with WordPress.  Listen in as she demonstrates WordPress Website Design and Layout in a simple non-techie way!

It’s a very easy call with a visual PDF handout (lots of pictures to follow) as it’s designed for non techie people, with explanations in plain English.

You get all that by going here and entering your name and email:

http://www.laurenrecommends.com/CreateYourOwnWebsite

Healthfully yours.

Jack Marriott, Universal College of Reflexology

People love Reflexology charts.  And, we’re so lucky that chart makers elected to copyright them.  So, now we own over 150 different charts.  Additionally, we create many charts ourselves for which our students are grateful receiving.

Our beginner students who learn foot Reflexology online as well as our continuing education students for already certified Reflexologists attend virtual classrooms during Reflexology training.  And, they enjoy browsing our Reflexology eStore where we offer several of our unique Reflexology charts for sale.

Make sure you get your free Reflexology chart by clicking here http://budurl.com/wnxg

Universal College of Reflexology provides cutting edge accredited Reflexology training online through the multi media virtual classroom.  By providing students the opportunity to study at their own pace with full access to the virtual classroom, which is always open, and unlimited access to their teacher, tutor, mentor, coach and fellow students – classroom retention far exceeds traditional training.  Result is our Certified Reflexology graduates are packed with knowledge in theory, demonstrate exceptional practical skills and are loaded and ready for incredible success as Reflexology entrepreneurs.

Jack Marriott is currently Vice President – Reflexology with the Natural Therapies Certification Board, past Vice President and Budget & Finance Chair Reflexology Association of Canada, and has held many memberships including Reflexology Association of America.

Interested in becoming a certified Reflexologist, click here  http://budurl.com/learnreflex

For the most amazing continuing education, certified Reflexologists click here http://budurl.com/m8nl

UCR Reflexology Class

President Obama said in his famous speech while running for president -

“Americans have faced the reality of recession – older people putting off retirement, younger people foregoing college, employees being laid off while entrepreneurs close down businesses.”

This economic crisis still continues and is the catalyst for many people through all ages and demographics to come to a crossroads in their careers. This is what I call a window of opportunity has just opened for you. A chance to change your life by becoming an entrepreneur (business owner) in a growing industry.  Did you know going into business offers a feeling of independence and personal freedom, a sense of accomplishment that’s just not possible for most employees?

I’ve stated several times in my postings – “Reflexology is Recession-Proof”. People are more stressed than ever. And, stress is the cause of up to 90% of doctor’s visits according to JAMA. For those of you who are our students at the Universal College of Reflexology you know that Reflexology is the best stress reliever we know.

The market needs stress relief now. Imagine starting your own Professional Reflexology business and at the same time meeting the needs of a very demanding marketplace!

Being a professionally certified reflexologist is one of the top five career choices in the field of natural health.

Sure, you can set up a coffee outlet for a franchise fee of $500,000 of which $250,000 is your own cash and then you may be lucky enough to qualify for bank financing the balance. Then you must pay out 12% of sales as a Royalty…… Or, you can take professional Reflexology training online through the Universal College of Reflexology, purchase a portable recliner chair, stool with wheels, towels, pillows, and a few assorted items and work out of your home for ….. hmm, under $3000.

So, consider this – you may at a point in the future get some kind of return on your coffee franchise investment of $500,000, but you know it’s going to take you years to get your money back as one of your best case scenarios.

Take Professional Reflexology training today and before you know it you will be a Reflexology Entrepreneur – earning a fabulous income and imagine this recapturing your entire investment in your first few weeks of business!!!  Most everything else is basically profit less day to day expenses.

Click here and you can even start today – http://LearnFootReflexologyonline.com

Jack Marriott is the Reflexology Coach at the Universal College of Reflexology

That's my Dad celebrating his 96th birthday last week

In essence, Motivation is about satisfying the desires and the needs that you possess.  If you, like so many others find self – motivation is not an activity you do well then there is help for you.  Find out what other desires and what other needs you possess that are not being met.  Determine which of these unmet desires or needs is the strongest and deal with it first.  And so on.  Once you satisfy these other needs, you will find the task at hand much easier to complete.

You probably already know that fear is the most common motivator.  Fear is the oldest yet least effective means of motivation.  Just think back to your childhood and how your parents instilled fear in you in order to motivate you to either not do something or to do something or else.  More recently you may notice how your government is using the fear tactic on you endlessly through advertising for drugs, vaccinations, terror, security and more.  Luckily the shortcomings of the fear tactic is that most of us quickly build up a tolerance, and since the repercussions are rarely enforced, they usually are not taken seriously.

The next most common and least effective motivation is incentive – the promise of a reward for behavior.  You remember, “go to the store for me and I’ll buy you a treat.”  Or your boss tells you to stay late and I’ll pay you overtime.  This type of incentive motivation does not really satisfy your desire for achievement and is therefore a less effective technique.

The most effective motivation is self-motivation, being inspired by the pure joy of accomplishment.  Approaching life from this point of view is extremely empowering to yourself and to those around you.  Take a look at the photo of my Dad who is getting close to a hundred years old!

The principle factor in motivation is goals.  Without goals, motivation has no direction.  You can even create goals about motivation.  Your mind is a powerful tool that is ready and waiting for you to utilize it more effectively.

This is a brief excerpt from the Reflexology Coaching program by Jack Marriott of the Universal College of Reflexology who brings to you nearly 1/2 century of coaching experience.

How so you may ask?  Well, just think of all the situations you find yourself using a phone.  It could be anywhere especially with phone mobility these days.  At home, your office, your car, walking down the street, literally anywhere.  It doesn’t really matter where, what does matter is proper phone etiquette and courtesy are vital.

Consider this – people on the other end of the phone have only two things to go on – your attitude and your voice.  A person who calls your office for the first time will base 90% of what they think of you and your Reflexology practice on that one call.  That’s right!  Now get this – callers can actually tell whether you are having a good day or a bad day, whether you have had enough sleep – even whether you are sitting up straight – while you talk.

Right now you may be slouched in your chair or your feet may not even be on the floor.  Before you move, pretend that your office phone just rang and you are answering it.  Say “Good morning, the Reflexology Centre.”  If you are sitting up straight right now, try slouching just long enough to hear how that phrase comes out.  Do you hear how dejected and forlorn you sound?

Now sit up very straight, stretch, take a deep breath, smile and repeat, “Good morning, the Reflexology Centre.”  Isn’t it amazing how much lighter and more enthusiastic you sound?  Your positive attitude comes across on the phone.

This is an important business tip for all Reflexologists and other entrepreneurs from Jack Marriott the Reflexology Coach at the Universal College of Reflexology.

But first let me briefly describe exactly what marketing for Reflexologists is.  Simply put, marketing is the process in which you help others to value you and your Reflexology practice.

The key is communicating.  You may already be stumped with that.  For instance, is your Reflexology practice home-based?  If so, you may rarely get out to meet people.  Oh sure, you do your grocery shopping and probably fill your gas tank, maybe even eat out once in a while, if you can afford it.  But for the most part you are not communicating with people about what you do.  Rather, you may be depending upon yellow page ads, post it notes in supermarkets and health food stores and other impersonal marketing aides hoping people will phone you.

So your question is “How can I communicate my value to other people?”

Here’s how.  Meet and speak to 10 more people every day.  Tell them what you do.  Imagine that’s 50 people a week, 2,500 people a year.  Your next question may be how do I find these people.

People are everywhere.  What is your target market?  Where do they go and hang out?  Are you a member of networking clubs meeting for breakfasts, lunches, etc., chamber of commerce meetings, business clubs, recreational centres, keep fit classes, church groups, hobby groups, parent teachers associations, chat clubs, libraries, seminars – people are everywhere.  Okay, now, what would you say to them?

How about saying something like this – “Do you know the number one reason people visit their doctor?”  Wait for their response, and then say something like this – “Stress.  Did you know that stress is an epidemic in modern society and stress is the primary cause of all dis-ease.”  Follow that up with “And, I’m in the business of relieving people’s stress – naturally without drugs”.  “Here’s my card (hand them two cards and a pen), please print your name and phone number and email address on the back of this card and I’ll email you my report on managing your stress for a longer, happier and healthier life” (then take your pen and the second card back).  Wish them a great day and look for 9 more people.  Follow-up in a couple of days.  That’s it.

Let’s look at the numbers.  By sharing your information with 2,500 people, the probability is that 1 out of 10 become a client, that is 250 new clients in a year, paying you say $50 a session and they may average 4 sessions a year, that is $200 a client equals an additional $50,000 a year in income.

Special note, before they leave your clinic hand them 3 of your business cards and ask them to refer three or more people to get their stress relieved here.  Before you know it, with proper marketing skills you will be on your way to a six figure income and much more.

All because you decided to mingle with people and tell them what you do.

Jack Marriott is a Certified Master Reflexologist/Instructor, professional Reflexology Coach  and marketing expert with the Universal College of Reflexology and a team leader at The Reflexology Zone.

Your comments please!

Here’s just a few of the many reasons why.

• Flexibility – just imagine for a moment that as a Reflexologist you can provide quality services in a clinic right in your own house.  Or, you can set up in a wellness clinic with other Reflexologists or a group of health care specialists.  Many Reflexologists provide mobile services to seniors, elder-care residences, and people with special needs.  You can often find Reflexologists working at trade fairs, health and wellness events, farmers markets, fairs, etc.
• Specialization – be in huge demand by specializing in a certain area such as working with athletes, professional sports teams, stress busting in corporations, movie sets, paediatric Reflexology, maternity Reflexology, women’s issues, aging baby boomers, geriatric Reflexology, back pain, and so on.
• Medical Clinics – more and more medical professionals recognize that Reflexology is a wonderful antidote for ill health caused by stress.  Doctors, Chiropractors, Dentists, Naturopaths and Integrative Medicine clinics are now happily providing space for Reflexologists as an integral part of their wellness team.

So now is the time for Reflexologists to actively pursue their financial dreams in turning their Reflexology business into one of financial abundance.

For more information on learning professional Reflexology, Reflexology coaching and mentoring, how to develop a successful Reflexology business and to expand your specialist skills in Reflexology, contact Jack Marriott of the Universal College of Reflexology Jack@JackMarriott.com .

Your comments are welcome.

1. Develop a website.  Feature your services, your qualifications showing you as an expert in your field of Reflexology, provide information on how to contact you, include a google map.

2.    Give free seminars where people can find out about your services.  Lunch time, weekends, or evenings are particularly good.

3.  The single biggest marketing advantage is to focus on the benefits you provide not on the features you do. Spend your time focusing on how your prospects will benefit from your Reflexology sessions.  Let me use this example – a furniture salesman won’t try to sell you on how well the couch was made – rather the successful salesman will sell you on how you will feel so comfortable sitting in this couch you won’t want to get out of it.

4.  Wherever you go bring a supply of your business cards.  Make them standout, by any number of creative ideas.  Here’s a few – design them as feet; circular cards; plastic cards, special paper, larger than average size, pop out cards, use both sides of the card, reverse the card to portrait instead of landscape.

5. Send out unique appointment reminder notices.  Consider a post-card cut in the shape of an admission ticket with client’s name, date and time of appointment.  The ticket states that a comfortable reclining seat has been “reserved” for the client.  This is a great marketing tool and a sure bet to cut down on client no-shows.

Jack Marriott is the Reflexology Coach, loaded with tools and techniques for you to succeed in your professional practice.

Your comments are requested.

I am getting ready to start my own massage therapy business. But, I’m really afraid to do so. My mind just blanks out when I start thinking about how to deal with accounts and in particular how do I put aside money for taxes? What can I claim as a a business expense or should I keep all my receipts for everything?

Here is my response.

Therapists and practitioners in the complementary and alternative healing industry are unique in certain ways. Let’s consider this for a massage therapist. For starters you should find out if massage therapy is regulated in the state or province you will be working in.

In this case the client lives and is planning to work in Ontario, Canada. And, this province is one of those in Canada that is provincially regulated, just as many of the states in the USA are. Because of this it’s vitally important that you are obliged to follow all the guidelines set out by the government in the manner in which you keep your financial and also your client records. The government legislates this through an act and is obligated to provide you with this information. Either contact the government or find their website through a Google search.

After having done wo, your next best bet is to find some expert help which could save you immense time and worry and a lot of money. This makes your next two steps a simple matter. Step #1 – contact your provincial/state massage therapy association for guidance on how you proceed from here. Step #2 – contact a professional accountant or the Certified Professional Accountants (USA) or Chartered Accountants (Canada) associations to help you locate an accountant who is familiar with the business of Massage therapy. If there is no Massage Association in your state or province, go directly to step #2.

Your strategy is to use your time wisely and pay as little as possible for professional services. Prior to setting up a meeting with an expert such as an accountant, do your homework first by researching the topic and finding out exactly what questions you should ask the expert. This is where your computer comes in handy. You can go to Ask.com and ask your questions into cyberspace. Analyze the answers you get as many will help in providing you with more inforamtion as to the specific questions to ask at the meeting with your expert. This list of good questions to ask is vital for a successful meeting.

By meeting with the accountant you get the real deal when it comes to your business and personal tax situation, how to pay your taxes, and of course how to provide your bookkeeper and/or accountant with your receipts, etc. The accountant may have suggestions how to help you in all matters of accounting. This is an area as a business person that you should consider outsourcing. Allowing you to concentrate on managing your new business and marketing it too.

Jack Marriott is a certified Life Coach and a master Reflexology coach providing services to inspire and motivate practitioners in the complementary and holistic fields to become financially successful “heart-felt entrepreneurs”.

Your comments are appreciated.

You need to know that as an individual and business owner, you can make a difference socially,

Jack & Reflexology Student

economically, environmentally, and politically.  Running your practice from a place of love, integrity, compassion and personal values creates a sense of empowerment and fulfillment.  Many businesses are learning how to be profitable and heed their social missions. 

Have you noticed how eco-friendly is now a buzz word in the world of economics?  Consider this that as the concept of “quality of life” evolves, time and freedom become the dominant concerns as well as financial security.  In addition, companies are becoming more ecologically aware; reducing the number of consumables, choosing “environment-friendly” products and instituting recycling programs.  As more members of small and large businesses incorporate values for the overall benefit of humankind into their everyday practices, political pressure comes to bear upon governments to create policies and laws along the same lines.

Although what I call the low-price mentality seems to be the dominant feature in American shopping habits.  The move towards social responsiblity is gaining popularity even by the lower priced stores.  As a result of the changes in business philosophy, new operating procedures have developed.  Purchasing products and services is no longer based only on price and quality.  Companies that embrace the philosophy of social responsibility often offer discounts to businesses that belong to specific political, professional, social or networking organizations. 

We’re going through a time of increased activity in “natural disasters” especially with the earthquake and tsunami that devasted Japan recently.  Have you noticed how companies are supporting volunteerism?  Tithing is also on the rise as many individuals and companies are donating their time, money and expertise to help the Japanese people and of course donations to favourite charities are also front and centre.  Also groups of individuals are joining together to form organizations expressly committee to responding to emergency conditions around the globe.

Many holistic practitioners such as Reiki masters are often promoting sending distant healings to sites of tragedies.  Reflexologists often gather together to offer support for causes by volunteering their services to those in need and even traveling to stricken areas to help teach under-privileged or victims how to help themselves with basic Reflexology techniques.

Jack Marriott, Universal College of Reflexology, leader in multimedia online accredited Reflexology training www.learnfootreflexologyonline.com