We were lucky to catch up with Katt Hanneman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katt, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Early on in my adult life, I worked in a lot of different industries. I would start each job with such excitement, only to lose interest with each of them within a year or two. The only common thread that I could find with everything that I tried was that they all worked to help others. The idea of becoming a massage therapist was something that I would put off for different reasons, only to continually circle back to. After having my first child and moving away from my hometown within a span of two months, I felt like I was comfortable enough with putting myself in situations that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I finally chose to go to massage school, and found that I loved helping people feel better. I realized that this is what I was meant to do, and am still happy in this field after 7 years.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As an owner of a massage studio, I spend my days talking to people and finding out what I can do to help them. Whether the purpose is just to relax or to help manage a chronic condition, I strive to make my client’s feel that their concerns are seen and heard. Each person is completely different from the next, and I love that I get to challenge myself to adapt and grow to best meet the needs of others.
I recently relocated my business to be right outside of downtown Saint Augustine, and I love that I can engage more with my local community now. I also have partnered with a local esthetician so that we are able to offer spa packages to help people relax and unwind within a cozy environment.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The skills that I felt like were the most impactful in my journey were having empathy, communication skills, and the ability to push myself out of my comfort zone.
I strongly feel that anyone who chooses to be in any service or wellness industry must have a heart for others, because people need to know that the people that are helping them truly care about their health and well-being.
Being able to listen to your client so you can better understand their needs, and then being able to effectively explain how you plan on addressing those needs is also a key factor to being successful in the wellness industry. People want to be understood, so making sure that both client and provider are on the same page is important.
Choosing to become a small business owner forces you to fit into so many different roles, so being able to get comfortable with pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is unavoidable. I have social anxiety and am very shy and introverted, but I choose to put myself out there with networking with other local businesses as well as interacting with the community during vendor events. I know that people want to be able to see and connect with the person behind the business, and as awkward as I feel in social situations, I want my community to know that I value them and am a wellness provider that they can trust.
For anyone who is at the start of their entrepreneurial journey in the wellness field, I think that the best way to develop empathy and communication skills is to put yourself in the shoes of your client. How would you want your provider to address your concerns, and how would you want to be treated during your service? Once you have a clear idea of what you would prefer for yourself, it gives you a standard to strive for.
As for developing the ability to push yourself out of your comfort zone, I feel like that is something that is developed with practice. If you’re not at the stage where you are confident enough to go after a lofty dream, think about smaller goals that you can achieve that push you just a little bit. The more you do it, the more unfazed you become when you are faced with unfamiliar scenarios.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I like to retreat into my room and spend time alone in my thoughts. I light scented candles, put on calming music, drink a cup of chamomile tea, and wrap myself up in a fuzzy blanket. If I feel up to it, sometimes I’ll even journal just to help purge some of my thoughts.
I think that learning to be attuned with yourself and taking time to check in with yourself is the best way to avoid burnout or reaching a breaking point. I feel like the past few years have forced me to realize that I need to care about myself the way that I care about others. So when I notice that I’m getting to a point where I feel like I can’t handle it all, I allow myself time to rest and regroup.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fairwayandbloom.com
- Instagram: @fairwayandbloom
- Facebook: @fairwayandbloom
