Meet Cory Scurlock

We recently connected with Cory Scurlock and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cory, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being red haired I learned pretty early in life that I stand out. Attention is something I got used to because people are curious. Perhaps this prepared me for my career because I wasn’t afraid going into a higher level circles asking for a seat at the table. Negotiating with C-suite executives, many who in the beginning were reluctant to talk to me, quickly taught me; if you draw attention you better have something important to say. I recognized it was worth taking the time to cultivate my message in a way that was both and true. I learned communicating powerfully message involves vulnerability.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

In my career I felt called to be a voice of change, in an industry of longstanding traditions that hadn’t changed much at all. I founded an organization called “The Massage Inc.” whose sole focus is serving elderly. Our purpose is removing the barriers of entry for older Americans (residing in assisted living facilities) so their aging bodies can benefit from wellness services such as therapeutic massage and chair yoga. In 2014 when we came into this space there were a handful of independent providers practicing within the walls of senior living but no group had yet organized or connected therapists across the industry so I did just that. As we developed this space it became apparent that in this industry which is heavily regulated strangely no oversight existed for those offering wellness services so we set out to become the standard for best practices. Pioneering our field over the first decade felt lonely as we had no models within the wellness world or senior living industry to look to for guidance so we drew from similar models in the medical field to set our goals for patient outcomes. As we expanded across the landscape of assisted living and into multiple states our brand was recognized for the quality our certified senior – safe providers delivered. One step, one quality medical massage at a time we built a healthcare machine. We measured everything, from the impact our services had on the participation of its clients in other activities to the expected range of motion gained by patients we treated. Without metrics you can’t gauge how well (or not) your patients are benefiting from your services. While we elevated senior living amenities and where enjoying a steady rise – the Covid-19 pandemic hit. While millions of elderly Americans were separated from their loved ones during lockdowns the world now took notice suddenly to our patients. Clinical studies began to emerge that showed the effects of therapeutic touch and connection on our bodies and suddenly the intrinsic value of our services skyrocketed overnight. Emerging from the pandemic suddenly everyone wanted a certified senior-safe Massage Inc provider in their assisted living facility. With many new opportunities for our strategic growth we chose what we felt was the next best, right thing to do which was to sign a contract with the TPA of the Veterans Administration (VA) opening our services to a new demographic of deserving, elderly, Americans; those who fought for our country in the Korean & Vietnam wars. Now a days our efforts are focused on developing our network of Mobil therapists who specialize in treating elderly veterans who chose to age in their own homes. Which is a privilege to be able to serve those who served for our country, and fought for our freedom.

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?

Areas of knowledge – don’t dilute your skills. Better to be the master of one subject than mediocre in many areas. For The Massage Inc our focused expertise is massage for the aging body. Many times over the years I was approached with business opportunities that although may have been lucrative would have diverted our focus from mastering geriatric care.

Qualities – in all that you do aim to be the highest level of professional you can. Massage therapists for example have for many years experienced being ostracized, overlooked in the healthcare sector and although that can make one feel like they’re not beholden to professional standards comparatively I encourage not falling into this trap. Now is a time to elevate the professions seen in the wellness world and an invitation for them to join the larger healthcare system. Whatever you do; do it to the highest standard of professional excellence.

Skills- measure everything. Develop systematic mechanism for improving performance by tracking everything you put your hands on. Information is power. Without data you can’t gauge the efficacy of your product or services so track everything you do and analyze your metrics routinely so you know if adaptations are necessary.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

Go all in on yourself and if you have to place a wager, bet on yourself! Coincidentally my business specializes in the treatment of patients who often suffer from mental illnesses such as PTSD, but before I was leading the organization I was a single mom struggling with my own anxiety and life in general. Although I think my ex husband did the best he could at the time with the knowledge he had, I experienced being controlled, being called crazy, and so on during the course of that relationship. Which left me with feelings confusion and a diminished sense of self esteem. Therapy helped me to regain my confidence and solid footing in my own life. Having the courage to bet on myself and shine my own light was the key for me to conquer seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Bet on yourself and strengthen the natural talents you where born with is the best way to success because the world needs the version of you that is the authentic you!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photo credits Myles Messinetti

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that