Work-Life Balance
Balancing a Beauty Business with Family and Relationships
Like any other career, beauticians face the challenge of balancing work and life. Beyond unpredictable and long hours, they also deal with societal misconceptions.
Take massage therapists ( masseuse), for instance. Imagine this conversation on a first date:
Him: Can I know more about you? What do you do for a living?
You: I’m a massage therapist at a three-star hotel in Mombasa.
Him: (Drop dead silence, thinking) How? To whom? Why? When? Aje sasa?
You: What about you?
Him: Don’t worry, you’ll get a better job.
You: Actually, this is the best job I’ve had since graduation. The salary is great, and the tips are huge.
Him: Ok.
You: Waiting for your answer too.
Him: I’m a banker.
You: Oh great! You must be earning good money, I guess.
Him: (Boastfully) Yes, yes. I’m almost at a rank where I’ll be earning Ksh 100k per month.
You: Oh really? That’s actually my commission for one week, not counting salary and tips.
Him: (Thinking) I don’t care. I can’t date such a person. If she gives those extras I hear about… no, not me, I can’t date a prostitute
Married Women
It gets worse when you’re married.
You: Babe, I have a surprise. I got a job as a masseuse. The pay is great, and my dream has come true.
Him: What? As who? Kwa nani? Never. Not here, not with me. If you go there, don’t come back.
This mindset unfairly lumps massage therapists with commercial sex workers.
Massage is physical and psychological exercise that offers healing and improved well-being for the client. It is a respectable profession like any other . that puts food on the table and pays bills. We handle clients with respect, and we deserve the same.
Balancing family and a beauty business can be tough, especially with long hours. But as your business grows and you add staff, you can enjoy more quality time with family.
I balance family, business, and church. Once, I asked my bishop for a massage after a tiring conference. Initially hesitant, he now brings his wife, and they’re loyal clients.