Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara O’Dell.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to Chicago in 2014 from Omaha, Nebraska where I worked at an amazing chiropractic office and as a doula. I received a bachelor’s degree in theatre from the University of Nebraska Lincoln Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. A friend from college mentioned how he was enjoying Chicago as an actor and I felt the pull to make a jump. I knew I could massage anywhere and I was really itching to do more acting. I had grown up watching SNL and had always wanted to attend the Second City Training Program.
Backing up a little, I had let my health slip after graduating college and gained about 50 pounds. I was working as a preschool teacher and I loved teaching and playing with the kids, but the job was actually stressful and I didn’t see myself growing in that field. I had always been interested in massage and one day I looked up schools online and signed up instantly. In school, I learned a lot about health and started making great changes in my diet and lifestyle. Since then, I’ve lost around 80 pounds and am %100 self-employed helping other people improve their lives.
I never expected to run my own massage business, but I was never satisfied working at various places in Chicago. I found that my outside clients were bringing me the most satisfaction and because of amazing referrals, I was able to grown so much that I didn’t need to work for anyone else anymore. Now I can set my own schedule, use the products I know to be best for my clients, and operate how I feel. The hardest part of the job would be paying taxes since they aren’t automatically subtracted. However, it’s so worth every bit of effort because I get to stand at a table and not a desk and honestly say, “I love my job.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The tax struggle is real.
Chicago In Home Massage – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The smartest thing I did was brand myself. I chose “Chicago In Home Massage” because it clearly states what I do and where to find me. Parents especially love that they don’t need to find a babysitter. Often times one parent will watch the kids while the other gets massaged and then they’ll trade. Everyone else reports that the love not dealing with traffic after a relaxing massage.
I specialize in prenatal and deep tissue. My doula experience really aids in my knowledge of what the expecting mother is going through.
I also love using essential oils on clients and they help elevate the experience for my clients.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment was the day I realized I didn’t need to work for anybody else anymore. I got up in the morning and had the thought, “I have to go to work today.” I didn’t like that thought. I quickly realized, “oh wait, I don’t need this job anymore” and wrote my last two weeks’ notice that day.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Chicagoinhomemassage.com
- Email: odelltara@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/chicagomassagetherapy/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/qTKq/bfRkjvIC4E
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