Her Story
About Aida
Aida Robles owns and operates a small business offering massage therapy and personal training services in Las Vegas, NV. With 16 years of experience in the field, she balances both modalities to avoid burnout while helping clients recover from injuries and improve physically, emotionally, and mentally. Robles completed high school and massage therapy schooling, maintains her license as a massage therapist, holds certifications in personal training and injury recovery, and completes at least 12 CEUs annually. She is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Robles attributes her success to hard work, delivering quality service that generates referrals, and listening to clients like a psychologist while wearing many hats in her customer service role. She values honesty and helping people, sometimes offering discounts for first sessions given economic challenges. Among the biggest challenges she faces are inappropriate phone calls, which she counters by maintaining a professional image through reviews. Robles advises aspiring professionals to continue learning on the job rather than fearing school warnings and to avoid undervaluing themselves at low-paying employers. She also volunteers by helping to feed animals.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Aida
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being hardworking. It's really hard to get to the point where you have enough to pay your bills. Also, doing a good job because that gets you referrals, which is very important. Working with people in customer service, really giving yourself, listening to their problems, and wearing many hats like a psychologist.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice relates to my technique and how I'm working with people, learning specific techniques to help release pain or tension. As a business owner, you learn how to run the business, but it has more to do with continuing to learn and never stopping, learning different techniques from others in the field.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For massage therapy, you learn until you start working. Don't focus so much on what they tell you in school or be so fearful. Don't put yourself down by working at places like Massage Envy for low pay. Don't feel so much pressure or insecure because you'll learn it sooner or later and gain confidence eventually.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenge is stopping phone calls from men who think massage is something else. It's upsetting when you paid thousands and studied hard, and they ask for things you're not willing to do. Especially bad in Vegas, though reviews help establish professionalism.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Values are very honest. Most of it is honesty and being willing to help people. Especially in today's economy, it's hard for people to pay, but some see it as a need, so try to give discounts at least for the first session.
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