The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
In each episode, our host, Aliyah Dastour, sits down with a diverse group of local business owners, from the corner cafe to the boutique shop, from tech startups to family-run enterprises. We peel back the curtain to reveal the trials, triumphs, and transformational moments that have shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
Discover the passion, perseverance, and innovative thinking that fuels these businesses, as well as the challenges they've overcome along the way. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking inspiration or simply a curious listener interested in the stories behind your favorite local spots, The Alimond Show has something for everyone.
Our guests share their experiences, insights, and valuable advice that can empower you to turn your own dreams into reality. We discuss topics like marketing strategies, customer relationships, community engagement, and much more, offering practical takeaways you can apply to your own business or career.
Join us every week as we celebrate the unsung heroes of our local business community and explore the vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurship in our area. Tune in to The Alimond Show and get ready to be inspired, informed, and motivated to support and nurture the businesses that make our community thrive.
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The Alimond Show
Shawn Stewart - Owner of Stone Tower Massage
Life's unpredictability can often lead to profound realizations and shifts in our trajectory—Shawn Stewart's story is a testament to that. From the soccer field to the therapist's table, our latest guest narrates a compelling tale of passion and healing. Shawn's laughter-filled recount of his early days at Burger King unexpectedly uncovers a natural gift for massage, propelling him into a career that brings relief and joy to many. His journey didn't stop at becoming an award-winning massage therapist; winning gold at the American Massage Championship only confirmed what his loyal clients already knew—Sean was made for this.
Yet, it's not just muscle knots and tension that define this episode. Shawn brings us to the edge of our seats with the retelling of his miraculous survival from a car crash, which not only fortified his faith but also instilled an ethos of living without fear. His candid conversation about the role faith plays in his life and business is as moving as it is motivating, grounding his aspirations to expand Stone Tower Massage and, one day, to manage a cozy bed and breakfast with his wife. Shawn's story is a powerful blend of resilience, gratitude, and ambition, reminding us all to cherish the journey and the incredible people we meet along the way.
My name is Sean Stewart. I own Stone Tower Massage down in Fredericksburg, virginia. I specialize in therapeutic sports and prenatal massage.
Speaker 2:Okay, and can you tell me a little bit about how you started that business?
Speaker 1:So I started that business because I wanted to kind of go out on my own and offer to my clients my specialities that I wanted to do. A lot of my clients had told me that I needed to do that for myself. So I was like, well, everyone keeps telling me this and I guess I need to go ahead and do this, and so that's what I did. I went out on my own so I could show my talents to the world Awesome.
Speaker 2:And then can you tell me about your childhood? What was that like? How did you get to this point?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I have three brothers, I have a mom and I have a stepdad and growing up I feel like life was really good. I had a good childhood growing up and it really taught me the values of hard work, dedication, staying true to a commitment Like if you have a job, to just make sure you follow through with the commitments so I really feel that it really established a good childhood basis for me.
Speaker 2:Awesome. What did you like to do? Did you like to run around crazy?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was definitely full of energy when I was a kid, so as a kid I was a soccer player, so I played soccer for 17 years. That was my passion. I loved playing soccer. I was also on the wrestling team in high school, but other than that I was just full of energy, loved life.
Speaker 2:And how did it lead you into this direction?
Speaker 1:So it's a funny story, tell us so. When I was younger, I was working at Burger King and it was a really busy day and there were a lot of people and I was on the register and I was like, oh my gosh, this is a long day. And one of my coworkers came down with a headache. So the upper manager asked if anybody knew how to do massage. And I didn't know the first thing about massage, I just wanted to get off the register. So I raised my hand. I said I do I do.
Speaker 1:So they were like you know how to do massage? And I was like, oh yeah, of course I do it all the time. So they sent me back to the back to give her like a little 10-minute, 15-minute massage and I was able to make her headache go away. So she had asked me is that something that you would ever consider doing? And I was like, well, I don't think I'm the right gender for the field, because back then it was like early 2000s, you didn't hear about a male massage therapist. But she said don't ever give up on your dream. So it took me 11 years but I finally was able to go back to school after that and I became a massage therapist, and this is now my 12th year of practicing.
Speaker 2:Yay, that's amazing, and I see you brought some medals here.
Speaker 1:You mind showing this and telling us about it.
Speaker 1:So let me start with saying in Fredericksburg there is a lot of talented massage therapists. I mean, there is a lot of talented people that do therapeutic massage in our area. So I was looking for a way that I could kind of step myself out of that bubble and kind of make my own route. So in 2022, there was a American Massage Championship. It was the first one that was ever taking place in America.
Speaker 1:I didn't know the first thing about it, but I was like I need to be there in America. I didn't know the first thing about it, but I was like I need to be there, I need to show you know my skills. So I went to the first ever American Massage Championship and I came with gold in wellness for that first year. So I was super excited to be a pioneer in the American Massage Championship. So then, following that, in 2023, I went to the World Massage Championships and I was representing Team USA. So this took place in Copenhagen, but I competed online here in Fredericksburg. So I competed in the sports massage category and I ended up finishing fourth best sports massage therapist in the world.
Speaker 2:Congratulations to that, thank you, that is something, and then in also 2023,.
Speaker 1:a few weeks after I competed at the world, I went to the American Massage Championship again for the second year and I took silver in sports massage.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, Look at that From your journey and now you're getting these awards. Congratulations to that.
Speaker 1:Thank you that now you're getting these awards. Congratulations, thank you Something to definitely be proud of. I appreciate it. It's been a it's been a hard road to get here and I've put a lot of work and time and care into my clients and I really am thankful for my clientele because they kind of helped me get to where I am today.
Speaker 2:I love that. And can you tell me a little bit about marketing, as far as how it goes with your business? Like, are you big on social media marketing? Are you out there like doing cold calls? Like, what tips do you have for other business owners?
Speaker 1:So, honestly, the best marketing for me has been word of mouth, Like my clients, they love me and they talk to me, about me, to other people, and that really helps to get the word out. I do post in certain groups in our area. There's certain pages that we can post on. I do post on that I try these awards and that I have ranking in the world. So it kind of helps with that as well, kind of knowing. Okay, this guy really knows what he's doing in order to have these rankings. So, and I just love what I do, you know I love doing massage therapy like it is my passion and every time I do a massage I'm giving like 110% because I just love helping people like it's my biggest itch in life is helping people.
Speaker 2:So for sharing that. As far as for social media, like, do you guys do any informational posts or any fun dances or anything like that?
Speaker 1:social media. I'm still not on all the way into social media, but we do try to do different little things, sometimes when I'm feeling a little creative.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's not for everyone. Some people have different ways of doing it, but hey, you find your way and what's working for you. So, that's amazing. And then is there anything in particular that's like in your mind or in your brain right now that you're like I really want to share something right now and you have a little bit of an audience here, so what would that be?
Speaker 1:So I guess I can share the story of my cross that I wear around my neck, please do so when I was and it kind of ties into my why I'm so passionate with my massage career Because when I was 17, I fell asleep behind the wheel and I hit two trees at an estimated 75 miles an hour. Because when I fell asleep my foot rested on the accelerator. I hit so hard that it pushed the motor through the passenger seat and was sitting in the back seat. Right before impact I felt a tap on my shoulder like someone trying to wake me up, and I remember waking up to hear the impact and to get knocked out by the rearview mirror. When I came to, I just remember seeing there was a bright light that was shining to my right and then I felt weightless, as though somebody was pulling me from the car and they laid me on the ground and when I stood up there was nobody there.
Speaker 2:Whoa.
Speaker 1:So the next day. So I actually ran to the nearest house and I was like telling them what happened. I was able to walk, I mean, I walked away without a scratch hardly. I mean I had a knot. From one side of my forehead to the other was a cut down the middle, two black eyes, a few cuts, a few burns, but other than that I walked away unscathed. The next day we went back and we looked at my car and the seatbelt for the driver's side was still buckled in the buckle. What?
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is crazy so nobody knows how I got out of the car. I know how I got out of the car. I know that God saved me.
Speaker 1:Divine intervention, divine intervention. So I had an 86 Mustang and everything in the car was gone that was in the inside. It was completely thrown around, except for this cross. It was in the same exact spot that I had left it. It was in the same exact spot that I had left it. So it kind of told me that two things from that life is short and that everything happens for a reason. Because my best friend was supposed to ride home with me that night and he would have been in the passenger seat had he been with me. So I'm really grateful and thankful that that didn't happen. So I wear it to remind myself that life is short and that everything happens for a reason.
Speaker 2:Wow, what a powerful story. Thank you so much for sharing that. Thank you, oh my goodness, I didn't even like expect a story like that, but man my little emotional gears are going now that's wild, but um, no, I'm I'm so happy that um, you're here with us today and sharing your story, so we really do. Thank you, I appreciate it, yeah and then, um, if you could share one message to the world, for our audience, what would that message be?
Speaker 1:so I would say that life is short, so do the scary things right. Like I had no idea what I was getting into when I went to these championships, but I had to put away the fear, because life is short, we don't get a chance to say what you want to say. So you, you know, always say what you want to say, because you may not get that opportunity, because we're not promised tomorrow, we're not promised the next hour. So just if there's something you need to say, say it. If there's something you need to do, do it. Don't be afraid, just go out, live your life, and live life to the fullest, because you never know what could come out of just living your life. Live life to the fullest, because you never know what could come out of just living your life and just being the best version of yourself.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And then, who are you outside of your business Like? What do you like to do? What are some fun things.
Speaker 1:So outside of my business. I am so much in love with my wife. We've been married. We just celebrated 10 years this year. Congratulations, so thank you. Um. So we like to. I just like hanging out with my wife like I like just hang out. Um. We watch tv together, we travel together. Um, she's a photographer so she's always traveling with me to. You know, do these events and stuff and getting the good shots.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and she's been like my biggest support. So, honestly, I couldn't have done any of this without her. She kind of gave me the courage and the push to do this. So, honestly, that's what I am most. I'm a husband to my wife and I try to be a good friend, try to be a good listener, try to help motivate people, because I want to be a good friend. Try to be a good listener, um, try to help motivate people, because I, you know, I want to be a motivation to people. I want to be an inspiration, uh, to go after your dreams.
Speaker 2:live your dream, live your life so and then, if you could give any advice to anybody out there who's trying to figure things out in their life and doesn't know what direction to go, what would that advice be?
Speaker 1:That's a good question. If you're not sure of where you want to go, I would say just trust in God, trust in His ability to guide you where you're supposed to be and trust in his will that he's going to lead you where you need to be. Don't have anxiety or fear of that decision. Just kind of boldly stand and say I know that either way, this is going to work out for the best in my favor.
Speaker 2:Perfect. And then my last question for you is going to be where do you see yourself and your business in the next five years?
Speaker 1:So in the next five years I would love to see my business to be happy and thriving, that's right. And I would love to have an opportunity to have maybe a therapist that work underneath of me. Me and my wife have also talked about maybe one day owning a bed and breakfast, so that's like a, you know that's a little side thing that you know we've always kind of kept an eye on, of like, maybe that's something we can do.
Speaker 1:Um, so, honestly, just being happy, being grateful, being thankful, uh, for just being here, you know, that's, that's where I hope to be in five years, just all those things. Happy, grateful, thankful.
Speaker 2:I love that for you. So thank you so much for being on the podcast today and sharing your story and advice. We really, really appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2:This has been great, yeah, of course.