Massage Heights CEO Talks Love of Outdoors and Her Guilty Pleasure - Franchise Times

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“I’d go back to the 1800s. I love the Wild West and am amazed by that life.”

—Shane Evans, CEO, Massage Heights


In her monthly "Grab Bag" column, Editor in Chief Laura Michaels asks the tough questions—What superhero power would you most like to have? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?—to show a side of franchising execs you don’t normally see.

Who would play you in the biopic about your life?

Angelina Jolie. She takes on roles that require strength, resilience and a strong sense of purpose. Her ability to convey authority and vulnerability most resonate with me.

What’s something not many people know about you?

I love the outdoors; it’s where I feel grounded. I love being in the mountains mostly. I love to camp, go fishing, all of it. Two of my favorite places are, there’s this hike in Aspen called the Maroon Bells, it’s stunning. And also the Grand Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Probably not having a detailed plan. I like to know there’s a plan. In business or in my personal life, I want to know the details.

What’s something you would seriously stockpile if you found out it wasn’t going to be sold anymore?

This sounds funny, but it’s a specific body oil that I love. It smells good, it makes your skin feel super smooth. It’s called Balaayah Black Gram Body Booster, and it’s these Ayurveda essential oils. I have stockpiled it, actually. I ordered three or four bottles because there was a time when I couldn’t get it.

What’s one trend you wish would disappear?

The social media trend of perfection. I think it’s dangerous to young women, older women, men, too. Really to just everyone. I’ve got daughters and just this idea of perfection that’s presented on social media, it can be so damaging.

If you could be a member of any TV show family, which would it be?

Hmm, well, the ones that interest me I would not want to join. I’m thinking of the family on ‘Succession.’ It’s so interesting to watch but so dysfunctional. I actually wouldn’t want to join any family but my own. My family is perfectly imperfect.

Which time period in history would you want to visit?

I’d go back to the 1800s. I love the Wild West and am amazed by that life. It was a simple life, but also hard. It goes back to being a little girl and watching ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ Growing up, my parents didn’t have a lot of money at the time and our vacations as a kid were road trips, going camping and just finding a fishing hole. So I’ve always been drawn to just that more simplistic life, before there were all these distractions and devices. I’m intrigued by how people lived life at that time.

What superhero power would you most like to have?

I go between flying and being a mind reader. Ideally, I’d have both, but probably more mind reading because I want to be able to understand how people think. I’m always thinking about how to be a better communicator and would want to know how my words affect someone else. In a franchise system, you have to expect change. And there’s a fine line between being confident and being empathetic. In a franchise, how you communicate is so important.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Well, I love ice cream. But actually, my guilty pleasure doesn’t even make me feel guilty. It’s massages. I get a massage every week, sometimes twice a week. I truly believe in the service we offer. I also love going to resorts and exploring how they’re executing on new services. I like to be inspired by the environment as well as the service.