VBE Spotlight: Temple Massager, Inc.
Veteran’s Business Enterprise®: Temple Massager, Inc.
Headquarters: Cazadero, CA
Year Founded: 2014
# of Employees: 3
Website: templemassager.com
Service Overview: Manufacture and distribute a patented product called a Temple Massager for stress, headache and anxiety relief.
Founders/CEOs: Joe Meisch
Service Branch: U.S. Army
Years Served: 1985–1998
Military Occupation: Combat Engineer (12B) and General Construction Equipment Operator (62J)
Highest Rank Attained: E-4
Fun Facts:
- I played Triple-A semi-pro baseball before I blew my elbow out.
- On my playlist you can find Dope Lemon, Israel Vibration, Allman Brothers Band and The Marshall Tucker Band.
- To relax I exercise/workout.
What types of services do you offer?
Manufacture and distribute a patented product called a Temple Massager for stress, headache and anxiety relief.
Who do you primarily serve?
Service members, Veterans, first responders and people under stress that can not take medication and need to stay duty and ready.
When and how did you start your business?
At the end of my Army career I was experiencing stress manifesting in my facial musculature that was causing migraine and tension headaches, cracking teeth and jaw pain. I was always massaging my face and could not afford to pay for a massage so I invented the Temple Massager tool to deliver cranial massage, acupressure and aromatherapy. I then donated over 6,000 to service members and Veterans around the world in honor of two friends I served with that gave all.
Along the way I was writing comedy, got an agent and was offered a deal by Spike TV for a TV show I wrote. I walked away from Hollywood to focus on the Temple Massager because I was receiving letters from service members, Veterans and first responders on how the Temple Massager was helping them.
What challenges did you face when starting your business?
Some challenges were getting researchers to believing the tool worked for headache, TMD and anxiety. After many documented testimonials from police, fire, 911 dispatchers, service members and Veterans, I finally found a researcher at UCSF.
What has been the key to your business's success?
I applied Army combat engineer training to adapt, improvise and overcome. Giving Temple Massagers to the military and first responders communities all the way reminding myself I served with two men that gave all and that I will not give up.
What important lessons have you learned that can help others succeed in business?
If you have done your research/homework and know you are right, you have to fight and sacrifice time to advance your cause. Sacrifice is the prerequisite to discipline.
What common mistakes should they be aware of and avoid?
Getting conned by advisors that claim they can help you. Don’t spend money on advisors if you have not thoroughly researched their experience.
What else would you like the NaVOBA community to know about you and your business?
My company and I just won the national Disability:IN pitch perfect competition.
We are now working with UCSF on a pilot study to look at the Temple Massager for service members, Veterans and first responders drug free headache and anxiety relief. Our primary researcher is Dr. Sabra Inslicht.
I had no money, so I had to learn how to write my own patent, and then at the end, have a patent attorney go through with the legalese to polish my work.
I walked away from a budding comedy career, my agent could not believe I did that and was mad at me. I told her I had a higher calling to help my fellow service members and Veterans. Tough decision, but I have no regrets.
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