Don't Set Out to Make Money, Set Out to Make a Difference

As a business entrepreneur you will be faced with many challenges, especially if teaching martial arts professionally is your calling. Just like any start up you will have to make many decisions, and some of those will require you to choose between a slow and steady path or a get rich quick mentality. When you are new in business you tend to think everyone will want to come to your school and you will have so many students right away. Sure that could happen, but the pace generally follows a steady growth rate through hard work. You will find that in any business your passion for what you do will draw the resources to you like a magnet. Here are some quick points.

Don't Focus on Money

Focus on Making a Difference. When you start to make a difference in people's lives and in the community that is when your students and community will rally to your business. As you help others reach their goals yours will come to fruition. As your business continues to build momentum many things will begin to seemingly fall into place with a lot less struggle. When you need something, or when you have a big project to tackle, visionary people and resources will find their way to you.

Don't Focus on Making a Bigger School

A giant school does not necessarily mean success, giant students do. In other words, don't worry about trying to get as many students as you can, but on building leadership and motivation throughout your team. If you have never heard of the 5 Levels of Leadership, I suggest doing a quick study. You will find that the higher level of leadership you develop in your staff and student body, the more exponential growth will occur. Futhermore, growing too fast could have a horrible effect on your ability to be a manager. You don't want your business to grow past your level of leadership. It is a terrible tragedy that happens to many business owners.

Don't Focus on a Bigger Curriculum

Curriculum programs are another classic mistake of martial arts business owners. What I mean is that you try to pack all the latest and greatest into your training trying to appease the MMA and Capoeira superstar, Gracie wannabees that watch too many Youtube videos but don't understand hard work and the process of time. You can teach a person a new move everyday, or some flashy sequence and guess what, it will never work when they need it. Don't focus on a bigger and "cooler" curriculum, but on the progression of your students. Steady growth is what you want to see, and you should share that with new students up front. Those who want to have a great martial journey will stay, those who are looking to be flashy superstars... well, the students that stay on board will tap them out or KO them at a future event. Martial arts is a lifelong journey, not a sprint.

So, as you continue to build your martial arts business. Focus on these three points. Do it because you believe in what you do, because you believe in helping other people and lastly because you are interested in seeing them progress through a quality program.


v/r

Benjamin Moriniere "Sensei"
Capoeira Academy Okinawa & Yudansha MMA Okinawa
www.capoeira-okinawa.com
www.facebook.com/CapoeiraAcademyOkinawa