Martial Arts Professional Magazine

During the next two months, I’ll focus on a critical transition in the life of a martial arts school. The transition is the one that takes the school owner from being a tactician to being a strategist and frequently takes us away from what we love the most, teaching classes. First, I want to set […]

While an instructor may run a class with stern discipline, that doesn’t always translate well when that instructor puts on his management hat. The job of the owner/manager is not to be a dictator, but to tell people how they’re doing, what they’re doing, give encouragement, and give advise.
 
IN motivation, we only become committed to something […]

In the final episode of this martial arts-specific interview, fellow Black Belt and world-renowned “professional” imparts a wealth of knowledge on a wide variety of significant topics. Addressing The Seven Key Result Areas in selling and in management; the 80/20 Principle; the zero-based thinking, and more; we present to you… Master Brian Tracy.

MABusiness: One of […]

Our goal this month has been to remind ourselves how important it is to influence ourselves on a regular basis to stay motivated to do the right things at the right time.
Plus if we do not learn the skills of motivation how can we get our support team motivated to do whatever it takes in […]

When I started in martial arts over 41 years ago, I never would have imagined martial arts would become my profession rather than just my passionate hobby.
When I founded Mile High Karate in 1983, it was an alternative to using my degree in International Economics to landing a job in banking or working for a […]

Part 10: The Anatomy of an Ad: Body Copy, Part 6, Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Why Would They Say “No”?
When someone is reading your ad or other marketing material, they are having a conversation with themselves . They are naturally skeptical of you, after all, you’re trying to “sell them something,” and they will be […]

There are many effective styles of leadership, but there are several “secrets” to leadership in any organization.
 
Vision: You must have a clear and compelling vision of the future of your organization. It’s the big picture of how your business should look, in as much sensory rich detail as possible.
 
Leadership starts from within. If you have […]

Last month, I told you how I moved away from the deck. This month, I want to take the role of devil’s advocate: How can I return to the deck again?
 
If you’ve ever read Michael Gerber’s business book, The E-Myth, then you know that most of us who opened martial arts schools were technical experts […]

This month, I want to continue my presentation of the Conditions of Learning by focusing on goal setting as it relates to teaching. Most of us think that we have a rather good notion of how to engage in goal setting. After all, we reached Black Belt and beyond, and we run our businesses successfully.
We […]

There are several types of e-mail you can use to market your school to prospective students. Among the most common are e-zines, flyers, school newsletters and promotional pieces. An e-zine, or “electronic magazine,” is delivered to subscribers via a Web site or an e-mail newsletter.
E-zines are sometimes referred to as “opt-in” lists because everyone who […]

Part 9: The Anatomy of an Ad: Body Copy, Part 5
Strategy #2: Problem-Agitate-Solve, Part 2
Last month, I presented the “Problem” statement, and I began “Agitating” readers.
Agitate, continued:
You have a HUGE advantage in the marketplace because your “solution” solves a problem that people WANT TO SOLVE! Your “product” literally changes people’s lives and makes them better, […]

As an instructor and school owner, you are very familiar with the topic of goal setting. Often, the Black Belt is a metaphor for excellence and a worthy goal. This is a critical lesson that must translate into you and your students‘ lives.
The ability to set goals and make plans to accomplish those goals is […]

The basis of any successful business is a series of reproducible, result-producing systems. Small and large businesses, including martial arts schools, create and implement systems for accounting, customer services, marketing, etc. You hire staff members to implement those systems and you train them to implement them correctly.
Then, you teach, which is something else entirely. Or […]