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Unfortunately in our industry most of the really successful people are spending their time growing their staff, students, schools, and especially their net profit not sharing their secrets with you. I am different from most of those sharing information in a variety of VERY important ways that are important to you and will help you dramatically grow your school and, your income!
Many of the gurus in our industry fall into one of the following categories:
1. Never been there never done that .
That's right there's a BUNCH of people trying to sell you advice who have never sat where you sit and, dealt with the problems and opportunities that you face every day. They often are excellent speakers and, persuasive purveyors of their own products, programs, or subscriptions but really never did it themselves. Their ideas are unproven. Their perspective limited to that of an outsider.
How am I different?
Well I opened my first school in 1975. And, have been continuously operating my Mile High Karate schools in Denver since 1983. I currently have 8 successful locations in the Denver Metro Market. I've operated a large school operation. have taught 1000's and run every aspect of a school.
2. Not even a martial artist!
Believe it or not there are experts in the martial arts business who aren't even a martial artist. They don't understand the training, mindset, and love for the martial arts that we share then dare to tell real martial artists how to run a school teaching real martial arts skills and curriculum.
How am I different?
I began studying martial arts in 1970. Trained in Tae Kwon Do with the Jhoon Rhee Institute along side the likes of World Champions Jeff Smith, John Chung, Charlie Lee, and the most awesome stable of kickboxers ever assembled. More recently I was promoted to 7 th Degree Black Belt by Jeff Smith.
3. Only run a school in their memory .
Some of those who consult or give expert opinions only run a martial arts school in their memory in some case distant memory. Some of those recollections seem more like a distant dream (or, in some cases vivid nightmare!) Many of these people operated in very different circumstances and times.
How am I different.
I am still totally immersed in the daily operations of martial arts schools up to doing 527 enrollment conferences in the past 3 years personally nose to nose, belly to belly. Every Monday and Friday I meet with and train our school managers and instructors and, solve the everyday problems that you face in the real world (albeit at possibly a higher volume.)
4. Never ran a successful school .
Even those advise givers who really are Black Belts and, run or have run schools usually never ran a particularly successful operation. Many got into offering advice about running a school since they really couldn't figure out how to make much of a living running schools.
How am I different?
Right now in 2002 several Mile High Karate schools will do over $500,000.00 in gross revenues (in some cases much more) and I will likely add another 2 locations by years end. I broke the $1,000,000.00 a year barrier way back in 1985 and continue to operate a hugely successful operation. I've made a six figure + personal income for over 15 years strictly from schools.
5. Give advice with ulterior motives .
That's right a great unspoken secret in the industry is that some who guide our industry focus on their undisclosed and/or unspoken ulterior motive rather than what's really best for you.
How am I different?
I offer you unedited non-politically correct no B.S. advice based upon stuff that really works for me. I don't get a % of your retail, billing, anything else. If I share an ad strategy, or system with you it's only because it has been proven to work.
6. Flash in the Pan
Often this comes in the guise of gee I just started figuring this stuff out and had a great year last year. What if you pay me to tell you about my short-term successes. I did $ (pick a number $100,000 net, $400,000 gross, etc., etc.) will do more this year and, would love to show you how I did it.
How I am different?
Well I've already covered this for you but, let's just say that there are many people who have a good year of two. Let's see if they can weather the ups and downs of our industry and, boom years and recession. I only trust those who've weathered some internal and/or external crisis and gotten back or stayed on top. Don't trust the unproven, untested enthusiastic newcomer.
7. Personality driven not duplicatable .
I think we'd both be able to draw upon a few examples of Magnetic Personalities who's personal success is exciting but, really not something that could EVER be replicated in your operation.
How am I different?
I've run a large school operation since 1983. In that time nearly 100% of our teaching, marketing, and sales were accomplished by employees (or, now partners) who had to implement my systems. They are not dependent upon charisma or unstoppable energy. I have spent years studying operations and marketing including formally achieving a Master's in Business Administration that included having a literal bevy of MBA's and Ph.D.'s analyze the martial arts school business to help me create powerful duplicatable systems for school operations.
8. Have lost touch with what works in the 21 st century .
Unfortunately the industry is full of dinosaurs and leaders of the past who's time has long since passed, but who's friends and associates are unwilling to say the emperor has no clothes. Systems that may have been revolutionary in 1970 or 1980 (even 1990 and beyond) may be out of date or just plain insufficient in the current environment.
How am I different?
In a variety of ways I continue to explore the leading edge of new technologies, teaching techniques, marketing strategies, and technological enhancements. I explore the latest approaches not only through my own school implementation but through an unmatched master-mind team of industry leaders that I network with and share ideas with constantly.
I will only share with you ideas and system that have been PROVEN to work through extensive testing in the real world of daily school operations. No ideas that look interested but really have never been tried. I may occasionally offend but will promise to tell you the way it is no editing or ulterior motives ever!
Stephen Oliver,
MBA, 7 th Degree Black Belt
www.MartialArtsResources.com
1-888-502-1555 (or, 303-740-9467)
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