WHY am I doing this to myself?

A couple of years ago I really sat back and evaluated my life and business and ended up asking myself “WHY am I doing this to myself?”

From an outsiders view I had an incredible operation:

1. The Mile High Karate Classic – NASKA “AAA” rated with the top competitors in North America – International Respect and 1,000 to 1,300 competitors yearly. Not to mention a sold-out finals show each year.
2. 5 Beautiful Schools – each 2,500 to 4,800 square feet in prime locations.
3. 1,200 + active students.
4. 40 + paid staff members including over 30 Black Belts on staff.
5. Black Belt retreats with 350 + participants.
6. 2 Huge Black Belt Extravaganza's per year with 1,500 to 3,500 spectators.
7. 3 Huge Intramural Tournaments per year with 500 to 800 competitors.
8. Huge seminars and twice a year Black Belt University and Intensive Weekend Training Sessions.
9. A myriad of other events and activities.
10. $1.5 to $2 MILLION gross revenue per year.
11. $120,000 to $180,000 marketing budget yearly.
12. •  Speaking engagements at EFC Seminars and other events throughout the year.

From my perspective:

1. 3 staff meetings per week – and, countless hours of staff training and supervision.
2. 45+ Weekends per year taken up with local, regional, national tournaments, black belt exams, retreats, seminars, intramurals, speaking engagements or other events.
3. Endless sleepless nights trying to cover $20,000 to $35,000 in payroll TWICE a month.
4. Endless employee problems. Hiring, training, supervising, disciplining, firing.
5. Huge potential liabilities incurring by a huge staff.
6. Sleepless nights worrying about having a blizzard or some other catastrophe occur on the same day of the National Tournament with $50,000 to $75,000 in expenses – regardless of how many people showed up.
7. 6 or 7 day weeks – with 70 to 100 hour work weeks.

What did I change?

Just about everything.

1. I “retired” from being a tournament promoter .
   (I love the NASKA competitors and promoters. Will do anything to support the circuit. But will not anymore – go to every national event or promote a large event myself.)
2. I rolled back the number of events. Now I do:
3. 1 Black Belt Extravaganza a year not 2
4. 1 Black Belt Retreat Weekend per year not 2
5. Few extra seminars and other activities
6. 3 Intramurals per year.
7. I work about 5 weekends per year – rather than 40.
8. I closed two schools.
9. I restructured the staffing situation to have 13 schools be “owner-operated.”
10. Where I get my income “off the top” They pay the bills, pay the staff, and keep
11. what's left over.
12. I now have to directly supervise 13 individuals through one meeting per week
13. they are “owner-operators” highly motivated to implement new ideas.
14. I stopped working Saturday's or Sunday's – with few exceptions.
15. I put my “student” cap back on and began re exploring direct marketing, copywriting, etc.
16. I renewed several strong industry friendships and solidified my networking follow-up with those individuals.

What was the end result?

1. My work week was cut in half.
2. I don't work weekends.
3. My income DOUBLED.
4. I suddenly have “hobbies” again.
5. Things are FUN again.

What's the moral?

Well for one:

“Be careful what you wish for – you may get it”

For another.

The only proper judge of the success of your life and lifestyle is you.

I have two former employees and students who have opened their own schools. There situations are much different.

One made a huge effort to replicate my operation in Denver . Opened multiple locations, developed a huge staff, high expenses and high grosses, and decided to promote a big tournament.

The other opened one nice school. Works 20 to 30 hours per week. Spends lots of time with his kids, coaches their teams, helps at school, and spends lots of quality time on non business related activities.

Which one is more successful?

Well one has HUGE amounts of stress. Huge liabilities. Is out of shape and has mediocre health. Travels a lot (for business) and makes a decent income with lots of ups and downs.