Tip #1: Create a Positive Attitude
A smile and a positive attitude are the traits of a successful person. If you smile, you’ll feel better, attract positive people into your life and business, and the challenges you face will be easier.
Exuding a positive attitude will inspire your staff, students, and families. It’ll make your martial arts business the only place people want to come to and the last place they want to leave.
To create a positive attitude, you must eliminate three words from your vocabulary. They are “problem, try, and should.” Replace them with “challenge, do, and must.”
You don’t have “problems,” only “challenges.” Viewing situations as challenges allows you to see them as goals. Having goals is inspiring. You’ll be more motivated to achieve a successful outcome when you view problems as challenges.
The great Star Wars master, Yoda, once said to a young Jedi, “Do or do not. There is no try.” The challenge with trying is that it allows you to rationalize your behavior and failure by saying, “At least I tried.” Successful people achieve their goals by doing, not trying.
Tip #2: Be a Master of Sustained Passion
To sustain passion is the art of a true master. It’s easy to be passionate for a day, a challenge to be passionate for a week, and difficult to be passionate consistently.
The foundations of sustained passion are focus and discipline. These life skills are the characteristics of a great martial artist, instructor, and successful school owner.
Tip #3: Commit to Being a Student for Life
As the old proverb goes, “Always a student and never a master.” I love being a student. It allows me to take chances and make mistakes without fear. There’s nothing that feels better than standing in the lineup of a class and responding, “Yes sir” to my instructor’s directions.
Tip #4: Create Balance in Your Life
Most Eastern philosophies and martial arts practices believe we’re composed of three elements: mind, body, and spirit. It’s also the belief that all three must be nourished equally to create “life balance.”
Tip #5: Be Content but Never Satisfied
It’s important to be content where you are today, but always strive to be and do better. Successful people don’t focus on what they’ve done. They focus on what they have yet to do.
Tip #6: Recognize the Importance of Having Goals
Having goals helps build self-esteem. To achieve your goals, you must be able to visualize them. Accomplish this by writing them down. Seeing your goals on paper can be very powerful and facilitates a call to action.
Tip #7: Properly Manage Your Time, Money, and Wealth Goals
Managing your time effectively and efficiently is vital to your success. The downfall of many martial arts school owners is poor time management.
Tip #8: Surround Yourself with Quality People
Make it a priority to seek out and develop quality relationships. From your employees to your mentors and friends, spend your time with quality people.
The martial arts industry is one of the greatest in the world. To be able to teach martial arts and own your own business is an honor and a privilege. Helping people be their best is one of the most rewarding careers you could possibly choose.
You are your greatest investment, so invest in yourself constantly. Live every day with a positive attitude. Sustain your passion through focus and discipline. Commit to being a student for life. Create “life balance” by nourishing your mind, body, and spirit equally. Be content but strive to do and be better.
Surround yourself with quality people that you love and respect. And be grateful each and every day you’re blessed to be a martial arts instructor and school owner.