As business owners, we are often looking ahead. As we pass through winter, we can already see spring and even summer appearing on the horizon. What are you doing to prepare for what’s ahead? I have a story in mind to consider, as you prepare and plan for the next couple months for your martial arts school...
Once there were two students named Jason and Jerry.
Every morning one of the things Jason asked his mother at breakfast was, “What is planned for today?” He liked knowing what was on the agenda for the day. This way he could think about it and get ready. On Karate days he would get his uniform, belt, and other karate stuff ready. He knew that if he had all his stuff ready, he could swim in the pool a little longer – and he didn’t get yelled at for being late and forgetting his stuff. He liked being ready!
Then there was Jerry. Jerry took life as it came and relied on his mom to tell him what to do next. Today he was having a wonderful time playing with his buddies in the pool and was surprised when it was time for karate. He didn’t want to get out of the pool, but his mom was yelling at him for being late. He quickly looked for his Karate stuff and was in a bad mood because he didn’t want to stop playing and his mom was yelling at him. While he was changing into his uniform in the car, he realized that he forgot his Karate belt at home and now he really didn’t want to go because it would be embarrassing without a belt. At the end of Karate class, he realized that he had fun and he was glad he went, but he didn’t know until the end.
Which student had the best day? Why? Which had more happiness at home and with his mom? Does planning your day take time out of your day or does it make more time for the fun things?
As smart business owners, we aim to be a lot more like Jason in our practices, but sometimes we fall back on our Jerry-antics. If we’re not careful, we can simply expect each new season to be like the last and do our best to navigate through the days. Even though we may enjoy each “class,” perhaps we can get more out of each experience if we act more like Jason and enjoy it a little more with less stress.
Make sure you plan and pre-frame ahead for every season of your business. Always anticipate the next move. If you prepare for what’s ahead, you can react in the best possible way with the most fruitful results.
How can you and your staff start performing your best? Perhaps a coach for martial arts business and instruction will move you in the right direction. If you’d like to learn more about how you can run your school at its peak performance, join our system for access to excellent coaching and resources for your staff and business development.
