Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner – Part 2
The martial arts industry is a very interesting place to build a business. There is no shortage of “consultants” seeking your money in exchange for “programs” and “strategies” that “work.” They inundate you with free “trainings” of nebulous information, testimonials from “successful” school owners, and always seem to end with a “buy my program special offer” as a preacher would end every sermon with a “have you met Jesus” call to action. I didn’t buy anything, I was often frustrated at the bravado, and I knew that sweat equity was the key to success at my budget level.
My strategy was simple but would take some time to get off the ground and make my business pay for itself. I marketed hard on social media and joined every local page and business group I could. It worked and got me several students right off the bat. I was up and running to meet my student count goal while also maintaining my internship. To say I loved teaching my own students in my own school and giving them everything I had would be an understatement. I was doing exactly what I wanted, how I wanted, and building the martial arts family I wanted.
My internship came to a close a few months later and a job offer never came. Then I received my active duty separation orders from the US Army. I found myself without steady employment with a mortgage, bills, and a business in its infancy and not yet solvent. My runway had run out and I had only one option left; return to my civilian job in the state I entered active duty and shut down my school. I was crushed and my students were similarly let down. Thankfully, with the resilience and understanding of my amazing students and parents, I was able to keep in contact with most of them as I tried to figure out a remote learning option once I was settled in my new location.
Having spent my career as an Army officer on both active and reserve duty status, one would think I was used to moving every few years from reassignments. Even I believed I was used to it. But, this time was different and my mental and emotional health suffered greatly due to me leaving a place I considered my home. The next few months away were some of the toughest months of my life.
I think the universe knows and conspires to put you in your rightful place within it. By a stroke of universal understanding, my job transferred me back home to fill a similar role because the company knew I had yet to sell my house and the transfer would cost less than providing relocation assistance to another manager or hiring and training a new manager. Within four months, I was sitting in my empty house awaiting my household goods to arrive from the movers. Things were beginning to be right in the universe once again.
It took me a little over a month to get resettled back in my house and orient myself to the new job location. Having just come off active duty six months prior, my mind and emotions were in a whirlwind from all the major life changes. My martial arts training has always been a touchstone of my mental and physical health and I trained in my cold garage on a daily basis. Looking at my school’s equipment sitting in the back of my garage, I began to wonder if I could successfully reopen my school in another location and resume training my awesome students. Why not throw one more life change into the tornado I was living in, right?
I wanted to do things smarter this time. Since I was working from home due to my new location’s policies, I had more time on my hands. The issue with my previous attempt at opening my martial arts school was that I relied on my primary job to support my business until it could support itself. So, what was the answer to avoid this same problem? Start smaller at a location with little-to-no overhead and grow the business? Oh no. I decided to take on a second full-time job! Go me!
COVID was a devastating time for millions of people. However, one of the lessons learned for many companies was that remote work turned out to be cheaper and, in many cases, more productive. Capitalizing on this, I sought out remote roles in small-to-medium sized businesses. My temerity paid off and I accepted a role as a senior associate in a boutique consulting firm. I was set! All that I needed now was to find a new location and get after it!
Come back here for the third and final part of Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner!
Jeff
- Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner – Part 3 - July 13, 2023
- Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner – Part 2 - May 23, 2023
- Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner – Part 1 - May 12, 2023
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