How Do You Replace Yourself?

             One of the hardest things to do is to let go of things that you think you do better than anyone else. You believe you are irreplaceable, and that your karate school cannot run without you. Then you get busy, hurt, or sick. You start a family and want to spend some time with them. What do you do?
            
You go to work, keeping a record of everything you do.

• How you spend your time
• How you spend your money
• What and how you promote
• Does it work?
• What changes need to be made?
• How can I make it better
• What you sell
• How can I develop better relationships with my people?
• What you teach in your karate classes?
• How can we do it right every time?
• What works?
• What doesn't?

          It is like a puzzle, or a game that you play.  It all has to work, or none of it works. Everything is based on the simple fact that you, the business owner has to get better all of the time. You try, but life isn't always about moving forward, so you have to handle the setbacks as well. Sometimes you feel stuck and unmotivated, and progress or success is no where to be found. You think about quitting, getting a real job, and a steady paycheck. You are not sure what to do, or whom to trust, and so you keep lurching forward, and falling back, waiting for miracle or at least a change of circumstance that will get you inspired again.

          The turning point for me, was finally deciding that I was better at teaching karate than I was at anything else. I had been a production supervisor, and a financial adviser, but nothing spoke to me as being a karate instructor. I finally 'settled' for something. Call it a 'vibe' or whatever you want, people can sense what is under the radar and they respond to it.  When you are positive and focused, it shows in everything you do. This is my starting point. Everything in this school flows out of the example that I set - fortunately or unfortunately.

           So to replace ourselves we need to not only document and plan out the 'what' in our schools, but also the 'how', and the 'why'. There was a reason that you spent all of those hours training your body and mind to be a martial artist.The passion that drives us, not just the plans that we lay out for others to follow. Our karate schools are not just about kicking and punching and forms, but bringing those to life with a passion and a purpose that helps our students build themselves from the inside - out.

Lessons from Mom -Mother's Day Edition

        I have a training manual somewhere in my basement that outlines how to deliver a proper handshake. It takes 6 steps, outlines how many pumps to apply, firmness of the grip, almost like you were programming an alien on how to be human. I found it absurd, but apparently the authors did not.
Most manuals or improvement courses, whether they be in sales, business, athletics, or human resources are about better personality traits, but few take the time to teach character. The 6 steps to a proper handshake never talked about why you shake hands or what is supposed to be behind the your eyes when you make eye-contact.
        Here are a few things I learned from a small, intense woman that I am lucky enough to have as a mother.

1. Be on time 
2. Be prepared
3. Tell the truth
4. Get it down and move on
5. Don't let the dishes pile up too long
6. Make your bed right away
7. Tuck your shirt in
8. Comb your hair
9. Play fair
10. Stand up for yourself 
11. Protect your brother
12. When someone is in trouble, stop and help him out.

Small, simple, but important. Things I use everyday. I am sure you do too, after all your mother probably taught you the same list.

Happy Mother's Day!!