Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Franchise Bill for Vets
As seen on http://www.franchisedirect.com/blog/a-franchising-bill-goes-before-congress/ by Donald Cranford
June 10, 2009
A Franchising Bill Goes Before Congress
We’ve always considered military veterans and franchises to be a perfect match. Veterans bring the discipline and know-how to get a small-business off the ground, while franchising offers a veteran returning to civilian life a simple start into a working business.
It turns out there’s a few people up on Capital Hill who agree with us. People like Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., and Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, who are have introduced the clearly-titled Help Veterans Own Franchises Act.
Congressman Boswell, a 20 year veteran of the US Army, explained why he co-introduced the bi-partisan bill.
“I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to spur economic growth, create jobs and give life to the entrepreneurial spirit. This thoughtful legislation will help veterans in Iowa and across the nation become business owners. As a new generation of veterans returns home from Iraq and Afghanistan, I hope others in Congress will join me and my Republican colleague from Illinois in supporting this legislation putting Americans to work and making the dream of owning a business a reality for these brave young Americans.”
Dina Dwyer-Evans, whose father helped launch VetFran, supports the measure and calls for its introduction into law.
“Over 900,000 franchise businesses in the U.S. are responsible for 21 million jobs and generating $2.3 trillion in economic output. By helping veterans purchase franchise small businesses, this bill will help stimulate the economy and put the country on the road to economic recovery. We thank Congressmen Schock and Boswell for leading this important effort.”
This is a very important piece of legislation. If passed, it will provide military veterans with tax incentives for starting franchises. It’s also nice to see bloggers like the Peoria Pundit in support of it as well.
Write your congressman or congresswoman today to assure this bill becomes law.
June 10, 2009
A Franchising Bill Goes Before Congress
We’ve always considered military veterans and franchises to be a perfect match. Veterans bring the discipline and know-how to get a small-business off the ground, while franchising offers a veteran returning to civilian life a simple start into a working business.
It turns out there’s a few people up on Capital Hill who agree with us. People like Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., and Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, who are have introduced the clearly-titled Help Veterans Own Franchises Act.
Congressman Boswell, a 20 year veteran of the US Army, explained why he co-introduced the bi-partisan bill.
“I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to spur economic growth, create jobs and give life to the entrepreneurial spirit. This thoughtful legislation will help veterans in Iowa and across the nation become business owners. As a new generation of veterans returns home from Iraq and Afghanistan, I hope others in Congress will join me and my Republican colleague from Illinois in supporting this legislation putting Americans to work and making the dream of owning a business a reality for these brave young Americans.”
Dina Dwyer-Evans, whose father helped launch VetFran, supports the measure and calls for its introduction into law.
“Over 900,000 franchise businesses in the U.S. are responsible for 21 million jobs and generating $2.3 trillion in economic output. By helping veterans purchase franchise small businesses, this bill will help stimulate the economy and put the country on the road to economic recovery. We thank Congressmen Schock and Boswell for leading this important effort.”
This is a very important piece of legislation. If passed, it will provide military veterans with tax incentives for starting franchises. It’s also nice to see bloggers like the Peoria Pundit in support of it as well.
Write your congressman or congresswoman today to assure this bill becomes law.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Take a look at my new blog post: "You can't have mules selling to thoroughbreds!" http://ping.fm/jeW78
You can't have mules...
You can't have mules selling to thoroughbreds!
I heard Master Ranulfo Gonzalez make that statement last week in our wrap up conference on Friday... what a true statement. What's funny (or sad depending upon how you look at it) is that this a challenge with 90% of the martial arts schools in operation.
Here's the issue: there are so many martial arts school owners who simply refuse to hire quality staff. Why? Actually I'm not really sure but I do have some theories -- imagine that :-). Here's theory #1: they just don't know how to hire quality staff; theory #2: they are not willing to pay the correct compensation structure to attract quality staff; theory #3: they don't know how to train quality staff; and theory #4(which is my favorite): they are scared to actually hire someone better than they are at certain functions!
So, let's just stay on my favorite theory - the scared part... I'm serious about this one (although I do think it's really a combination of all 4 in some part or another). Most martial arts school owners have too big of an ego to get out of their own way. They don't want to feel threatened by someone who is smarter, faster, stronger, "better" than they are in some aspect. Do you think Google or Microsoft have an issue with this? Nope - that's why they are among the most successful companies in the world - they look for talent - find the smartest and brightest person possible - pay them VERY well - train them well - and "poof" they make a significant return on that person! It's really that simple... notice I didn't say easy - just simple.
You really need multiple systems in place to hire quality people: a marketing system to attract talent, an pre-hiring system to make sure you hire the correct person, a compensation system that rewards success, an evaluation system to ensure success, a training system to establish and train on standards and even a termination system to get rid of those who do not live up to the standards. Without these systems in place, you will not succeed either!
Bottom line - most martial arts school owners will continue to live in mediocrity as they won't get out of their own way. Those who keep blaming the economy - the industry - etc - are really only using excuses for their own failures and inadequacies. I heard Grand Master Stephen Oliver use this quote on numerous occasion: "Most people are happy with a good excuse instead of good results."
The choice is completely up to you - succeed or fail - get out of your own way or not - hire mules or thoroughbreds! Regardless of your choices, the blame or credit is on one person alone: YOU!!!
I heard Master Ranulfo Gonzalez make that statement last week in our wrap up conference on Friday... what a true statement. What's funny (or sad depending upon how you look at it) is that this a challenge with 90% of the martial arts schools in operation.
Here's the issue: there are so many martial arts school owners who simply refuse to hire quality staff. Why? Actually I'm not really sure but I do have some theories -- imagine that :-). Here's theory #1: they just don't know how to hire quality staff; theory #2: they are not willing to pay the correct compensation structure to attract quality staff; theory #3: they don't know how to train quality staff; and theory #4(which is my favorite): they are scared to actually hire someone better than they are at certain functions!
So, let's just stay on my favorite theory - the scared part... I'm serious about this one (although I do think it's really a combination of all 4 in some part or another). Most martial arts school owners have too big of an ego to get out of their own way. They don't want to feel threatened by someone who is smarter, faster, stronger, "better" than they are in some aspect. Do you think Google or Microsoft have an issue with this? Nope - that's why they are among the most successful companies in the world - they look for talent - find the smartest and brightest person possible - pay them VERY well - train them well - and "poof" they make a significant return on that person! It's really that simple... notice I didn't say easy - just simple.
You really need multiple systems in place to hire quality people: a marketing system to attract talent, an pre-hiring system to make sure you hire the correct person, a compensation system that rewards success, an evaluation system to ensure success, a training system to establish and train on standards and even a termination system to get rid of those who do not live up to the standards. Without these systems in place, you will not succeed either!
Bottom line - most martial arts school owners will continue to live in mediocrity as they won't get out of their own way. Those who keep blaming the economy - the industry - etc - are really only using excuses for their own failures and inadequacies. I heard Grand Master Stephen Oliver use this quote on numerous occasion: "Most people are happy with a good excuse instead of good results."
The choice is completely up to you - succeed or fail - get out of your own way or not - hire mules or thoroughbreds! Regardless of your choices, the blame or credit is on one person alone: YOU!!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks...
Quite frankly I'm not sure if it is or is not possible! Seriously, I have been sitting with martial arts school owners from around the country for the past 5 days... it's been interesting enough to write about the observations from the time spent.
Here's why the jury is out on the possibilities of teaching someone to change. When you have been running a martial arts school for a number of years you get into certain habits that you go through on a daily basis - in some cases that habit is sitting in your school for hours a day hoping that students will walk through the door and sign up for classes! Do you really think that osmosis or "hoping" is going to work for generating new students? Probably not, but so many school owners have this exact habit.
The interesting piece is this: I have found that the least successful martial arts school owners are the least likely to change anything they do to have better success. I just don't get that mind set. We talk to and teach many levels of school owners, from those in the $5000 per month gross range to those in the $50,000 per month + gross range. Both of them "want" to succeed, but both are not willing to do what it takes to succeed.
So, the question becomes this: what does it take to succeed? It's simple (notice that I didn't say easy... I said simple). You model success and work hard to implement those systems of success and you will have the same, or at least similar, results.
This means that you have to get out of your comfort zone and actually WORK to succeed. The models of success are out there - either with a program like NAPMA (www.NAPMA.com) or on a bigger scale with Mile High Karate (www.MileHighFranchise.com). Now, if you are not willing to listen and implement - do NOT do any program because you are wasting your money. You have to make a commitment to success to actually succeed! Hmmm, that's an interesting thought isn't it.
I've heard school owners give lip service to becoming successful, but are not willing to make the changes to do it. They just won't get out of there own way!
If you are serious about success - commit to success - and make the changes necessary to succeed. It really is that SIMPLE > not easy... SIMPLE.
Are you willing? Most are not!
Here's why the jury is out on the possibilities of teaching someone to change. When you have been running a martial arts school for a number of years you get into certain habits that you go through on a daily basis - in some cases that habit is sitting in your school for hours a day hoping that students will walk through the door and sign up for classes! Do you really think that osmosis or "hoping" is going to work for generating new students? Probably not, but so many school owners have this exact habit.
The interesting piece is this: I have found that the least successful martial arts school owners are the least likely to change anything they do to have better success. I just don't get that mind set. We talk to and teach many levels of school owners, from those in the $5000 per month gross range to those in the $50,000 per month + gross range. Both of them "want" to succeed, but both are not willing to do what it takes to succeed.
So, the question becomes this: what does it take to succeed? It's simple (notice that I didn't say easy... I said simple). You model success and work hard to implement those systems of success and you will have the same, or at least similar, results.
This means that you have to get out of your comfort zone and actually WORK to succeed. The models of success are out there - either with a program like NAPMA (www.NAPMA.com) or on a bigger scale with Mile High Karate (www.MileHighFranchise.com). Now, if you are not willing to listen and implement - do NOT do any program because you are wasting your money. You have to make a commitment to success to actually succeed! Hmmm, that's an interesting thought isn't it.
I've heard school owners give lip service to becoming successful, but are not willing to make the changes to do it. They just won't get out of there own way!
If you are serious about success - commit to success - and make the changes necessary to succeed. It really is that SIMPLE > not easy... SIMPLE.
Are you willing? Most are not!
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