Quick joke for you...
How many martial arts instructors does it take to screw in a light bulb?
100.
1 to screw it in, and 99 to say it would never work on the street. :)
Which brings me to the topic of today's message. So today I'm chatting on Facebook with someone from another marketing company.
And, this guy is showing me some of their work, and it's really good stuff. They do video, and their work is just amazing.
So he's showing me some of the work they've done for a few schools, and I click on the link to view one of their videos. The video is for a self-defense school. I watch it, and I really think it's great stuff.
Then I look down at the comments. I see a comment from someone I know and respect, encouraging the other commenters to just be happy for the school owner's success, and to keep their comments civil.
And then I see why. Some random instructor took it upon himself to declare his style to be superior to the style being taught in the video. Then, of course some other random instructors had to jump in to agree with him.
Now, these people have nothing to do with the school in question. And, I know the instructor who owns the school that was featured in the video. He's a very good instructor and a good person besides.
And what was being shown in the video was some very good technique and practical applications for self-defense.
So what really motivated those random instructors to rudely offer a negative opinion of this man's school and style?
Was it a desire to tell the truth, as the rude instructor who made those comments claimed?
Or, was it something else?
As the kids say these days, "haters gonna hate." I'm too old to use the phrase in casual conversation, but it's the truth.
In this industry, people routinely lose their minds (and their manners) due to jealousy. I'm telling you this so you aren't surprised when this happens to you, once your school starts turning a decent profit.
At that point, you're going to attract some haters. I can guarantee it.
See, when you're poor and struggling, you're one of them. But once you become successful the jealousy will kick in, and suddenly you'll become the object of their contempt.
I'm sure if you've read Small Dojo Big Profits, you remember the story of my former tae kwon do teacher. Highly talented. Incredible instructor and technician. And a professional hater.
If anyone was making money teaching martial arts, in his eyes they were a fraud, a charlatan, a con. (Why that never included his own instructors, I don't know - and I guess it never occurred to him, either.)
It's sad, because I realized later that it was merely jealousy that caused him to speak so poorly of other instructors. And it only served to make him look small, petty, and foolish to his students.
So, here's my advice. Once your success starts to eclipse that of your peers, expect to find out who your true friends are - they'll be the ones cheering you on.
But the ones who start whispering behind your back, well...
...those people were never really your friends in the first place. Good riddance.
As for the random haters, they are best to be ignored. Nothing gives a small-minded man a license to criticize others like finding someone who will argue with him publicly.
One final thing... instead of wondering why people are criticizing you, look at your critics like they're signposts on the road to success.
Because who has the most haters?
The unsuccessful? No. Not at all.
Successful people attract the most critics.
So when your haters appear, take it as a compliment. It means that you're headed for the top.
Until next time,
Mike Massie
