I think we've all heard that quote from Zig Ziglar before, about how your attitude determines your altitude (I'm paraphrasing, of course).

But how many martial arts instructors apply that to growing their dojos?

The reason why I bring this up is because I see a lot of martial art school owners engaging in conversations on social media that are negative as all hell. "This style sucks." "That organization is crap." "That school is a McDojo." And on and on.

While some of these observations may very well be true, spending all that time pointing out the weaknesses and errors of others does absolutely nothing to grow your dojo. In fact, it's probably hurting your ability to grow your school.

Here's what I mean...

Years ago, just when the internet was starting to become a thing, Brian Tracy said that you should assume that everyone knows everything about everybody now. So, you should act accordingly in your business.

If it was true back in 1999, it's exponentially more important to keep that advice in mind today. Everyone is on social media these days, even grandpas and grandmas. And, if you're online you can bet that someone is watching you.

Your students are watching you. Your clients (meaning, parents of your school-ages students) are watching you. Their families are watching you. And, people in the community who are influencers are watching you.

Maybe not all the time, but trust me, they're seeing what you're talking about online. And if you're advertising that you teach kids how to have a more positive attitude, or that you are all about helping people reach their goals, then your words and actions better match your pitch.

When you spend all your time bitching and griping and pissing and moaning about how "X" style or school is crap, and you can't see why anyone would pay to learn that stuff, well...

...it makes you look like a whiny, petty, small-thinking person. It certainly doesn't make you look like a leader or a role model, or someone anyone would care to be around.

Because, people are attracted to upbeat, positive people. People want to be around other people who bring them up, and who don't tear them down. 

Besides that, what that potential student is thinking in the back of their mind when they see you tearing down others is: "What will they say about me when I join their class? Will they make fun of me, too?"

I'll tell you one thing for a fact... if I walk into a school and there's a negative vibe, I won't train there. Nor will I train with people who have negative attitudes. That crap rubs off, and I have a hard enough time staying positive without having to deal with someone else's pissy attitude. 

Trust me, potential customers feel the same way. But if that's not enough to get you to change your tune, maybe this will.

The final thing to consider is that when you say negative things, you are programming your brain and how it filters incoming information. Your reticular activating system is part of your lower brain, and one of it's functions is to regulate your attention and focus.

Well, guess what? When you think about and talk about negative things all the time, then your RAS gets trained to focus in on negative crap. That's why you can have two people who have the same background, who had the same opportunities, and who had the same talents, gifts and intelligence, but one of them ends up on welfare and the other one goes on to a successful career.

Words and thoughts matter. What you focus on matters. And what you choose to dwell on has a profound influence on your belief system and how you view the world. For that reason, those negative thoughts and words eventually become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and they're like a ball and chain around your ankle weighing you down.

Here's my advice. Stop focusing on negative crap. Stop bitching about such and such style or school or person. Stop letting those people have space in your head, rent-free.

And instead, focus on positive things. Focus on your goals and how you will reach them. Focus on improving yourself through reading, learning, and taking steps to help you grow as a person. Focus on helping others. Focus on having a positive mission for your business that guides everything you do.

When you do those things, you'll start to notice subtle changes in your life. You'll start waking up more rested. You'll feel lighter and happier. You'll enjoy the small things more, and when things don't go as you planned it won't bother you as much.

So, think, speak, and act like the instructor and person you purport yourself to be. Doing so is the best way for you to have a positive impact on the lives of others with your art, and to improve your own life as well.