Subject: "What Makes Your Dojo Different From XYZ Dojo Down The Street?"

Friend,

"So, what makes your dojo different from every other school in town?"

Ever had someone come in your school and ask you that?

Sure, it can get your hackles up... but it's actually a legit question for a new or prospective student to ask.

Unfortunately, the common tendency is to answer with something like this:
  • "Well for starters, we're not a McDojo..." (don't do that)
  • Or, "We teach XYZ system, which is better than ABC or QRS because..." (don't do that, either)
  • Or, "I am a ____-time _________ champion... can the other schools say they have a champion teaching their classes?" (don't say that, either)
  • Or, "I'm the highest ranking instructor in town." (for the sake of all that's holy, don't say that, either, because no one cares how many stripes you have on your belt, regardless of what you may think)
The problem with every single one of those answers is this - they are all focused on YOU instead of what the STUDENT wants and needs.

And that's reason #1 why you need to find a higher purpose for your school. Whether it's helping kids excel in school, helping troubled kids, teaching women or kids how to be safer in an unsafe world, helping people reach their true potential, bully-proofing, or whatever...

...you need to have a mission that stirs your soul and that makes you truly believe that you are doing a job worth doing, every single day you walk into your dojo.

Here's why: Ever hear that saying, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care"?

Teddy Roosevelt said it, and it's as true today as it was back then. So the question is, how do you prove how much you care, to someone you just met?

Simple, by reputation. And reputation is built on two things:
  1. Your accomplishments in helping PEOPLE, and...
  2. How you treat PEOPLE.
Now, you might think that just showing up every day and teaching class is helping people. Actually it is, but it's not enough to inspire people... or you, for that matter.

But when you have a burning desire to fulfill a mission that stirs your soul, people will start to see what motivates you and how much you care.

This is related to one of the rules of influence - people need a "reason why".

You need a reason why - a reason why you do what you do. That's what's going to give you that extra drive to become an extraordinary instructor.

Your prospects need a reason why - a reason why you care so much about what you do. That reason why gives you credibility, so when people hear your story they go, "Oh, that makes sense. I can see why he does what he does."

In short, the thing that inspires you also adds dimension to who you are and what you do in your community. It adds depth to your story, and allows people to see you as something more than "just a martial arts instructor."

And in case I haven't told you yet...

STORIES SELL.

More on that tomorrow.

Until next time,

Mike Massie

P.S. - By the way, you can't fake a higher purpose. So, if you think you need to come up with some Mother Theresa mission just so you can sell more memberships, just stop. Seriously. People can smell a phony from a mile away, and you'll only be hurting yourself. If you have to fake it, just get comfortable with your mediocrity.

P.S.S. - Don't worry if you don't have something that inspires you yet. All you have to do is look around at the state of the world today, and if you're any kind of empathetic, compassionate human being, eventually you're going to find a way to make the world a little bit better through teaching martial arts. Just find something that inspires your passion, and use it to fuel your dream.
MD Marketing LLC, PO Box 682, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, United States
You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of Martial Arts Business Daily (MD Marketing LLC, PO Box 682, 78620 Dripping Springs, United States) and sent via GetResponse on 2015-09-02. Report abuse