9 Lessons in 9 Years of Jiujitsu Entrepreneurship [Part 1]

Good morning!

Today’s post is a paid post.

We recently shared our 9 year anniversary at the school and I thought I’d share some lessons I’ve learned along the way.

This post will be some good insight into what your instructors go through but also, perhaps give you some more insight on how to endure both as an athlete and as a prospective school owner or instructor.

I’ve got over a thousand words behind the paywall so I’ll be getting a part 2 to you by Friday.

Enjoy!

“Jiujitsu is the second hardest thing I’ve ever done. Running a jiu-jitsu academy has been the hardest”

-Me

Nine years in business as a jiu-jitsu academy.

That’s a long time for any school.

We’ve been fortunate enough to have an awesome community of people. In my time as an instructor here, I’ve developed some incredible relationships with some really good people. I consider myself lucky that I ended up here when all circumstances in my life before this point could’ve taken me somewhere completely different.

In nine years, I’ve learned a lot. They say jiu-jitsu is humbling… well try running a jiu-jitsu business. I’ve been humbled more trying to build and grow this academy than I have training. And because of this, I’ve learned some profound lessons that help me on and off the mats, in other areas of my life.

As I reflect on this achievement, I wanted to share some thoughts.

First off…

It’s Never Personal

This is perhaps the hardest lesson I’ve had to learn.

Over the last 9 years, we’ve had well over 1000 members (past and current). I don’t have the billing software in front of me, but since we switched to this software, I believe the number is between 1200 and 1500 members.

At the moment, we have over 300 current members so it’s safe to say that in the last 9 years, I’ve had to say “bye” to over 900 people that I’ve developed a relationship with, however fleeting or superficial.

I’ve always taken it personally. How could I not?

Teaching jiu-jitsu is personal. It’s my life and my passion that I share with others. Every time I teach, I give a piece of myself to another person in hopes that it becomes part of their life and part of their transformation.

So how can I not take it personally when people quit?

In the last 9 years, I’ve had to realize that this is a business. People will come and go and it’s not “personal”. The reasons for students leaving (in most cases) has more to do with their relationship to jiu-jitsu than it is with me.

The challenge has been the ability to compartmentalize this as much as possible and instead of give energy to someone leaving, I realize it’s an opportunity to give more energy to the people staying.

It’s Always Personal

Never mind what I just said. It’s always personal. It has to be.