2,4,6,8,10 week calls
CALLING ALL SCHOOL OWNERS!
How many of your have heard the concept of the 2,4,6, week call? I am sure countless times…. or really not at all. Or is it that you have heard it but have not truly mastered the meaning of it. If you are looking for the secrets read on. The idea is to develop a line of communication between you and the client (your students). For year's school owners have been told that retention is the key to a successful martial arts school. Some rather strong analogies are “Plug the wholes in the bucket” another is “keep the front door wide open and close the back door.” As the old saying goes “it is easier said then done.” With analogies such as these it at least makes the school owner aware that there are problems right from the gate.
Conceptually it is easy to grasp, advertise and bring the students in, teach exciting classes and they will stay. In reality the schools with a shorter curriculum looks better then one with a longer one. For instance a 2 years to Black Belt course might yield 75-85% retention when another school with a 5 year to Black Belt may show 50% retention. The key is to have retention in your school reach levels that are financially sound and show constant growth.
Psychologically speaking we are in a society that has a fast food mentality with a decline in the attention span and attention to detail. As the world becomes more and more automated we will find that people are less inclined to take the time to master things. This will result in the reduction in self-satisfaction. Most of the satisfaction will come from outside stimulation. Cars that talk to you and guide you from destination to destination, video games, digital television even machines that will allow you to watch television at anytime, and record regardless of the time a show is on even pausing live T.V. while you get up to make a sandwich. These are the best times of our lives, but they are also becoming very difficult in regards to relating to people and dedication. The martial arts are slowly becoming an ancient soon to be obsolete mentality and way of life. Unless we make necessary precautions not to become extinct like the dinosaurs of the past we will only be talking about the martial arts in history class.
Here are some suggestions that I have for the new, and experienced school owner alike. Educate your parents as well as you do the students. I used to catch myself saying things like, “I can only teach the students, not the parents” but the reality is they are bringing them and are directly responsible to motivate them and pay their tuition. I would shrug my shoulders and say “well I can only teach those that want to be taught and all the others lose out. Such a shame but that is the reality.” I realize now that it is not true at all. The responsibility lies directly on me to educate and facilitate systems that are conducive to this kind of learning environment.
Of course it all starts with your marketing, but then it shifts to your enrollment process. Once they are enrolled in your school then you are on your way to making them Black Belts. Right? Not really, unless all the other things are in place. It is now up to you to teach the ways of the martial arts to them, imparting wisdom of the ancient sages. This couldn't be further from the truth. There are a host of other things that may get in the way of your success as a martial arts school owner, most you have no control over or do you? I believe that the control is totally up to you as long as you are systematic in your approach to running your school and educating the parents or spouses of the students that you teach. A team effort is a great deal more comforting than an individual effort. There is always strength in numbers. Numbers in this case the family. So the 2,4,6 week calls become your first line for communication and education of your client. For More information on the complete system it is available at www.takingitothenextlevel.com or you can email me at Kyoshi@lininja.com
How many of your have heard the concept of the 2,4,6, week call? I am sure countless times…. or really not at all. Or is it that you have heard it but have not truly mastered the meaning of it. If you are looking for the secrets read on. The idea is to develop a line of communication between you and the client (your students). For year's school owners have been told that retention is the key to a successful martial arts school. Some rather strong analogies are “Plug the wholes in the bucket” another is “keep the front door wide open and close the back door.” As the old saying goes “it is easier said then done.” With analogies such as these it at least makes the school owner aware that there are problems right from the gate.
Conceptually it is easy to grasp, advertise and bring the students in, teach exciting classes and they will stay. In reality the schools with a shorter curriculum looks better then one with a longer one. For instance a 2 years to Black Belt course might yield 75-85% retention when another school with a 5 year to Black Belt may show 50% retention. The key is to have retention in your school reach levels that are financially sound and show constant growth.
Psychologically speaking we are in a society that has a fast food mentality with a decline in the attention span and attention to detail. As the world becomes more and more automated we will find that people are less inclined to take the time to master things. This will result in the reduction in self-satisfaction. Most of the satisfaction will come from outside stimulation. Cars that talk to you and guide you from destination to destination, video games, digital television even machines that will allow you to watch television at anytime, and record regardless of the time a show is on even pausing live T.V. while you get up to make a sandwich. These are the best times of our lives, but they are also becoming very difficult in regards to relating to people and dedication. The martial arts are slowly becoming an ancient soon to be obsolete mentality and way of life. Unless we make necessary precautions not to become extinct like the dinosaurs of the past we will only be talking about the martial arts in history class.
Here are some suggestions that I have for the new, and experienced school owner alike. Educate your parents as well as you do the students. I used to catch myself saying things like, “I can only teach the students, not the parents” but the reality is they are bringing them and are directly responsible to motivate them and pay their tuition. I would shrug my shoulders and say “well I can only teach those that want to be taught and all the others lose out. Such a shame but that is the reality.” I realize now that it is not true at all. The responsibility lies directly on me to educate and facilitate systems that are conducive to this kind of learning environment.
Of course it all starts with your marketing, but then it shifts to your enrollment process. Once they are enrolled in your school then you are on your way to making them Black Belts. Right? Not really, unless all the other things are in place. It is now up to you to teach the ways of the martial arts to them, imparting wisdom of the ancient sages. This couldn't be further from the truth. There are a host of other things that may get in the way of your success as a martial arts school owner, most you have no control over or do you? I believe that the control is totally up to you as long as you are systematic in your approach to running your school and educating the parents or spouses of the students that you teach. A team effort is a great deal more comforting than an individual effort. There is always strength in numbers. Numbers in this case the family. So the 2,4,6 week calls become your first line for communication and education of your client. For More information on the complete system it is available at www.takingitothenextlevel.com or you can email me at Kyoshi@lininja.com
Posted by Allie Alberigo - Kyoshi at 6/15/2010 4:59 PM 
Categories: Systemization of your business
Tags: Martial Art Business Systems custom service retention Follow up and Follow through
Categories: Systemization of your business
Tags: Martial Art Business Systems custom service retention Follow up and Follow through
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