If you wait too long, it may just melt away…..

So act now, before it’s too late.

Hey Everyone:

It was great seeing my friends at the MAIA Super Show in Las Vegas.  I am extremely excited about the interest www.takingittothenextlevel received.  We signed up a ton of new people and many people really showed an interest in really growing their schools by picking up some of my DVD’s or Books.  This shows me the industry is moving full speed ahead and is not scare tactics in the media each and everyday. 

Throughout history there have been recessions, depressions and up and down times.  Through those down times many people have made millions.  They didn’t accept the diagnosis set forth by those that wish to control you.  I urge you to stay positive and move forward. 

One of my friends recently sent me an email that asked me this question:    

So I have been doing a survey (unofficial) If you had to tell someone the real systems to retention what would you say?

I have gotten some vague answers to very exact for example: from personal inter action is a must, to systems like Wednesday DNs calls with a Saturday follow up call as well monthly good job notes, this is taking into account good floor consistent ranking/progression as well as school activities.

Just curious as to your thoughts - this is just my project not meant for the free page more or less checking my thoughts on the subject.

My answer was –

Hey Sir;  The word retention is so much deeper then following up on people who are quitting or have emotionally checked out and been demotivated for some time.  You see it is just like these teas I was selling in my store.  I had holistic teas, preventative medicine and then curative teas.  Of course the preventative teas never sold, but I sold a ton of curative - once the sickness hit.  Our goal as school owners is to make sure we pay real attention to the students when they are there. Not just attendance, but truly find out what is going on in their heads.  What are their goals, their parents goals, what do they want out of martial arts.  What can we do to get the educated to get them to understand our reasons of why the martial arts are good for them.  How do we create students for life, or at minimum a longer period of time.  I continually, do a series of motivational things, the 2,4,6,8,10 week call when they join, the perfect attendance reward system, the PSSR - Parent Student Sensei Review, the quarterly goal setting and upgrade appointment. Then there is one last thing most people forget, that is superior quality service and unbelievable student value.  We need to be who we think we are on paper!. IF that makes sense.  Let me know if this helps. 

In spirit;

Allie Alberigo