| Imagine this: you pull up in your new Jaguar XK | | | | about. So-and-so school owner owns 3 studios, |
| (eight super-charged cylinders, and you look good | | | | claims to have over 1,000 paying members, bills |
| in this baby when the top is rolled down, thank | | | | for over $70,000 a month, has a cadre of 15 |
| you very much), parking in the space that's | | | | part-time and full-time employees, |
| marked "Chief Instructor" right by the front of | | | | yadda-yadda-yadda. This guy appears to have it |
| the school. | | | | all, right? |
| The school is front and center in the strip mall, | | | | Wrong! He probably isn't taking home as much |
| right next door to the new Super Grocery | | | | money as you might think - in fact, the profit |
| Center. It's 9 AM and people are already starting | | | | margins on his studio are most likely |
| to walk by and peek into the windows of your | | | | embarrassingly low, maybe in the realm of |
| school. You grab your non-fat mocha-latte and | | | | 10-15%. He might even be making less money |
| the uniform you picked up at the cleaners this | | | | than he did when he owned only one location. |
| morning and head in. | | | | And, even if he is prosperous, he probably doesn't |
| You open the front door and take a quick glance | | | | have any time to enjoy it. It takes a hell of a lot |
| across your brand new school. Wall-to-wall mats in | | | | of time and energy to run three locations. Most of |
| bright colors (the best that money can buy), | | | | his time is likely spent going back and forth |
| mirrors along the length of the studio, a custom | | | | between his studios, putting out fires and trying |
| heavy bag holder right next to the | | | | to keep some semblance of unity among his |
| state-of-the-art multi-station gym; 8,000 square | | | | staff. Eighty-hour weeks and no time for vacation |
| feet of pure training heaven. | | | | - he has to make the cover of the next issue of |
| You walk into your office and the receptionist | | | | "Martial Arts Business Tycoon"; bragging rights, |
| greets you with a smile. "We've had six phone | | | | you see. |
| calls already, and they've all set appointments for | | | | Give me a break. |
| intro lessons. Oh, and Bobby Smith's mom called | | | | Now, the smart studio owner sees things much |
| to thank you for doing such a great job with her | | | | differently than Mr. Big Studio Owner. He knows |
| son - he made the honor roll for the first time | | | | that he'll likely never make it on the cover of one |
| this quarter." | | | | of the major industry magazines, and quite |
| You sit down at your desk with a smile, and log | | | | frankly, he doesn't care. He'll never have bragging |
| into your online banking center... that's when reality | | | | rights to owning the largest studio in the metro, |
| hits - YOU'RE BROKE! All this luxury has put you | | | | nor will he ever have the highest enrollment. |
| in the poor house, and you don't know how | | | | What he will have, however, is low overhead, high |
| you're going to make this month's rent on your | | | | profit margins, and the greatest luxury that |
| state-of-the-art studio. Better try to cash out | | | | money can't buy - time. Time plus money equals |
| some of these intros coming in tonight... | | | | FREEDOM, and a quality of lifestyle that Mr. Big |
| Believe it or not, this is how a large majority of | | | | Studio Owner will never experience, at least, not |
| the so-called "successful" studio owners in this | | | | until he retires (if he makes it that far with his |
| country operate. While their studios might appear | | | | health intact). |
| to be successful on the outside, in reality they are | | | | So, they can keep their huge schools, 1,000 |
| living hand-to-mouth, because they bought into a | | | | student enrollments, magazine cover shoots, and |
| myth of a lifestyle that never was: the Myth of | | | | "billing company gold clubs." I'll take time freedom |
| The Successful Studio Owner. | | | | and high profit margins over fame any day of the |
| Open up one of the popular industry magazines | | | | week, thank you very much. |
| and you'll see an example of what I am talking | | | | |