Now Is the Time to Plan for the New Year

by Melissa Torres, MAIA Division Manager

Well, we made it to the end of 2020. It was a tough year for everyone, whether you had to pivot and learn a new virtual technology or were forced to make difficult decisions like laying off staff or even closing your doors. But the end is finally here. We are closing the doors on 2020 — once and for all!

As happy as I am to see the last of 2020, the practical side of me knows that just because we turned over a new page in our calendars doesn’t mean that everything will automatically return to normal. No one knows when our lives will be normal again — or what that “normal” will look like. (Hopefully, it will be a nicer, better normal.)

It’s more important than ever to be prepared and plan for the unexpected. While no one saw the pandemic coming, I hope you were able to switch to virtual classes quickly or at least continue to keep in touch with your students.

It’s vital to keep yourself and your instructors current when it comes to new technologies even if all your classes are back to an in-person format. This time around, staying on top meant learning Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other platforms, but who knows what will pop up next? The more up to date you can stay on technology, the sooner you’ll be able to respond if a similar situation crops up again.

Now is the time to polish your business skills, up your digital-marketing game and set a course for the next 12 months. It’s time to get out of your comfort zone. As the saying goes, to be successful, you must get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Putting together a plan for 2021 not only will keep you on track and organized but also will give you a chance to take a step back and re-evaluate your goals, what you’re doing right, what you’re doing wrong and what you need to adjust.

If you don’t set monthly goals and annual goals — and keep a clear vision of what you ultimately want to accomplish as a school owner — it will be impossible to measure your progress. So take a moment now to identify the skills you need to improve. Maybe it’s digital marketing. Or hosting events. Or setting up afterschool programs. Or gaining new students. Write down the most important ones you will need to reach your goals. It doesn’t matter if you know how to get there or not; just write them down.

Next, it’s essential to ask for help. If you’ve been struggling because of COVID or you’re just finding it difficult to grow your school, know that you don’t have to do this on your own. Never be afraid to seek advice from people who have been there. Why not learn from their mistakes before you make the same ones?

The Martial Arts Industry Association exists to help school owners like you. If you just need someone to talk to about your challenges because you don’t know where to begin, contact us. The best thing you can do for your business is schedule a call with MAIA. You can discuss your situation with someone who’s faced the same issues, someone who’s experienced the same hardships. Our coaches are all school owners who started with a passion for teaching the martial arts — just like you. Now they lead very successful schools and, most important, know how to get you to that level.

Let us help you. Go to MAIAHub.com/connect to schedule a call. With help from our experts, you can reach your 2021 goals and even exceed them!

To contact Melissa Torres, send an email to [email protected].