The events of this story take place at a martial arts training centre in Amman, where a local business leader has set up his own business base.  There are many martial arts training centres in Amman, but this one definitely stands out.  It is not that it is anything fancy. On the contrary, it is very simple and utilitarian. The well thought-out design of the place makes it the perfect venue for the sport.

At the entrance there are pictures of championships and awards won by trainees, both girls and boys, along with the trainer’s own medals from world championships and the Olympics. First impressions of the place are of life, action and movement.

Everybody there seems excited, even parents dropping off their kids. Trainers enjoy what they are doing so much that signs of boredom and fatigue are absent.

It was my ten-year-old daughter, Leanne, that expressed an interest in the sport, but when Lana, my six-year-old, saw how much fun the kids were having, she could not resist joining, despite having no interest in martial arts. 

The kids were having fun not because the trainers were easy on them or gave them free reign; on the contrary, discipline ranked high among the trainees and trainers pushed them hard, too hard if you ask me, but the kids were enjoying it and that was the amazing part.

As busy as my schedule is, I make it a point to visit the centre and attend the training with my kids at least once a month. It is a great place to learn about running a successful business, and these guys seem to get plenty of business.  The training room is always full, and there are multiple classes given daily. 

Once one meets the owner of the training center, let us call him Mr. T., it becomes clear why this business is doing so well.  The man has an attitude, and definitely a positive one.  His mission is simple: to teach kids Taekwondo, the way it ought to be taught.  He would tell you about the importance of building the kids’ character and spirit, as much as their mastering the kicking and punching techniques.  He spends lots of time talking to the children about self-confidence, leadership, and discipline. 

To him, his training centre is not a place to make money.    He has a bigger, yet simpler mission: A value proposition and that value brings profit.  The fees are relatively high, but one cannot complain.  The effect the training has on the children is spectacular, and goes beyond learning a martial art, and the amazing thing is that trainees have fun while learning.

There are many lessons to learn from the way Mr. T. runs the business. He genuinely cares about his customers.  You can easily feel his compassion for the children he trains and even for their families.  He seems to understand how they feel and accordingly knows how to motivate them.

Another important aspect about him is his strong conviction and confidence.  He has obviously received professional training. The way he conducts the training and shares information with the children and their parents reveals his vast knowledge on his subject. Furthermore, when a parent becomes concerned about how a trainer is handling his son or daughter, Mr. T. listens carefully to what the parent is saying; he does not get defensive, as if he understands where the parent is coming from, even if he does not agree with their viewpoint. Then, after listening carefully, he makes it clear that he understands and appreciates what the father or mother has said, and then gives  his assessment. 

The way he treats other trainers who assist him with the training is also interesting.  He often leaves the training area and lets them take over.  Sometimes, he just shows up at the beginning and end of training, but he never really leaves.  He stays in his office, behind only a revealing glass wall, looking busy, but you can see him keeping an eye and observing how his trainers are training.

One can see that he gets lots of respect from his trainers, though he is not bossy or rough with them.  He never gives them a direct order, as a traditional boss does.  When he asks for something, it is between the trainer and himself.  He does not shout. 

It seems that this master of martial arts is also a master of communication, leadership, and a master on how to run a business.  He proves that it does not take an MBA for one to run a successful and professional business. With passion, knowledge, experience, and focus on providing customers’ value, even martial arts masters become masters of business.

Monday, February 26, 2007