7 Figure CEO

In this episode of 7 Figure CEO, Cris sits with John Geyston, owner of Empowered Martial Arts in Illinois and Tampa. John Geyston is a lifelong martial artist with multiple black belts and recently earned his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Cris and John discuss the importance of having an abundance mentality rather than a scarcity mentality in the martial arts industry.  John details his approach to managing and overseeing his two locations, including regular meetings and instructor training. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, even for someone highly knowledgeable. John also talks about the need for school owners to focus on honing their teaching skills and business acumen to succeed in the martial arts industry.  Cris and John talk about his recently launched book titled "Embrace Your Awesome," which is available on Amazon. This book is a reflection of his personal journey, aiming to inspire and mentor others, especially those who may not have had a positive influence in their early years. John plans to continue growing his martial arts business with potential expansion to multiple locations. Lastly, John aspires to leave a lasting impact on his students' lives and hopes to be remembered for the positive influence he had on them.

In today's episode of 7 Figure CEO Podcast, we're joined by Robby, a martial arts enthusiast turned thriving business owner who believes that authenticity is the cornerstone of any successful venture. Robby's journey began with a passion for martial arts, but he quickly realized that the key to true success was doing what he loved rather than following conventional paths. His business model evolved over time, shifting from adult programs to after-school and summer camps and eventually expanding to include a coffee shop seamlessly integrated with his gym. Robby's approach to business optimization is about recognizing strengths and delegating tasks accordingly. His wife plays a crucial role in managing the financial aspects, showcasing the power of teamwork in entrepreneurship. In Robby's vision for the future, he's focused on building a team of high-level competitors and passionate individuals dedicated to pursuing martial arts as a career. He's even gone as far as providing financial support to one of his students to open their own gym, highlighting the deep sense of community he's fostered. Listen to this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast now!

In this episode of 7 Figure CEO, Brad Ferris shares his vision for his businesses, highlighting the importance of patient acquisition and addressing unique client problems. Cris and Brad dive into key principles of business success, including clarity, execution, and optimization. Brad discusses the critical role of continuous training, compensation strategies, and motivation in retaining and engaging team members effectively. He offers valuable insights into team management, stressing the significance of ongoing assessment, regular communication, and meeting individual needs. You will learn about crafting fair compensation plans tied to revenue generation, expense reduction, and time-saving efforts while considering individual performance variations. Brad lastly explains the dynamics of a successful CEO-COO partnership, emphasizing respect, communication, and well-defined roles. He shares insights on the benefits of recognizing each partner's unique value and the significance of becoming a specialist in your field rather than comparing oneself to others. Listen to this episode of 7 Figure CEO now!

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO podcast, I speak with Master Tran, owner of Tran’s Martial Arts and Fitness Center in Longmont, Colorado. Master Tran began training in martial arts with his siblings under the supervision of their father at home at the age of 7. His formal training in Tae Kwon Do began at age 13 when he and his siblings cleaned the local school in exchange for lessons. He received his 1st Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 19.  Combining his passion and knowledge of Muay Thai with his experience as a successful martial arts school owner, Master Tran was inspired to integrate the art of Muay Thai into his school curriculum. These early experiences taught Master Tran the importance of giving back to the community and helping others. It shaped him to impact and help his community the way he and his family were when they needed it. Master Tran has created the Tran's Muay Thai Association to support school owners interested in integrating modern Muay Thai into their schools and leading the evolution of this wonderful art to a worldwide audience.

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO podcast, I have a conversation with Trevor and Jessica McClung, who are the owners of the Championship Martial Arts TRIBE located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Trevor discusses his on-the-mat obligations, which entail teaching, training instructors, and developing curriculums. Jessica, on the other hand, delves into her off-the-mat duties, which involve overseeing the business operations of their school. As the manager, she is in charge of managing staff and finances and ensuring that the business runs seamlessly. From downgrading during Covid to becoming the successful school they dreamed of, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! 

Mark Preader is a child development specialist and founder of the Enterprise Academy of Martial Arts. He opened the school in 2006, but in 2014 he wanted to rebrand his school to become the go-to place for martial arts in the Hollister area. To adapt to the pandemic's challenges, Mark began recording classes with his daughter and later followed the virtual school content of Melody Johnson's SKILLZ program. Despite facing temporary closures in March and again shortly after reopening, Mark refused to stop and instead moved his classes outside to keep his students active. Mark's dedication to his students paid off, as he did not have a single Covid breakout at his school. His refusal to stop was appreciated by parents, who were happy that their children could continue to stay active and healthy during the pandemic.  Through his hard work and dedication to his students, Mark has become a respected figure in the martial arts community and a successful business owner. He continues to provide high-quality instruction at his school and remains committed to helping children develop their skills and reach their full potential.

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I sit down with Mr. Randy Chung of Kodokan Jiu Jitsu Club of Calgary (Canada) to discuss how he went from accountant to academy owner. Mr. Chung is a first-degree blackbelt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a father, and a Grow Pro Client. At the age of 9, he began training in Karate and later transitioned to Chinese martial arts. He went on to open his own academy: Kodokan Jiu Jitsu Club, which grew from a small room to an academy three times the size. Kodokan Jiu Jitsu Club focuses on technical proficiency, proper body mechanics, and integrated movements to promote self-defense, and mind-body fitness. Mr. Chung has big plans for his academy moving forward and I'm so glad we got to sit down to discuss his journey and vision for the future. Check out the latest episode!

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I speak with Akil Acevedoof Cho's Legacy Taekwondo (Morristown, NJ). He is a brand new father, Grow Pro client, a 5th degree blackbelt in Taekwondo, 5th degree black belt in Kukkiwon, and 5th degree black belt in Chung Do Kwan. He has been training for over 30 years and in 2014 he took over the academy that was opened by his Grandmaster in 1973. Mr. Acevedo has an engineering degree and after 6 years in the corporate world, his Grandmaster was looking to retire and approached him to take over the school. The work ethic he cultivated during his time as an engineer, helped prepare him for when he took over the academy and had to wear multiple hats. Tune into this episode!

This week's guest on the 7 Figure CEO Podcast is Mr. Josh Smith - 5th degree Black Belt in Goju, Shotokan (and other various styles), Grow Pro client, and the owner of 4 premier Martial Arts locations. Mr. Smith's father was also a school owner, and from the age of 5, he has been passionate about Martial Arts. He opened his own school and built his way from 40 to 150 students. From there he quit his day job and went all in on his school, but was lacking structure. He needed to implement systems and processes that would allow his business to grow. That's when he got a call from a friend who owned a Premier Martial Arts franchise - Aaron Hensley, who encouraged Mr. Smith to go to Knoxville to participate in the Premier Martial Arts convention. Two weeks later he signed up. In this episode, Mr. Smith discusses the necessity of solid systems and processes or  "The formula for scaling" in order to scale to multiple locations. He also shares his experiences going the Franchise route and how that impacted his entrepreneurial journey. Having personally applied the formula to scale to 4 thriving locations - Mr. Smith has some really powerful insights about the dos and don'ts of being a multi-school owner. It was a pleasure to hear his story, and I know you'll love it too. Listen to the latest episode now!

Zachariah Cloonan of Zachary Martial Arts (Zachary, LA) has been in business for 7 years, is a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and blue belt in BJJ. Mr. Cloonan grew up taking classes in the Martial Arts school he now owns. Having earned his black belt under the previous instructor, he was offered to buy the school when it started to go under. Starting with 20 students, he grew the program to 180 students and facilitated the transition of his academy from Taekwondo school to Mixed Martial Arts school. Mr. Cloonan was a great guest and I'm so glad he was able to come on the podcast and share stories of his journey from student to school owner. Have a listen!

Fellow action-taker - Nicholas Gregoriades joins me on this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast. Nic is a BJJ Black Belt, Roger Gracie’s first awarded Black Belt, competitor, host of the Nicholas Gregoriades Show, creator of the Subconscious Jiu Jitsu Association, and author of Aligned - The Modern Man’s Guide to Health, Wealth and Freedom.  Nic started taking Judo at the age of 7, and at the age of 19 he started boxing. Then he went on to submission grappling in his hometown of Cape Town South Africa. From there he moved to London where he began training at Roger Gracie’s original Academy and received his black belt.  After spending many years teaching, his focus began to shift to his coaching business for men. He has a passion for helping to lead men live lives of more passion, adventure and success through personal development and spiritual growth. In his podcast, he speaks with distinguished guests on topics that are affecting the path men take through the modern world. Nic shares a lot of wisdom and we discuss everything from the importance of routines, to mental health and his entrepreneurial path - have a listen!   Coaching - https://coachnicg.com/about-nic-gregoriades/ Book - https://coachnicg.com/book/ The Nicholas Gregoriades Show - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nicholas-gregoriades-show/id1251272146

You’re in for a real treat! On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I sit down with Fellow 7 Figure CEO, speaker, mentor, friend, 5th-degree Black Belt in ATA System, former owner of On The Mat, & founder of Skillz Worldwide (serving 1,500+ Martial Arts schools) - Mrs. Melody Johnson. In her twenties, she started writing children's Martial Arts curriculum, as she had a passion for helping kids become the best version of themselves. Not only was her curriculum inclusive of children in Pre-K and up, but it was created with the childhood development stages in mind. She made the difficult decision to leave her 4 schools and went all in on her journey of redefining the standards for children’s Martial Arts. Mrs. Johnson then went on to do some consulting/speaking at seminars and opened up On The Mat in 2005. On the mat allowed her to hone in on systems and processes needed to help school owners grow their academies. She sold On The Mat so she could have more time to spend with her young son and wife. Skillz Worldwide allowed her to pursue her mission on a global scale. Have a listen to this episode to hear about Melody’s journey to 7 Figure CEO!

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I had the great honor of speaking with Danny Alvarez of Alvarez Jiu Jitsu (Arlington, TX). Mr. Alvarez is a 4th-degree Black Belt in BJJ, has won Master Worlds 3 times in Gi, 5 times in No-Gi, was the #1 ranked Black Belt for the 2017-2018 season, earned over 50 Championship Titles, is one of my A-Team clients and is also a Grow Pro client!  Mr. Alvarez started training while working full-time at General Motors, where he was making a great living but was ultimately dissatisfied with his job. He’d spend his lunch breaks watching BJJ videos on tape and taking notes in a journal so he could apply what he learned during his training in the evening.  He was doing private lessons out of his garage and at the same time started studying the way his instructor ran business operations so he could be prepared when he found the right moment to open his own academy. And that moment did come when GM offered employees that had been with the company 10 years a buyout. He took that money and used a portion to open his own gym.  Alvarez BJJ has undergone a series of facility changes throughout the course of its inception as the academy continues growing - starting in a small mat space in a gymnastics facility, then moving to a 4500 sq ft warehouse space with no A/C. At a crossroads, his suite neighbor offered to buy him out of his lease which lead him to take the leap and move into the 15000 sq ft facility he currently runs his academy out of.  Alvarez BJJ has programs for kids, teens and adults. Mr. Alvarez is not only an accomplished Martial Artist, he’s also a great coach and is constantly learning and pushing himself in the pursuit of continuous growth on and off the mat.   In this episode, Mr. Alvarez explains the “secret” to getting Google reviews, how he balances working with family and building a community from the ground up. He takes pride in his academy and puts everything he can behind it, in order to build it to the success it is today. As a coach and instructor, he’s a strong advocate for "leading by example" and knows the value of consistency in order to accomplish your goals.  You’re going to want to tune into this episode!

This episode is a winner! Joe Lauzon joins me on the 7 Figure CEO podcast to talk about his journey to the UFC, and the systems that enabled his Academy: Lauzon MMA (Raynham, MA) to become the massive success that it is today. Mr. Lauzon is a 26x UFC Veteran, has his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, is a father, and one of my A-Team clients.  Starting his training at the age of 16 he instantly took a liking to  No-Gi Grappling. Several years later he graduated with a degree in Computer Science. It’s that analytical mind that allowed him to prioritize his personal development over his love of video games.    Lauzon MMA has been in business for 12 years and has an active count of more than 300 students. During Covid, his Academy got a huge upgrade; moving from a 5,000 sq ft facility to 7,500 sq ft. facility.  Mr. Lauzon also participated in my Jitz University program, which helped him to refine his children’s program into what it is today. He expressed that the systems he learned are not only built to be replicated but also will allow him to expand into additional academies in the coming years.  He discusses how he’s found a way to leverage his social media presence into referrals and a steady stream of new members. Among many other key attributes of his success, he has embraced the power of Time-Blocking, and is an advocate for “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” since he knows that Mentors can help you get to where you’re going faster. Have a listen to this episode; I know you’ll love it!

Master Josh Arcemont of Hero Martial Arts (Spring, TX) joins me today on the 7 Figure CEO Podcast. Not only is Mr. Arcemont a 6th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, he’s also MAIA’s newest consultant, a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and just recently signed the lease to his 2nd location. His martial arts journey began at Southeast Texas Taekwondo Academy, where he began taking classes. His mother married his taekwondo instructor and the school became a family business. For 15 years Mr. Arcemont taught at his family's school, before going on to open his own academy - Hero’s Martial Arts Academy 12 years ago. From the time he was in high school, he was working with underserved and underprivileged children in school gyms. To this day, Mr. Arcemont never turns down an opportunity to serve his community by empowering children through martial arts. That’s why he is passionate about being partners in education with 15+ schools in his community (with an emphasis on character education). MAIA provided the systems to really take these programs to the next level and he still implements their teachings in his own academy today. His tip for success is to find a consultant that aligns with your values and learn what works, and implement their best practices because in the end - learning from someone else’s experience can save you time. As he so wisely put it: “Ask yourself ‘where am I headed next?’.” The key is to think long-term, use your goals as a compass, and update them as needed.  This episode was a blast! Be sure to check it out to hear Mr. Arcemont's testimony of taking action and how it’s helped him to cultivate continuous GROWTH in his academy while being able to contribute to his community and his team.  

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I got to speak with the very talented and highly accomplished - Chris Rappold. I had the pleasure of meeting up with him at the 2022 Martial Arts Super Show and the US Open where I got to watch his team perform incredible acts of athleticism. Mr. Rappold is a 6th degree Black Belt in Taekwon-Do, Executive Director at Team Paul Mitchell Karate, creator of the Retention Based Sparing program (https://www.maiahub.com/retention-based-sparring), and owner of Personal Best Karate (with 4 locations in MA). The Personal Best team is very close-knit, and despite operating out of multiple locations they cultivate the work environment of “4 classrooms”, rather than 4 separate schools. Mr. Rappold expressed a deep enthusiasm for working with and training his team members. He built Personal Best with the philosophy that the best way to make an impact with Taekwon-Do is to ensure his team is trained to meet people where they’re at. Their aim is to help their members find the confidence to step into the uncomfortability needed for growth. When asked about his role at the academy, he stressed the importance of implementing systems that allow for him to approach instruction with a mindset of: “I want to be on the floor” rather than “I have to.” He loves to support his team and feels a sense of obligation to contribute even when he’s not teaching. Mr. Rappold continues to have tremendous success, but was not immune to the difficulties that many school owners faced during COVID. His takeaway is a sense of happiness and appreciation for what he learned through overcoming those obstacles. Chris is such a stand-up guy and really made for a fun and insightful guest. He has been a Grow Pro client since December of 2020. Among the many nuggets of wisdom shared: take control of your personal narrative, and stay true to yourself.

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast I interview the Founder and Owner of Integrity Defensive Arts (Victoria, TX) - Sensei Rick Torres. Established 13 years ago, his school has a wide selection of offerings such as Judo, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Kick-Boxing and Philllipino Martial Arts classes. Starting at the age of 10, Mr. Torres now has 55 years of training in the Martial Arts and a Master ranking. When his school was destroyed by a hurricane, the community stepped in to help. Shortly after his new building was opened - the pandemic hit. Like many other school owners at that time, he experienced the uncertainty of the times and had to find a creative way to proceed. That’s when he made the pivot to Zoom classes with a focus on weapons. Mr. Torres enlisted the services of Grow Pro Agency and got a HUGE influx of LEADS. He took the advice of the Growth Professionals who provided valuable coaching and resources on the lead follow-up process. He stresses the importance of a thorough lead follow-up strategy, as it allowed him to double his school’s enrollment. In his words... “You have to stay one step ahead - and marketing is the way to do that.” Sensei Rick also works as a Licensed counseling professional and has done so for 30+ years. He has run community-based programs for at-risk youth to receive mentorship and martial arts instruction. Some of his former students have gone on to become Doctors, Lawyers and Police Officers. He is the Co-founder of New Beginnings Counseling Clinic in Victoria, Texas. This episode is packed with valuable insight, the redemption of rebuilding after tragedy, and the success story of a beloved client and all-around great guy - give it a listen!

This episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast was a blast and I got to spend it with powerhouse couple Joseph & Diana Vigil of Vortexic Martial Arts (Katy, TX). The Vigils are Grow Pro and MAIA clients with a passion for teaching and complementary strengths, which has led to the massive success of their academy. With 12 years of instruction under his belt, Master Vigil is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo as well as a Black Belt in Hapkido. He has competed nationally and internationally and won championships in the states of Texas and Utah. At 18 years old Joseph moved to Houston, TX where he lived with his Master for 4 years - thus entering into a new chapter of his Martial Arts Journey. Diana Vigil is the Co-Founder of Vortexic Martial Arts and an instructor, with her 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Having inherited the entrepreneurial bug from her father, she decided to use her degree to open a Martial Arts school with her husband in 2009. Though they faced the challenges of Covid and hurricane Harvey, they understood the importance of having a strong support system. This is why they feel strongly about taking care of their employees and their school's philosophy is: “Improving Yourself While Bettering the Lives of Those Around You." These two were a pleasure to have on the podcast; I know you'll enjoy hearing their story. Check it out!

Most people think that when a prospect is looking for a Martial Arts School the first place they go is to Google. And while Google is usually where prospects will go when they have an intent and are looking for a school - it’s not the FIRST place they go. So if Google isn’t the first place they go to, what is the platform they go to first and how can you get on it? The first place people go isn’t actually google - it’s their Mental Rolodex. Think about your own buying habits. Let’s say that you are looking for a new car. Where are the dealerships you are going to go to first?  Probably the ones that you know! How do you know them? Because you’ve heard from friends that they got a great deal there, you drive by it on your daily commute, you saw their billboard, you see their bumper stickers and license plate frames on new cars. You know them because they have made a commitment to being the best known in your area. People go to Google after they go to their mental Rolodex. And the only way you are going to get into people’s mental Rolodex is by 1 - offering a great service and 2 - being omnipresent on all of the marketing channels. Best known beats best.

I wanted to share this quote that is behind me that we printed on our walls here in the office. It says “All you need is Innovation and Marketing” - but the full quote is this: “Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two--and only two--basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. Marketing is the distinguishing, unique function of the business.” This quote is from Peter Drucker. He is best known for his work of management and has been called “the man who invented management”, but his writings on Marketing put him as one of my favorite businessmen to walk the planet.  So why is it that Business Owners rarely prioritize their innovation and marketing?  Usually, their focus is on sales and fulfillment. Which is important - because At the end of the day, without a customer - we don’t have a business.  But what customers are looking for is something NEW in their life as a solution to a problem they are having.  This is where innovation steps in.  If we are constantly innovating our business to become what our ideal prospects want and need, becoming better and better, leveling up, and producing better services that customers want to buy.  And in order to find those customers - you’ve got to market.  And the goal should be that your marketing makes selling superfluous. Meaning your marketing is so damn good - that it sells itself.  And how easy it is to market an innovative, different, product and service that everyone has. Innovation and Marketing - it’s the only 2 things you need in your business.