4/26/09
“You can have him help with classes, but that kid will never be a good instructor,” said Master Stone.
“No?” I asked.
“No. He has a horrible temper. I don’t think he’d be able to go 10 minutes in a class of five year olds without his head exploding. I mean, I work with him at the deli, and he loses his temper constantly, and this is just people asking for sandwiches. So… try him out. But he’s going to have a really hard time dealing with kids.”
This was 1997. I was teaching at Middlesex Tang Soo Do in Old Saybrook and looking for a reliable assistant instructor. Josh Hesser, a red belt and high school senior, had approached me about the position. At the time, he was working behind the counter at a market just around the corner. His boss at the market was Master Stone, another instructor at Middlesex.
I trusted Master Stone a lot. He’d been training and teaching forever, and was an all-around levelheaded guy. I’d never seen Josh’s temper flare up during classes – but if Master Stone had doubts…
“Hmm, okay. I’ll see how he does. Thanks.”
“You can have him help with classes, but that kid will never be a good instructor,” said Master Stone.
“No?” I asked.
“No. He has a horrible temper. I don’t think he’d be able to go 10 minutes in a class of five year olds without his head exploding. I mean, I work with him at the deli, and he loses his temper constantly, and this is just people asking for sandwiches. So… try him out. But he’s going to have a really hard time dealing with kids.”
This was 1997. I was teaching at Middlesex Tang Soo Do in Old Saybrook and looking for a reliable assistant instructor. Josh Hesser, a red belt and high school senior, had approached me about the position. At the time, he was working behind the counter at a market just around the corner. His boss at the market was Master Stone, another instructor at Middlesex.
I trusted Master Stone a lot. He’d been training and teaching forever, and was an all-around levelheaded guy. I’d never seen Josh’s temper flare up during classes – but if Master Stone had doubts…
“Hmm, okay. I’ll see how he does. Thanks.”
I guess I could see what Master Stone was talking about. Josh was a big high school football player and an extremely physical martial artist… and perhaps not the Connecticut shoreline’s next great Eagle Scout. “Rough around the edges” might describe it best. (For details, ask Matt Jacobs who taught at Mr. Hesser’s high school.) But he was eager and willing to listen. On his first day, I gave him a few simple instructions on how to work with kids. Classes went pretty well.
The next day, he wanted more teaching strategy. I didn’t want to overload him, so I gave him one at a time. I realized early on that he never needed to be told anything twice. He simply listened and did it. Pretty soon I found myself being able to leave him teaching by himself for short periods of time. The kids liked him.
————————————
I walked into the deli.
“So how’s he doing so far?” Asked Master Stone.
“Really good. He’s a quick learner.”
“Just wait,” he said, handing me my sandwich. “You’ll see. His whole head turns red and then it’s all over.”
————————————
It never happened. Josh kept assisting with classes, eventually earning his black belt. Students liked his teaching and his learning curve continued. But then, as it does, life intervened. He graduated high school and left for basic training in the National Guard. But before he left, he said “One day, you’re going to open a school and I’m going to come work for you. Plan on it.”
The next day, he wanted more teaching strategy. I didn’t want to overload him, so I gave him one at a time. I realized early on that he never needed to be told anything twice. He simply listened and did it. Pretty soon I found myself being able to leave him teaching by himself for short periods of time. The kids liked him.
————————————
I walked into the deli.
“So how’s he doing so far?” Asked Master Stone.
“Really good. He’s a quick learner.”
“Just wait,” he said, handing me my sandwich. “You’ll see. His whole head turns red and then it’s all over.”
————————————
It never happened. Josh kept assisting with classes, eventually earning his black belt. Students liked his teaching and his learning curve continued. But then, as it does, life intervened. He graduated high school and left for basic training in the National Guard. But before he left, he said “One day, you’re going to open a school and I’m going to come work for you. Plan on it.”
He was right. In 2002, I moved to my own school in Norwich. Josh was back from the National Guard and working at the deli again.
That whole first year, I did everything at the school myself. It wasn’t easy, but I brought enrollment up to 100 students. Then, out of nowhere, the phone rang. It was Josh.
“I’m sick of this deli thing. Are you ready for me to start teaching yet?”
“Uh… Hi. Actually, yes.”
————————————
I decided Josh needed “full immersion” and gave him 2 days a week to run classes by himself. I remember the reluctance when he first started teaching. My students were so used to me and my way of doing things… and Josh was so… different. Much louder, more animated, louder, less subtle, LOUDER… I could go on, but you get the picture. It’s not that people didn’t like him. It was just that he was… you know, different.
The phone rings. “Don’t get me wrong, Sir. We like Mr. Hesser just fine. He’s great with the kids. But he’s just not you. We like to have the Senior Instructor around. Mr. Hesser is great but he’s just a first degree. You’re a third degree. Do you see what I’m saying?”
“Yes I do. I agree, Mr. Hesser is doing great. And I understand that you like having me teach classes, but in order for Mr. Hesser to reach his full potential, he needs to teach. He needs to get out there and do it. When I was a beginning Instructor, Master Voelker understood that the only way for me to grow was to give me space. He let me develop on my own. I think we need to give Mr. Hesser that space.”
I literally had that conversation about twenty times the month Mr. Hesser started. I even took my name off the front door of the school and put his up so that everyone knew he was a true Instructor.
That whole first year, I did everything at the school myself. It wasn’t easy, but I brought enrollment up to 100 students. Then, out of nowhere, the phone rang. It was Josh.
“I’m sick of this deli thing. Are you ready for me to start teaching yet?”
“Uh… Hi. Actually, yes.”
————————————
I decided Josh needed “full immersion” and gave him 2 days a week to run classes by himself. I remember the reluctance when he first started teaching. My students were so used to me and my way of doing things… and Josh was so… different. Much louder, more animated, louder, less subtle, LOUDER… I could go on, but you get the picture. It’s not that people didn’t like him. It was just that he was… you know, different.
The phone rings. “Don’t get me wrong, Sir. We like Mr. Hesser just fine. He’s great with the kids. But he’s just not you. We like to have the Senior Instructor around. Mr. Hesser is great but he’s just a first degree. You’re a third degree. Do you see what I’m saying?”
“Yes I do. I agree, Mr. Hesser is doing great. And I understand that you like having me teach classes, but in order for Mr. Hesser to reach his full potential, he needs to teach. He needs to get out there and do it. When I was a beginning Instructor, Master Voelker understood that the only way for me to grow was to give me space. He let me develop on my own. I think we need to give Mr. Hesser that space.”
I literally had that conversation about twenty times the month Mr. Hesser started. I even took my name off the front door of the school and put his up so that everyone knew he was a true Instructor.
After a couple weeks, those phone calls went away. Completely. The Age of Hesser had arrived. We went from 100 students to 130 within just a couple months. Slowly, I separated myself from the majority of teaching, allowing Mr. Hesser to come on board full time. Now a new type of phone call was coming in – complimentary ones. “Mr. Hesser is SO great with the Little Dragons. You can tell that he loves teaching!”
Not only could he teach, he also took initiative. He was self-directed. He’d call home when a student missed class. He’d take certain kids aside to speak to them if they were misbehaving at school. He started to do things that went beyond simply “teaching karate.” This is what made parents and students love him.
------------------------------
This month, April 2009, we’re celebrating 7 years of training here at the school. Mr. Hesser has been here for six. Since he started with me in 1997, Mr. Hesser has gone from being a “rough around the edges” eighteen year-old high school football player to a twenty-nine year-old Professional Instructor. He owns a house, a separate rental property, and he’s getting married next month. And not only has he matured into a top-notch teacher, he’s begun to learn the business of running a martial arts school. The teenager who didn’t “have the temper for dealing with kids” has transformed into a talented professional who plans to open his own America’s Best Defense school in the future. As a fast learner and an eager “doer”, he is quickly learning everything he needs to run his own successful business.
Not only could he teach, he also took initiative. He was self-directed. He’d call home when a student missed class. He’d take certain kids aside to speak to them if they were misbehaving at school. He started to do things that went beyond simply “teaching karate.” This is what made parents and students love him.
------------------------------
This month, April 2009, we’re celebrating 7 years of training here at the school. Mr. Hesser has been here for six. Since he started with me in 1997, Mr. Hesser has gone from being a “rough around the edges” eighteen year-old high school football player to a twenty-nine year-old Professional Instructor. He owns a house, a separate rental property, and he’s getting married next month. And not only has he matured into a top-notch teacher, he’s begun to learn the business of running a martial arts school. The teenager who didn’t “have the temper for dealing with kids” has transformed into a talented professional who plans to open his own America’s Best Defense school in the future. As a fast learner and an eager “doer”, he is quickly learning everything he needs to run his own successful business.
We talk about “transformation” a lot in martial arts. Through the physical discipline of training, we begin to realize true changes in our lives. Increased focus, self-control, confidence… the list continues. I’ve seen it more times than I can count as more and more of my students reach Black Belt level.
But there is a more profound transformation that occurs in someone who takes the leadership path in martial arts. You’re not simply training for yourself anymore. Now you’re a role model, a public speaker, an organizer, an athlete, a mentor, a customer service representative, a life-long learner… in short, a “Shining Example”. You are literally forced to embody the tenets of martial arts. Add to that the necessary skills it takes to be a successful business owner, and your personal transformation must literally go to a whole new level. Kiss the security of comfort zones goodbye.
Is Mr. Hesser an entirely different person than he would be if he’d never pursued martial arts professionally? Without a doubt. I know this about him because I know it about me (just ask Master Voelker or Master Jacobs). I believe that his personal growth is continuing at a fast rate and I’m psyched that I’ve been able to give him opportunities in life, and eventually help him with the greatest opportunity: to go into business for himself. I have no doubt that he has what it takes.
But there is a more profound transformation that occurs in someone who takes the leadership path in martial arts. You’re not simply training for yourself anymore. Now you’re a role model, a public speaker, an organizer, an athlete, a mentor, a customer service representative, a life-long learner… in short, a “Shining Example”. You are literally forced to embody the tenets of martial arts. Add to that the necessary skills it takes to be a successful business owner, and your personal transformation must literally go to a whole new level. Kiss the security of comfort zones goodbye.
Is Mr. Hesser an entirely different person than he would be if he’d never pursued martial arts professionally? Without a doubt. I know this about him because I know it about me (just ask Master Voelker or Master Jacobs). I believe that his personal growth is continuing at a fast rate and I’m psyched that I’ve been able to give him opportunities in life, and eventually help him with the greatest opportunity: to go into business for himself. I have no doubt that he has what it takes.
There are A LOT of things I love about martial arts. This blog has gone on long enough without me adding ten pages of details. But I have to say, the thing I love the most, and love to think about most, is the opportunity for real life-changing growth I can provide. Under the tutelage of instructors like Master Voelker, Master Jacobs, Master Garcia, and Bill Montgomery, I’ve come a long way. Mr. Hesser has too. Now, my excitement is for Ms. Fritz and Mr. Tworzyanski, two students who have trained with me since they were young kids and now have ambitions of walking the same path as Mr. Hesser and eventually opening their own ABD schools. They are quickly becoming great instructors, and at an even faster pace than Mr. Hesser or I did.
Yes, the martial arts are transformational and life-changing for those who study; but for those who choose to teach and lead, the transformation is immeasurable. The personal opportunities are great, but the opportunities you can give to others are boundless.
There’s no other business I’d rather be in.
Yes, the martial arts are transformational and life-changing for those who study; but for those who choose to teach and lead, the transformation is immeasurable. The personal opportunities are great, but the opportunities you can give to others are boundless.
There’s no other business I’d rather be in.
No comments:
Post a Comment