#TeamFuryBlog
PREPARING FOR BUSINESS LIKE PREPARING TO FIGHT!
By Ross O’Donnell
As an MMA coach and trainer, I have had the opportunity and privilege of working with many UFC athletes. One such athlete is Myles “Fury” Jury, who will fight on UFC on FOX 16, July 25th, 2015. Myles and I spend as much time discussing business practices as we do MMA.
I have known Myles for about 3 years now. I first met him when he was invited to my club in Canada to teach an MMA seminar. I have had several MMA up and comers teach at my club but Myles was different. Many athletes can do but can’t teach. Myles is an exceptional athlete and an even better teacher. He has the ability to communicate to the youth in the room that life as a pro fighter isn’t all glamour and sure as heck wasn’t handed to him on a silver platter. I had Myles as a guest on my TV show and he openly talked about difficulties and overcoming obstacles, including injuries and being broke but the message received was life is what you make of it and it is yours to make… and so is business!
Many years ago, I set out on a mission to standardize fitness training for MMA. I currently offer the most recognized certification education across Canada, providing education for nearly 4,000 personal trainers. We’re also an approved education provider to Goodlife Fitness, with over 350 clubs servicing over one million members nationally.
Your business will rise or fail with your work ethic and preparedness
- Business plan or fight plan
Months before a fight, Myles will go over a fight plan with his coaches. The plan includes assessing the competition, examining weaknesses and strengths and developing a strategic plan to peak at the right time to maximize the odds for success. This is no different than starting a business. You often hear of so called “overnight success” stories, however, when you hear the background of most successful people it sure as heck wasn’t overnight. It took great planning and sacrifice.
Business, finances and life in general are a lot like a calculated card game, the key is knowing when to hold them and when to fold them. This is not done by luck or guessing, it is through educating yourself to make well founded and researched decisions. Much like Myles in the cage, he doesn’t go in throwing everything he has at his opponent, he has a game plan and so should you. Failing to plan is planning to fail!
- You have to spend money to make money
I often teach seminars on “How to Start a Business” and I always start by asking the question: “How many people here want to make a little money and spend very little money”? Invariably most of the hands go up. That’s when I say “You might as well leave, because you already reached your goal…if you only spend a little money you will only make a little money” You reap what you invest, you have to spend money to make money!
Can you imagine a fighter thinking I just want to train twice a week at the cheapest gym possible but I still want to be a UFC champ… free training isn’t good and good training isn’t free!
- Just before the fight starts the referee will ask “Are you ready”
Long before the referee asks this you need to ask this of yourself. Many people make the mistake of thinking they will start a business and they are not ready. They expect to put in a solid 8 hours a day…surprise, when you start a business most often you are 24-7-365. Just like a fighter where his career is his life so must your business. Whether you goal is to be successful fighter like Myles or an entrepreneur you must first know that the only place that “Success” comes before “Work” is in a dictionary.
- Defend your belt
Once a UFC star wins the belt he becomes the target for every other fighter in his division. This is no different in business. Success brings more competition and just like a champ defending his belt, the road gets tougher as you now face the top people in your field trying to take your spot. Keeping your belt (position in the business industry) becomes tougher than ever. You must be able to continue working hard, not resting on your success and always striving to improve.
- Business longevity = Hall of fame
It is the aspiration of most fighters to make it to the hall of fame, the pinnacle of success and respect from your industry peers. Most fighters last only a few years or few fights and realize that another career might be a good call. The same is true in business. To make it to the hall of fame you must be resilient, always evolving and learn from your mistakes. You don’t have to win every fight as some of our best lessons come from losses, but you must learn from it. Statistics shows that in the business world 1/3 fail in first year, ½ fail in 2 years, 2/3 gone in first 5 years and after 5 years you have beaten the odds and established a solid well run business. Start your business with the goal of going all the way to the hall of fame. Good Luck!
-Ross O’Donnell
President & CEO of Fitness Kickboxing Canada Inc.
“Preferred MMA Certification Providers for canfitpro”
“Approved Certification provider for GoodLife Fitness Clubs of Canada”
Ross O’Donnell and Fitness Kickboxing Candada can be found at FitnessKickboxingCanada.ca or by following on social media at:
Ross on Facebook: facebook.com/Ross.Odonnell2
FKCI Facebook: facebook.com/FitnessKickboxingCanada
FKCI Twitter: @FKCI
FitnessKickBoxingCanada.ca
Tune in next week at TheTeamFury.com as Myles Jury along with his most inspiring and educated friends and business partners, release a new “Team Fury Blog” every Monday focused on self improvement through experience and education.
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You can learn more Myles Jury at TheTeamFury.com and his Jury Jiu Jitsu system at JuryJJ.com.
Follow Myles Jury on social media at:
Facebook: facebook.com/TheTeamFury
Twitter: @FuryJury
Instagram: @FuryJury