The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: My Adventures in Business Part 1

Starting a business is no easy feat. It's a journey filled with triumphs, setbacks, and unexpected surprises. Over the years, I've experienced my fair share of all three.

But there are two things that stand out to me as particularly challenging: dealing with jealousy from others and being challenged about what I do.

The martial arts and fitness industry can be a funny place at times. Often rife with jealousy and people wanting to challenge your ability as a martial artist.?

I’ve worked hard to build and establish myself in Cheltenham through Cheltenham Martial Arts & Fitness Kickboxing , Fitness Kickboxing Cheltenham Mindset Explosion & The Inner Power Podcast with Angg Woo , but the early days really brought the worst out in others.

I remember when I first set up in Cheltenham in 2007 (as head instructor for Karate World, with Stephen Thompson. I later bought out as my own in 2013, keeping Stephen as my instructor and our Academies united in how and what we teach).

We opened with zero members, there was no social media. I wasn’t about to attempt poaching from other academies, I was going to rely and trust on my own ability to attract and teach great classes…. Despite that idea…?Wow did I attract attention!!!

One day while promoting, I heard one of my staff at the time being shouted at.?

I looked over and he was surrounded, being bombarded with questions,?

‘Who F@%k are you?’

?‘whats F-ing your background?’?

Where the lighter questions, by the time I got to him it had escalated to:

’who’s your F@%king Sansei? ‘who’s your f@%king Sansei?’

’I want to spar with you right now’….?

Having worked in Stephen's other academy for two years prior, I put it down as a one of…. But nope!?

A few weeks later, the reception door burst open and in walk 5 big guys asking:?

‘where yours F@%king price list’

‘Who’s in F@%king charge?’

’I want to F@%king spar with you F@%king now’….?

If you ever visited the academy on Cheltenham High street you may remember it was a 5 mile walk to get from one end of the reception desk to the other….. I think by the time I got to them stuck out my hand and asked ‘how I could help’ they had probably got bored of the idea (the 3 flights of stairs?possibly didn’t help either ???

One group were a little more 'polite', asking again the same questions, whats my grade, how am able to teach, who taught me etc

I even had one Martial Arts group stood outside my door handing out leaflets to their club! I guess they wanted to intimidate me, as when I confronted them about it, they ended up arguing amongst themselves, they never did it again and actually they mostly said hello after that.

I could go on with so many other stories just like that...

It's no secret that success often breeds jealousy. When you're doing well, it's not uncommon for others to feel envious or resentful. As a business owner, I've certainly encountered my fair share of jealous people. Whether it's someone in my personal life who doesn't understand what I do, or a competitor who wants to bring me down, dealing with jealousy can be incredibly challenging.

At times, it's hard not to take it personally. It's frustrating when you've worked hard to build something and then someone tries to tear it down. But over time, I've learned that jealousy is usually a reflection of someone else's insecurities, not a commentary on my own success. So, I try to take it in stride and not let it get to me.

On the other hand, being challenged about what I do can be a good thing. It keeps me on my toes and helps me think critically about my business.

However, not all challenges are created equal. There are those who ask questions out of genuine curiosity and a desire to learn. And then there are those who are simply trying to find fault or tear me down. Usually as a misguided sense of ego where they feel tearing others down immediately elevates themselves

It's not always easy to tell the difference, but I've learned to trust my instincts. If someone is genuinely curious and open to learning, I'm happy to share my experiences and insights. But if someone is just looking to criticise or tear me down, its time to disengage and move on.?

At the end of the day, running a business is a journey full of ups and downs. Dealing with jealousy from others and being challenged about what I do are just two of the many challenges I've faced along the way. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. Despite the struggles, I love what I do and am grateful for the opportunities that being a business owner has afforded me.?

Can you relate to the challenges I've shared in this post?

Whether you've experienced jealousy from others or been challenged about what you do, know that you're not alone. My hope is that by sharing my experiences, I can help others feel less isolated and more empowered to overcome these challenges.

If you have any tips or insights for dealing with jealousy or being challenged, please share them in the comments below. And if you're interested in hearing more about my adventures in business, stay tuned for part 2 of this series, where I'll share more of my experiences and insights.

Finally, if you found this post helpful or insightful, please consider sharing it with others who may benefit from it. Together, we can build a supportive community of business owners who lift each other up and help each other succeed.

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