How To Grow Your Team Like Bitcoin

Unless you live under a wavemaster, you have probably seen that bitcoin is at almost $100,000 EACH!

Too bad I sold mine at $66,000 😭

Anyway...

What can Bitcoin teach you about building your martial arts team? A lot more than you’d think.

Let me explain.

Bitcoin isn’t backed by gold. It doesn’t have a physical form. It’s literally just numbers in cyberspace. And yet… it’s worth tens of thousands of dollars per coin.

Why?

Because people believe in its value. They see it as something worth holding, investing in, and talking about. The community built around Bitcoin is one of its greatest strengths. Without belief, Bitcoin is just code.

Now, let’s bring it back to your martial arts school.

The perception of value and the strength of your community are what make your school—and your team—thrive. If your instructors and staff don’t believe in your mission, or if your school doesn’t feel like a united community, you’ll constantly struggle with retention and growth.

Here’s how you can use the “Bitcoin Blueprint” to grow a strong team and culture at your school so you have instructors that stay for a long time:

1. Create a Shared Vision (The Value)

Bitcoin has a clear story: decentralized, independent, and innovative. What’s your school’s story?

Share your mission and vision with your team. Is it about empowering students, fostering community, or changing lives? Be specific and repeat it often.
Host quarterly meetings where you reinforce your school's "why" and connect it to your team’s individual roles. Help them see they’re part of something bigger than themselves.

2. Build a Sense of Community

Bitcoin thrives because of its passionate community. People who hold Bitcoin talk about it, share ideas, and even evangelize it.

Team Events: Organize regular events outside of classes, like team dinners, outings, or training workshops.
Recognition: Highlight your team’s accomplishments publicly. Did an instructor run a great class? Crush it at an event? Make sure everyone knows!
Involvement: Involve your team in decisions where possible. Let them feel like co-creators, not just employees.

3. Invest in Their Growth

People invest in Bitcoin because they expect growth. Your team is no different.

Provide opportunities for them to develop new skills, like attending teaching seminars or learning about leadership.
Offer clear paths for career advancement. Show them how they can grow from assistant instructors to head instructors, or even school managers.
Conduct regular performance reviews with constructive feedback (remember last Friday’s newsletter on Microsoft’s approach to reviews?).

4. Make Their Value Visible

Just like Bitcoin’s worth is measured in dollars, your team members need to see the tangible value they bring.

Share success stories from your students that connect back to the impact your team has made. (“Johnny earned his black belt and gained confidence thanks to YOUR instruction!”)
Let parents and students share gratitude with your team. Whether through thank-you notes or shoutouts during events, this reinforces their sense of purpose.

5. Create Long-Term Belief

People hold onto Bitcoin because they believe in its future potential. Your team needs to see a future with your school.

Show them how they’re not just building a career, but a lifestyle. Martial arts is more than a job—it’s a calling.
Reward loyalty. Celebrate team members who hit milestones (1 year, 5 years, 10 years) with special gifts or recognition.

Actionable Strategy: Host a “Team Investment Meeting” this month. At this meeting:

Share your school’s vision for 2025.
Recognize 1-2 team members for specific contributions.
Ask each team member about one personal and professional goal they want to achieve next year.
Brainstorm how you can support each other as a team to make those goals a reality.

Building a team that stays with you long-term takes work, but just like Bitcoin, the payoff comes when people see the value, invest in the mission, and grow with the community.

PS: If you found this helpful, share the newsletter with a martial arts school owner you know! They can subscribe here. Let’s grow the martial arts industry together!