Ever heard of the Law of the Lid?
Itโs a simple but powerful concept from leadership expert John Maxwell.
The idea? Your team will never grow past your own level of leadership.
If youโre a level 7 leader, your team will cap out at a 7. If you raise your leadership to a 9, suddenly, your team has room to grow too.
So what does this have to do with running a martial arts school?
Well, last week something crazy happenedโฆ and you mightโve seen it on the news.
How One DM Turned Into 47 Leads
My instructor, Mr. Stephan was hanging out at the karate school when suddenly he heard a woman screaming.
Her purse had just been snatched.
Without hesitation, he bolted out the door, chased the guy down, kicked his legs out, and recovered the purse. Then? He calmly walked back inside and resumed teaching class.
The woman somehow tracked me down on social media, and sent me a DM to tell me what our heroic instructor had done.
This was a nice, feel good story, and a win for the martial arts world overall. But the story didnโt end with that one DM.
That one DM turned into something much, much bigger.
The Leadership Lesson That Made It Happen
Most people wouldโve stopped at, "Wow, thatโs a great story."
But because Iโve spent the last year leveling up my video editing and marketing skills, I knew this story could be a huge opportunity for Stephan and our school.
So I leveraged that one call into:
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3 news stories (The Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS, and FOX)
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108,000+ story views
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47 adult student leads in 72 hours
But I didnโt put my face behind the story, I put Stephanโs (deservedly so).
Now, heโs a local celebrity. People in the neighborhood recognize him, the school is swamped with calls, and heโs getting the leadership opportunities he deserves.
Why This Matters for YOU and Your Team
If I hadnโt raised my own lid in video editing and marketing, this wouldโve been just another cool storyโnot a life-changing moment for my instructor and my business.
Your leadership isnโt about what you tell your team to doโitโs about what you show them is possible.
And hereโs the full-circle momentโฆ
Two years ago, Stephan wasnโt even in the U.S.
I spent $12,000, over 100 hours of personal time, and submitted a 500-page visa application, all for the CHANCE that he could come here.
After two brutal rejections, we finally got approved on our third and final attempt.
It took 18 months (not the 3 months we expected), and there were plenty of moments where I thought I had wasted my time and money.
Now? In less than 6 months of being here, his face is all over the news.
And this one story has now led to a partnership with the 1,700 employees of the Philadelphia Health Departmentโall because we took action when an opportunity presented itself.
Raise Your Leadership Lid, Raise Your Team
If your instructors arenโt growing, itโs because YOU arenโt growing.
If you feel like your team isnโt stepping up, ask yourself: Have you shown them whatโs possible?
Your team will only rise as high as the example you set.
So whatโs your next leadership move?
As always, 3 min read, no fluff, all strategy.
Your Hype Man,
Matthew Brenner
P.S. Want a contractually guaranteed way to add 30 new students in 60 daysโwithout spending a dime on ads? I am the only coach that offers this. Schedule a 10-minute Discovery Call with me HERE
P.P.S. Donโt keep the free Black Belt Business Newsletter a secret! Share it with your martial arts friends by sending them THIS!
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