Dance Studio Owners: 6 Easy Steps to a Successful Season
So here we go again — the start of a new season brings excitement, challenges, stress and newness! If you are looking to make this your best year ever it is important to start the new season with the right mindset and to get your staff on the right track as well. Remember: your attitude determines your actions or in-actions. Your outlook will determine your life’s outcome more than any other single factor! Surround yourself with people who are with you. Eager to follow your lead and to be your biggest supporters
1. Fill your life and your business with “doers”.
In business and in life, there are two kinds of people; there are doers and the naysayers.
The doers are the ones who will lend support, tips, solutions, ideas and encouragement when
you need it most! The naysayers focus on what is wrong with an idea or plan, rather than what
is right with it, possess a doubting spirit, hate change, talk behind your back, cause dissension
— and will ultimately try to make your life a misery.
The key here is to look closely at the associations you have in your life, for that is the direction
you are heading. In other words, choose whom you associate with very carefully and avoid the
naysayers at all cost! Fill your life and your business with doers. Build your circle with doers,
and you will move forward. If you have people around you who are always trying to pull you
down, you will not reach your full potential. Get these people out of your life and business, and
watch how you FLY!
2. Attitude determines action.
You are not what you think you are. What you think, you are!
3. Your Environment is you!
Tell me your vision, and I will tell you your future. If you want to change your business or your
life, change your vision. Build a picture in your mind of what your ideal business or life would
look like and be like and you will bring it to life. Seems too simple or unbelievable? Think again!
Keep this new picture in your mind 24/7, and expect that blips will come along the way. This
should not – and must not – deter you. Life isn’t always easy or fair, but so what — you are the
master of your mind!
4. Make time for you and your growth.
– Spend time with great people.
– Learn new and fresh ideas through tapes, CDs, and videos.
– Visit places that will inspire you.
– Attend events, seminars, and conferences that will prompt you to learn, grow, and
pursue change.
– Read great books.
– Look at ways to help people be at their best, but expect nothing in return.
– Expect change, embrace change, be a game changer.
– Whatever you did today, try to do it better tomorrow.
Live by these success principles, and you will succeed. Your success has everything to do with
YOU; it is not the economy, your customers, the area you live in, the landlord, your banker, or
any staff or faculty member you have. Keep this in mind when things get a bit tough. The key to
your success is your passion, vision, desire, plan, and your action! That is all you need. If you
believe in this one statement you will have a tremendous advantage over any competitor and
your business will be a masterpiece crafted by you!
5. Forward thinking will take you where you want to go!
Always be looking to see how you can expand, grow, and better serve your customers. That’s
where you need to constantly be working from. I like to take time every couple of months to see
how we can be different or where we need to go to get in the fast lane of looking forward. You
can look back to see where you have been and be aware how you have learned from every
incident. But looking forward will take you where you want to go. Keep in mind that business life
is a bit like driving your car. You have a big front windshield and a small rearview mirror. What is
behind you is not nearly as important as what is in front of you.
6. “M.I.W.” Baby!
It’s all about Making It Work! This philosophy has helped us in business. It has helped our
dancers whom we train and our teachers who live by this simple phrase. Let’s face it, if you can
make it work under any circumstance, then you will find a way to resolve any issue, problem, or
crisis. The make-it-work way will always move you forward and create a sense that you can fix
anything. Hey, this is show business. When the curtain goes up, the audience could care less
about who doesn’t feel good, what technical issues occur, or who is understudying for whom.
They want to be entertained! They want their money’s worth. Dance routines are rarely perfect,
neither is business or life. Just make it work, and you will find solutions that you had not even
thought about!
Keep in mind: no road is straight all the way through… There are twist and turns, stops and starts, delays, accidents and construction. Business life is very similar. Expect this to occur along the way. As the Tolstoy quote in this chapter reads, it is really how you look at anything. Each hurdle you clear and each step you take to move forward will increase your energy, your empowerment, and your focus. Don’t stop, don’t ever stop! Your breakthrough may be just around the corner. Keep on the lookout for opportunities, and they will find you.
This Article includes excerpts from new book It’s Your Turn, The Success Blueprint for the Dance Studio Owner
