Member Questions from Surveys.  Response by Stephen Oliver.

Mirko Buchwald
Zanshin Centers
382 21st Avenue
San Francisco, CA  94121

& 240 Stanyan Street
San Francisco, CA  94117

250-300 Students.  Basic Member

Sensei Mirko Buchwald, 4th Degree Black Belt and chief instructor of the San Francisco Goju Ryu Karate Center, has been studying Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate for nearly 20 years. Originally from England, Sensei Buchwald came to the United States in 1989 with a team from the U.K. to compete in the international “Miyagi Chojun Festival” karate tournament.( He placed first in mens advanced fighting) He decided to stay on after the tournament and take the unique opportunity to train with one of the greatest living karate masters, Goju Ryu world chief instructor Sensei Morio Higaonna.

  In 1997 Sensei Buchwald moved to San Francisco. Soon after he discerned a need for a traditional dojo that gave students a solid foundation in the martial arts. He has aided Goju Ryu’s World Chief Instructor in teaching and demonstrations all over the world - the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival, the Rengokai world Karate championships in Georgia & Okinawa, and most recently the Budokan in Tokyo and Okinawa Japan. Sensei was also selected U.S. team captain for the world I.O.G.K.F karate championships in Orlando, 2001. Most recently he returned to competition when he entered the prestigious Kanazawa Cup Tournament in 2006 he placed first in mens black belt fighting and was also the mens overall black belt grand champion.

How do I stay motivated day in and day out?

Mirko,

That’s a great question.

What most high performers find is that key ingredients for their own motivation include the following:

First,  a “Master-Mind” team of other “Peak Performers” who meet together regularly.  This is a key element of  Napolean Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” and a missing ingredient for many school owners.  Within your staff and students it’s difficult to get they type of ideas and support that you need to maintain growth momentum.  It’s vital to really sit down regularly with school owners who are peer as well as those who are performing better than you are and share ideas and strategies as well as frustrations and concerns.  That will help you really move to the next level and will give you a peer group that will “hold your feet to the flames.”   Now, my perspective is that EVERONE ends up in a “Master-Mind” situation really, it’s really a matter of having regular “peer-pressure.”  However, most school owners end up talking with and sharing ideas with school owners who are failing.  They hang out with other Black Belts at tournaments, in their martial arts association, or at style oriented training classes.  They regularly hear about how difficult things are and learn techniques and strategies guaranteed to “anchor” failure.   We’ve implemented the “Inner Circle” and “Peak Performers” teams to provide a positive and success oriented “Master-Mind” environment as well as positive “Peer Pressure.”

Second, “Success Stories” by others who have overcome struggles and frustrations to achieve at a high level.   It’s important to hear how others in your industry (and, in similar industries) have achieved success and to lean what they are doing to really move forward.   We’ve implemented the “Maximum Impact” program “Success Story Interviews” for just that purpose.  Those interviews are not typically the “Celebrity Martial Artists or Business Gurus” but, rather are school owners just like you who have moved their school to the “next level” through perseverance and creativity in application of NAPMA principles.  Many of these “Success Stories” are Inner Circle Members, Stephen Oliver Coaching Members, or Mile High Karate peak performers.

Third, On-Going “Success Coaching.”  Many times this is one on one with an effective mentor.  Other times this is through telecoaching and written support.   We’ve added Lee Milteer’s Millionaire Smarts Program (for Peak Performers & Inner Circle Members)  and our “Maximum Impact” teleconferences with me and various guests as special opportunities to refocus on your results and in the case of the “Maximum Impact Teleconferences” to have specific questions answered on a monthly basis.   Lee Milteer’s “Millionaire Smarts” program includes motivational weekly lessons and monthly telecoaching designed to help school owners improve their wealth consciousness and to learn tools and strategies for becoming better at developing people, managing staff, and attracting wealth.

Mirko, at the level that you are performing you should apply for membership in Inner Circle.  If that team is filled then you’ll be accepted into Peak Performers and put on the waiting list for Inner Circle.  Inner Circle qualification is a minimum of $300,000 in annual revenue.  Peak Performers must be full-time school owners grossing $100,000+ per year and aspiring to $300,000+ per year.