Andy Elliott's Elite Mindset Motivation and Sales Training

Episode: How A Black Belt Became a Multi-Millionaire Business Owner

Release Date: February 24, 2025
Host: Andy Elliott
Guest Speakers:

• Aaron Hensley (B): Seventh-degree black belt under Chuck Norris, founder of Rise USA
• Cameron Smith (C): Multi-time School Teacher of the Year, Manager of the Year

Introduction

In the episode titled "How A Black Belt Became a Multi-Millionaire Business Owner," host Andy Elliott delves into the inspiring journey of Aaron Hensley and Cameron Smith, two martial arts experts who have successfully transformed their passion into thriving businesses. The episode not only highlights their personal stories but also serves as a promotional platform for an upcoming event aimed at empowering martial arts enthusiasts to scale their businesses effectively.

Guest Backgrounds and Early Beginnings

Aaron Hensley (B) shares his deep-rooted connection to martial arts, tracing back to his childhood. As a seventh-degree black belt under Chuck Norris, Aaron’s commitment to martial arts began at an early age, influenced by his father’s dedication.

• Quote: “[Aaron] I've been in Black Bolt now for 31 years. So yeah, you can, you can do this.” [02:12]

Aaron discusses the challenges he faced growing up, being a misfit who used martial arts to build confidence and become a “superhero” in his community. His relentless work ethic, training four to five hours daily, exemplifies his dedication long before Malcolm Gladwell's famous 10,000-hour rule gained popularity.

Cameron Smith (C) complements Aaron’s journey, having started martial arts at the age of nine. Cameron’s initial foray into martial arts was influenced by the "Karate Kid" movie, which ignited his passion and helped him build his identity as a martial artist despite being a band enthusiast and a music nerd.

• Quote: “I became irreplaceable. Be irreplaceable.” [14:20]

Cameron emphasizes the importance of becoming an indispensable team member, learning every facet of the business from sales to marketing, and treating the business as his own from a young age.

Building and Scaling the Martial Arts Business

Aaron narrates his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the rapid growth of his martial arts schools. From assisting his father with one school, Aaron expanded to 24 locations across six states, achieving impressive revenues.

• Quote: “I built a really big business really fast. We’ve been able to do what most people couldn’t do in 30 lifetimes, and we’ve done it in about three years.” [00:15]

However, Aaron also candidly discusses the challenges of scaling without proper business management skills, leading to the sale of multiple schools to refocus on intentional growth. This pivotal decision underscores the importance of strategic planning and effective management in sustaining business growth.

Cameron adds that the success of their business intertwines with their personal growth and relationships, emphasizing the synergy between personal development and business excellence.

• Quote: “I never imagined I can have the life that I have today. I'm so glad I went to that first training, that seminar, that event.” [16:20]

Insights on Martial Arts Businesses

The discussion delves into common pitfalls faced by martial arts school owners:

1. Misaligned Business Practices:

   • Many owners add non-essential services like aftercare or daycare, diluting their core mission of teaching martial arts and turning their schools into mere babysitting facilities.
   • Quote: “They make money great. But they’re telling people you do martial arts. And it’s not the program I put my kids in because it’s not real.” [12:14]

2. Lack of Sustainable Revenue Models:

   • Aaron emphasizes the necessity of having a robust revenue model focused on teaching martial arts rather than relying on gimmicks to generate income.

3. Continuous Improvement:

   • The importance of regularly evaluating and enhancing the product or service to meet market demands and ensure customer satisfaction.
   • Quote: “Some people think they have a good product but they haven’t evaluated it in a year.” [11:34]

4. Team Building and Leadership:

   • Building an irreplaceable team that shares the vision and can execute the business strategy effectively is crucial for long-term success.

Event Promotion: The Lion's Den

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to promoting an upcoming event at The Lion's Den in Scottsdale, Arizona, scheduled for February. This two-day event aims to provide comprehensive training on scaling martial arts businesses, led by Aaron and Cameron.

• Key Highlights of the Event:

  • Business Growth Strategies: Detailed methodologies on scaling martial arts schools effectively within a year.
  • Sales and Marketing Domination: Techniques to dominate social media, build a strong brand, and generate leads organically.
  • Team Training: Emphasis on training the entire team to ensure cohesive implementation of strategies.
  • Interactive Sessions: Role-plays and practical exercises to reinforce learning.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “You'll leave away with a million dollars in ideas.” [02:15]
  • “This event is about teaching you how to do it better and faster this time.” [06:43]
  • “Everyone can do this, and the biggest thing is everyone can do this.” [08:24]

Andy Elliott passionately encourages listeners to attend, highlighting the transformational potential of the event.

• Quote: “If you're looking to transform, to change, to learn about business… It is going to be amazing.” [16:44]

Team Expansion and Organizational Growth

Aaron discusses the strategic decision to involve his entire team in the event, underscoring the belief that a united team can exponentially enhance business growth.

• Quote: “An individual can be beat, but a team can’t be beaten.” [20:16]

He shares a success story where he brought 140 team members to a training session, resulting in immediate and impactful implementation of the learned strategies without the need for lengthy re-training.

• Quote: “Everybody was on the same page. It was like as we entered the Lion’s Den and came back home… They destroyed it.” [21:07]

This approach highlights the importance of collective training and shared vision in scaling businesses efficiently.

Key Lessons and Takeaways

1. Intentional Growth: Focus on strategic, intentional growth rather than rapid, uncontrolled expansion.
2. Team Unity: Train the entire team to ensure cohesive and effective execution of business strategies.
3. Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate and enhance your offerings to stay ahead in the market.
4. Core Values: Maintain core values and ensure that all business practices align with these foundational principles.
5. Effective Leadership: Lead by example, pushing your team to be irreplaceable and fostering a culture of excellence.

• Quote: “Be irreplaceable. Be so good at what I do that nobody can take my spot and I can be the number one guy.” [14:20]

Conclusion

In "How A Black Belt Became a Multi-Millionaire Business Owner," Andy Elliott effectively showcases the transformative journeys of Aaron Hensley and Cameron Smith. Their experiences provide invaluable insights into building and scaling a martial arts business, emphasizing the importance of intentional growth, team unity, and continuous improvement. The episode serves as both an inspirational narrative and a compelling invitation to their upcoming event, promising attendees the knowledge and strategies to achieve unprecedented business success.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “I've built a really big business really fast. We’ve been able to do what most people couldn't do in 30 lifetimes, and we've done it in about three years.” — Andy Elliott [00:15]
• “I became irreplaceable. Be irreplaceable.” — Cameron Smith [14:20]
• “Some people think they have a good product but they haven’t evaluated it in a year.” — Aaron Hensley [11:34]
• “You'll leave away with a million dollars in ideas.” — Andy Elliott [02:15]
• “An individual can be beat, but a team can’t be beaten.” — Andy Elliott [20:16]
• “Be irreplaceable. Be so good at what I do that nobody can take my spot and I can be the number one guy.” — Cameron Smith [14:20]

Final Thoughts

For martial arts instructors, business owners, or anyone passionate about turning their expertise into a lucrative and impactful business, this episode offers both inspiration and practical strategies. Aaron and Cameron’s stories illustrate that with the right mindset, strategic planning, and a committed team, achieving multi-million dollar success is entirely attainable.

Join the Event: Don't miss the opportunity to transform your business and life. Visit the description box below the podcast to secure your ticket for the Lion's Den event in Scottsdale, Arizona. Whether you're a seasoned martial artist or aspiring to enter the field, this event promises to equip you with the tools and knowledge to scale your business to new heights.

Note: This summary is based on the transcript provided and adheres to the user's instructions for a detailed, structured, and engaging overview of the podcast episode.