The music was loud as were the laughs and conversation while we celebrated a black belt test promotion at a neighborhood lounge. Unbeknownst to us, it was karaoke night at the spot we chose to celebrate 20 year-old Sarah’s black belt test. The test had just ended after two hours of kicks, punches and grappling. Afterwards, about 30 of us—students, friends and Sarah’s family joined in a celebration across the street from The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense.
A large swath of the lounge was taken up by our group. Pizza, wings, soft-drinks and alcohol were all going down with gusto as were the laughs and conversation when Butch, a 58 year-old tough as nails newer student, tapped me on my shoulder and with a content smile on his face said, “You should be proud. Look at this big family we’ve got here.” I looked over our group that took up almost half of the place and said, “Yeah, Butch, it is a family isn’t it. Everyone gets along and trusts and relies on each other like a good family. It rocks. I AM proud.
A good business should have trust and commitment between employees and bosses. Or, that mindset can even go further and deeper. A business can be like a healthy family. Not only between employees and leadership but with its customers too. And that’s what I chose to foster when I took the reigns over at The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense after my father died about 4 years ago. And that’s what we have there. A family. The students have never been more proficient, business has grown every year and when students join up with us they become members of our family. And that means the family of other students as well as the instructors. Everyone pulls together and cares about each other. Really. The instructors follow that culture and for the longest time now, it has been second nature to them. And from the instructors, it flows into the students as well. They pick up the mantel of acceptance and commitment to each other. And when that happens, everything good, blossoms.
The biggest secret to this form of leadership and direction is caring about the individual. Every individual. And everyone does. I can literally count on one hand where someone did not like our style or culture and left. The vast majority find a family and a great self-defense school that they like. From CEO’s to doctors to garbage collectors—everyone’s respected and committed to in the same way. I mean it. CEO’s and laborers get along as well as two healthy family members would get along.
Throughout the years we’ve had some students who didn’t have much of a family or didn’t have many friends who found them with us. Sometimes I feel that we’re not only teaching quality self-defense but we’re also fostering how a group can stand together, commit to each other, enjoy the ride, and help each other succeed at the same time.
If you’re looking for great self-defense in the Northeastern Ohio area, come see us. And if you’re somewhere other than near us, or you’re looking to be a part of something with a healthy family-like commitment other than in the self-defense arena, look hard for it. You deserve being a part of something that lights a deep fire inside of you and gives you hope and help from all angles.
Steve's a three-time survivor of violence in his youth, a former police supervisor and a graduate of The Police Executive Leadership College (PELC) and was also an award winning part-time college Criminal Justice instructor.
For several years, Steve did written and radio political and current event commentary and was the former host of the long running 'The Kovacs Perspective' Internet radio and TV talk show.
Steve presently owns a small businesses in Ohio--The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense.
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