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I had a very interesting conversation last night, and now I've got some heavy thinking to do.
I'd received a text message from Mo, the fellow who runs the Center where we have our dojo space, saying that he wanted to "take a few minutes of my time in the next few days." I showed up a little early for last night's class, since he teaches the class before mine, so that we could talk during the class transition time.
I have to say, I did NOT expect the conversation that followed.
The Center was originally run by Mo's teacher, and he left and turned it over to Mo last September. Mo decided that he would take it on for a period of one year, after which he would decide whether to continue or to walk away.
He's decided to walk away, at the end of this month.
There are a couple of other instructors teaching there. Of those, Mo's opinion is that I'm the only one with the credentials and the only one who is organized enough to take over. Looking at it objectively, he's right.
In other words, I've just been offered a dojo. The down side is that if I don't take it, the Center will close in one month.
I'm going to talk to my students, and to the other instructors, and see what we can work out. See if we can make the numbers work, to be able to keep the doors open and the lights on.
Rhi pointed out that we are the newest group to come to the Center (we just started there June 1), and that there may be some hard feelings among the other instructors if I'm the one to take over. I don't think that's going to be a problem, but it's definitely a possibility that I need to watch out for.
Here are some things I know will have to be done. If you have any suggestions for others, please voice them!
Two things I'm NOT going to do:
I'm not sure yet if this can be done. I won't know that until after I've gathered the information, and talked to the other instructors.
I also have to figure out what is the right thing to do for my family, my students, and myself.
Lots of thoughts, and lots to think about...
I'd received a text message from Mo, the fellow who runs the Center where we have our dojo space, saying that he wanted to "take a few minutes of my time in the next few days." I showed up a little early for last night's class, since he teaches the class before mine, so that we could talk during the class transition time.
I have to say, I did NOT expect the conversation that followed.
The Center was originally run by Mo's teacher, and he left and turned it over to Mo last September. Mo decided that he would take it on for a period of one year, after which he would decide whether to continue or to walk away.
He's decided to walk away, at the end of this month.
There are a couple of other instructors teaching there. Of those, Mo's opinion is that I'm the only one with the credentials and the only one who is organized enough to take over. Looking at it objectively, he's right.
In other words, I've just been offered a dojo. The down side is that if I don't take it, the Center will close in one month.
I'm going to talk to my students, and to the other instructors, and see what we can work out. See if we can make the numbers work, to be able to keep the doors open and the lights on.
Rhi pointed out that we are the newest group to come to the Center (we just started there June 1), and that there may be some hard feelings among the other instructors if I'm the one to take over. I don't think that's going to be a problem, but it's definitely a possibility that I need to watch out for.
Here are some things I know will have to be done. If you have any suggestions for others, please voice them!
- Mo and I need to meet with the fellow who actually owns the place, that Mo is renting it from. I know what the current rent is, and Mo thinks that between the two of us we can talk him into a slightly better deal.
- See what the insurance costs will be.
- Pull the average utility costs for the last year.
- I think that will cover all of our expenses for the year. Once I know that figure, Mo and I need to meet with the other instructors to let them know about the change in management. I'll also need to talk to them about their portion of the financial arrangements, as well as discussing possible schedule changes (Mo leaving will mean that the time slots for his classes will be opening up).
- If I decide to go forward with this, I'll need to open up a separate bank account, to keep the funds separate from those of our household.
Two things I'm NOT going to do:
- I'm not going to finance the Center out of my own pocket. I saw my instructor sink WAY too much (in my opinion) of his personal funds into our school, and I don't think that's right.
- I'm not going to let the Center take over my life. I have a lot of irons in the fire already, and I'm not willing to sacrifice my personal life on the Center's altar.
I'm not sure yet if this can be done. I won't know that until after I've gathered the information, and talked to the other instructors.
I also have to figure out what is the right thing to do for my family, my students, and myself.
Lots of thoughts, and lots to think about...
