Address your problems before they grow….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","meta":{"article":"I\u2019m sure just about everyone reading this has heard the expression, \u201cA stitch in time saves nine\u201d.\u00a0 If you are like me, you probably didn\u2019t know what that meant for a long time after hearing it.\u00a0 Most often when people hear that parable, the first comment is:\u00a0 \u201cSaves nine WHAT?\u201d\u00a0 The quote is attributed to a book of proverbs written in the 1700\u2019s by Thomas Fuller.\u00a0 He was an English physician who documented all the wise adages and sayings he heard over his lifetime and assembled them into one book.\u00a0 The parable is referencing sewing, and means to say that if your garment is starting to tear, if you get a stitch in \u201cin time\u201d, before it tears any further, you will save yourself nine additional stitches to fix the issue.\u00a0 The saying is clearly meant to remind people that the sooner you address your problems, typically the easier they are to solve.\r\n\r\nThis week there were a few issues in our Senior Champs class that were brought to my attention.\u00a0 I appreciated the parents bringing these things to my attention so I could address them immediately.\u00a0 To address the situation, I had individual conversations with those involved, then addressed the entire class in general terms to reinforce the behaviors and values that we expect from our students and parents.\u00a0 The topic of conflict resolution is a constant topic in the martial arts gym owners\u2019 forums I am a part of, and anyone who has been in this business (and really ANY business) knows if issues are left to fester, the negative impact grows quickly.\u00a0 It is a good reminder for all our coaches to continue to remind students every month about the expectations we have for everyone in the gym.\r\n\r\nFor those that weren\u2019t there to hear my class message (and will share again in classes this week), I wanted to share the expectations I have when situations arise.\u00a0 There are basically 2 main points:\r\n