We recently connected with Cameron Cullers and have shared our conversation below.
Cameron, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Being a business Owner is one of the most challenging and rewarding decisions I have ever made, but I love it. Outside of the peace of mind you find in being able to make your own decisions, it challenges you to really evaluate whether you are doing what you are doing as a hobby, or a true passion. My college football coaches used to say, “Alright, it is time to see who wants it more!” The martial arts industry is a phenomenal industry that serves the community especially here in Georgia. There are many great martial art schools! Empower Mentorship and Martial Arts is the greatest competition that I have faced as an Instructor. I have worked for multiple other jobs including other martial arts companies. It is nothing like being able to pour into something that is going to be a return on your investment and pour back into you. Being able to touch lives and see the growth through mentorship and martial arts is instant gratification. I thoroughly enjoy talking to parents directly after class about different life progressions and set backs that I can help or have helped their child overcome.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I have been in the martial arts since I was 5 years old. Training first in Tang Soo Do and then persuing the study of other styles. After spending many years of training I sought more ways in how I could use martial arts as a tool to mentor others and not just a way to teach people how to defend themselves. My father and mother exposed me to martial arts as a way to protect myself and help build confidence in myself through life. With my school I aim to do the same thing for my students by showing them not just how to defend themselves physically but also mentally and emotionally. Emphasizing real practical techniques and applications, our students leave class with a sense of true confidence in knowing how to live and survive.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The lessons that I have had to unlearn over the years have been some of the most defining and character building lessons ever. Lessons such as, everyone who calls you friend or brother, or tells you they love you, don’t always mean it. I have had to come to the harsh reality that when investing and pouring into individuals who posed as friends, even from a business standpoint, you will not always get the energy you invested into them returned back to you. Those individuals never encouraged or supported or wanted my victory, they really sought my demise. Unlearning or re-learning those lessons taught me that I am more powerful than I ever could imagine. What is for me, is for me, and I know that no one could ever take that from me. Everyday I look to get better and crush my goals…with one Bicep!.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2020 when covid hit, a lot of businesses got hit. I converted from in person classes to virtual and had to learn the dynamics and the territory of teaching online. I lost a lot of students due to the lack of in person interaction. Even when things started to open up again it was still a drag and hard to get people to come into the Dojo due to the new protocols. The majority of the world still felt uncomfortable and hesitant due to safety measures. Classes were slow and people were realizing that learning martial arts from the comforts of their home was not the most conducive method of learning. Even when things got back into the full swing and covid protocols were lifted I had to develop a new approach and method to reintroduce martial arts into my community. Instead of building from the Dojo, I took a new approach and started to implement my program into schools. That really increased productivity and retention for the school.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.empowermmawarriors.com
- Instagram: @empowermma