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🚀 Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever

The Fastest Path to Growth Isn’t More Work — It’s Better Guidance

Author

Adam Kifer
November 11, 2025

Hello, kickers!

🚀 The Kick is Here: Collapse Time, Skip the Guesswork, and Build with Confidence

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your calendar thinking, “There’s no way I can keep this up
” — you’re not alone.
Most school owners are moving so fast they don’t realize they’re carrying more than they need to. They’ve got the ambition. The drive. Even the vision. But they’re trying to figure everything out solo.

This week’s Kick is a reminder that there’s a better way — one that doesn’t involve guessing, grinding, or Googling your next move at midnight.

The main article, “Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever,” breaks down how high performers grow faster with guidance, not just hustle. You’ll learn how to filter out noise, choose the right mentor for your values and goals, and how the right voice in your corner can compress years of learning into weeks of action.

We’ve also got your What’s Kickin’ on Social round-up, a fresh What We’re Reading pick that’ll sharpen your leadership, and a special shoutout to the mentors behind the scenes helping school owners move further, faster — with more clarity and confidence.

What an unforgettable weekend in Scottsdale! From an inspiring VIP Day at Hive Fit Club — filled with movement, mindset, and powerful breakthroughs — to two full days of strategy, collaboration, and growth at the Scottsdale Marriott, this event was pure IMPAKT energy from start to finish. Attendees walked away with fresh ideas, deeper clarity, and real connections that will fuel their next level of success. And of course, we capped it all off with a fun and laughter-filled Friday night in Old Town Scottsdale, where the IMPAKT community came together to celebrate wins, share stories, and make memories that will last long after the weekend.

If you’re not yet part of the IMPAKT Mastermind, now’s the time.
Join a community of martial arts school owners who are growing faster, leading stronger, and living with more purpose than ever before.

👉 Learn more and apply at impaktmastermind.com

🚀 Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever

There are two ways to build your business:

  1. Trial and error

  2. Mentorship and momentum

I chose #2 — and I’d choose it again every time.

A great mentor helps you shortcut success.
They help you skip years of trial-and-error by handing you the frameworks, mindsets, and battle-tested strategies that actually work — because they’ve done it themselves.

When I wanted to build my first million-dollar company, I didn’t guess. I sought out someone who’d already built several.

Now that I’ve built multiple million-dollar companies?
I work with mentors who’ve done 10x that.
Because if you want to grow, you have to stretch your circle.

🧭 How to Choose the Right Mentor (What Actually Matters)

Not all mentors are created equal.
A popular name, flashy reels, or a big stage presence doesn’t always mean they’re the one for you.

Here’s what I look for before trusting someone with my next level:

1. Do They Live a Life You Actually Want?

This goes way beyond business.
Do they have integrity? Are they living out values you admire — not just preaching them?

And are they still active in the game?
You don’t want advice from someone who peaked in 2001.
You want someone who’s winning right now and still pushing the edge of what’s possible.

2. Are They Still Innovating?

Stale mentors create stale students.

If your mentor is just recycling old wins and charging you for it, you’ll plateau faster than you started.

But if they’re still investing in themselves, evolving their playbook, and stretching their own leadership — that means the ceiling for your growth keeps rising, too.

3. Do They Have Real Systems and Frameworks?

This one’s a deal-breaker for me.

I want mentors who operate — not just motivate.
Who hand me frameworks they’ve used in their own businesses.
Who don’t just teach theory — they build, test, refine, and document what works.

That’s what creates scale.
That’s what turns knowledge into execution.

4. Are They Actually Accessible?

I’ve been in rooms where the “mentor” never returned a message, never answered a question, and only showed up on stage for photo ops.

Not my style.

If you’re joining a mastermind or coaching group, you should have access to the person you’re learning from.
Mentorship isn’t about hype. It’s about relationship.

If they’re not in the trenches with you, don’t expect them to help pull you out of one.

đŸ”„ Final Word: Get in Rooms That Expand You

If you’re the smartest person in the room — it’s time to change rooms.

Find a mentor whose current ceiling stretches your vision.
Who doesn’t just inspire you — they equip you.
Who isn’t just successful — but aligned.

Because when you surround yourself with real leaders

You stop playing small.

And when you stop playing small

Everything changes.

 đŸ˜© You struggle training your team.

 đŸ˜© You feel frustrated.

 đŸ˜© You feel annoyed.

 đŸ˜© You feel stuck.

Here’s the thing - it’s not because you’re bad at leading.

It’s because no one ever taught you how to train leadership.

Most owners are incredible at their craft


but when it comes to developing people, they’re guessing.

And when you’re guessing, everything feels harder than it should.

Let me help you fix that.

The Impakt Level 1 Management Certification gives you the exact frameworks, scripts, and accountability systems to build managers who actually take ownership.

So you can step back, breathe, and finally trust your team again.

Early-bird pricing ends Nov 15.

Send Kelly Murray a message HERE to enroll!

đŸ”„ What’s Kickin’ on Social

The Kick’s pick of the hottest headlines in social this week:Every week, we scroll so you don’t have to — here’s what leaders in our space (and beyond) are saying that’s worth your time and attention:

Dave Kovar
"Keep your vision strong, your purpose clear and your intent positive."
The power to influence others doesn’t come from noise — it comes from conviction. This one’s a masterclass in leadership presence.
👉 Check it out

Dan Martell
A quick reminder from one of the best: true leadership isn’t control — it’s service.
👉 Check it out

Matthew Brenner
“I want to take a break
”
How you handle these moments defines your culture. Matthew breaks down how to lead through it when students want to quit.
👉 Check it out

Hung Tran
Fresh off IMPAKT Mastermind Live in Scottsdale — Hung shares how alignment, vision, and impact collided at the highest level.
👉 Check it out

Kelly Murray
"Invest in your team like you invest in your growth."
Strong cultures are built, not found — and it starts with how you develop your people.
👉 Check it out

👊 Whether it’s influence, clarity, retention, or impact — this week’s insights were a reminder: leadership leaves a mark. Make yours count.

😂 Martial Memes

These memes hit home for all of us martial artists and gave us a good chuckle. Click on the image to view the original account that posted each meme. Enjoy!

Have a MEME that you want featured? Send them to us at [email protected] or tag our instagram account @thekicknewsletter.

📚 What We’re Reading: Winning The War In Your Mind by Craig Groeschel

“Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life”
by Craig Groeschel
👉 Grab it on Amazon

Every leader knows the battlefield isn’t always external — it’s mental.

In Winning the War in Your Mind, Craig Groeschel breaks down the internal battles we all face: overthinking, comparison, fear, self-doubt, and those thought patterns that quietly sabotage our potential. Drawing from both neuroscience and practical leadership lessons, Groeschel shows how to recognize toxic thoughts and replace them with truths that actually serve your purpose.

This isn’t about blind positivity — it’s about mental strategy. It’s about identifying where your mind is working against you and taking back control of your focus, emotions, and decisions.

💡 Why It Matters for School Owners:

  • You can’t lead your team if you can’t lead your thoughts.

  • Your mindset sets the tone for your students, staff, and culture.

  • What happens between your ears eventually shows up in your business.

When you change the way you think, you change the way you lead.
And when you change the way you lead, everything around you starts to shift.

If you’re serious about growing as a leader — not just in skill, but in strength of mind — this is your next read.

📈 Relentless Results: Success Stories from Breakthrough Advertising

👉 Want to build campaigns that perform like this?
Book your BA Discovery Call here.
Let’s create your next win.

📬 Have Something That Is Kick Worthy?

We know our readers have great ideas, insights, and stories to share! If you’ve got something that’s "kick-worthy"—whether it’s a success story, a marketing tip, or something that’s helping your school thrive—submit it to us at [email protected]. Your content could be featured in an upcoming edition of The Kick and shared with martial arts school owners around the world!

đŸ”„ That’s a Wrap for This Week!

If there’s one takeaway from this week’s issue, it’s this:

You weren’t meant to do this alone.

The best school owners aren’t just building from scratch — they’re borrowing wisdom, frameworks, and perspective from people who’ve already walked the path.

Because when you surround yourself with the right mentors — the ones who’ve built, broken, rebuilt, and refined what you’re trying to create — your thinking changes. Your systems tighten. Your vision sharpens. And your pace? It multiplies.

So before you grind through another month solo
 ask yourself:
Who’s in your corner?
Who’s helping you think bigger?

And if you don’t have that person yet — make it your mission to find them.

Everything changes when you stop trying to do it all and start letting someone show you the way.

We’ll see you next week.