First Impressions

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression!” Ever hear that phrase before? So have I! It was true when I was five years old and it still is today.

However, I believe that, for us, this phrase here might have more importance: “Every day you have a chance to make your first impression!”

What is the first impression of the dojo? Take it from the point of view of a new student, or a parent of a new student:

Do they see the amazing physical abilities of the Instructors and Assistant Instructors?

Are they impressed by the cleanliness of the dojo?

Are they blown away by the professional and friendly attitude of class members?

It is important for us to to think of how people see us for the first time. Remember the three laws of Perception:

BODY LANGUAGE

VOICE INFLECTION

FACIAL EXPRESSION

How quick are you to shake a student’s hand and introduce yourself to a parent, student, sibling or friend of a student?

Whenever you think of it, do a little drill that Mr. Durkin has told me to do every day. When you first walk into the dojo, the shoe room, or any place in the dojo, pretend that you are coming into the room for the first time. How does it look? Try and think of one thing that could be done to improve what you see.

Remember, it is the first impressions that people will remember the most. The second a student walks through those doors, they are ready for their first impression of us! So, let’s have ours be second to none!