7 Figure CEO

In this episode of 7 Figure CEO, Cris sits with John Geyston, owner of Empowered Martial Arts in Illinois and Tampa. John Geyston is a lifelong martial artist with multiple black belts and recently earned his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Cris and John discuss the importance of having an abundance mentality rather than a scarcity mentality in the martial arts industry.  John details his approach to...

In today's episode of 7 Figure CEO Podcast, we're joined by Robby, a martial arts enthusiast turned thriving business owner who believes that authenticity is the cornerstone of any successful venture. Robby's journey began with a passion for martial arts, but he quickly realized that the key to true success was doing what he loved rather than following conventional paths. His busine...

In this episode of 7 Figure CEO, Brad Ferris shares his vision for his businesses, highlighting the importance of patient acquisition and addressing unique client problems. Cris and Brad dive into key principles of business success, including clarity, execution, and optimization. Brad discusses the critical role of continuous training, compensation strategies, and motivation in retaining and engag...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO podcast, I speak with Master Tran, owner of Tran’s Martial Arts and Fitness Center in Longmont, Colorado. Master Tran began training in martial arts with his siblings under the supervision of their father at home at the age of 7. His formal training in Tae Kwon Do began at age 13 when he and his siblings cleaned the local school in exchange for lessons. He recei...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO podcast, I have a conversation with Trevor and Jessica McClung, who are the owners of the Championship Martial Arts TRIBE located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Trevor discusses his on-the-mat obligations, which entail teaching, training instructors, and developing curriculums. Jessica, on the other hand, delves into her off-the-mat duties, which involve oversee...

Mark Preader is a child development specialist and founder of the Enterprise Academy of Martial Arts. He opened the school in 2006, but in 2014 he wanted to rebrand his school to become the go-to place for martial arts in the Hollister area. To adapt to the pandemic's challenges, Mark began recording classes with his daughter and later followed the virtual school content of Melody Johnson&apo...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I sit down with Mr. Randy Chung of Kodokan Jiu Jitsu Club of Calgary (Canada) to discuss how he went from accountant to academy owner. Mr. Chung is a first-degree blackbelt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a father, and a Grow Pro Client. At the age of 9, he began training in Karate and later transitioned to Chinese martial arts. He went on to open his own acade...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I speak with Akil Acevedo of Cho’s Legacy Taekwondo (Morristown, NJ). He is a brand new father, Grow Pro client, and holds 5th degree blackbelts in Taekwondo, Kukkiwon, & Chung Do Kwan. He has been training for over 30 years and in 2014 he took over the academy that was opened by his Grandmaster in 1973. Mr. Acevedo has an engineering degree and aft...

This week's guest on the 7 Figure CEO Podcast is Mr. Josh Smith - 5th degree Black Belt in Goju, Shotokan (and other various styles), Grow Pro client, and the owner of 4 premier Martial Arts locations. Mr. Smith's father was also a school owner, and from the age of 5, he has been passionate about Martial Arts. He opened his own school and built his way from 40 to 150 students. From there...

Zachariah Cloonan of Zachary Martial Arts (Zachary, LA) has been in business for 7 years, is a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and blue belt in BJJ. Mr. Cloonan grew up taking classes in the Martial Arts school he now owns. Having earned his black belt under the previous instructor, he was offered to buy the school when it started to go under. Starting with 20 students, he grew the program to 1...

Fellow action-taker - Nicholas Gregoriades joins me on this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast. Nic is a BJJ Black Belt, Roger Gracie’s first awarded Black Belt, competitor, host of the Nicholas Gregoriades Show, creator of the Subconscious Jiu Jitsu Association, and author of Aligned - The Modern Man’s Guide to Health, Wealth and Freedom.  Nic started taking Judo at the age of 7, and at the age...

You’re in for a real treat! On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I sit down with Fellow 7 Figure CEO, speaker, mentor, friend, 5th-degree Black Belt in ATA System, former owner of On The Mat, & founder of Skillz Worldwide (serving 1,500+ Martial Arts schools) - Mrs. Melody Johnson. In her twenties, she started writing children's Martial Arts curriculum, as she had a passion for he...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I had the great honor of speaking with Danny Alvarez of Alvarez Jiu Jitsu (Arlington, TX). Mr. Alvarez is a 4th-degree Black Belt in BJJ, has won Master Worlds 3 times in Gi, 5 times in No-Gi, was the #1 ranked Black Belt for the 2017-2018 season, earned over 50 Championship Titles, is one of my A-Team clients and is also a Grow Pro client!  Mr. Alvarez...

This episode is a winner! Joe Lauzon joins me on the 7 Figure CEO podcast to talk about his journey to the UFC, and the systems that enabled his Academy: Lauzon MMA (Raynham, MA) to become the massive success that it is today. Mr. Lauzon is a 26x UFC Veteran, has his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, is a father, and one of my A-Team clients.  Starting his training at the age of 16 he instantly t...

Master Josh Arcemont of Hero Martial Arts (Spring, TX) joins me today on the 7 Figure CEO Podcast. Not only is Mr. Arcemont a 6th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, he’s also MAIA’s newest consultant, a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and just recently signed the lease to his 2nd location. His martial arts journey began at Southeast Texas Taekwondo Academy, where he began taking classes. His mother...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I got to speak with the very talented and highly accomplished - Chris Rappold. I had the pleasure of meeting up with him at the 2022 Martial Arts Super Show and the US Open where I got to watch his team perform incredible acts of athleticism. Mr. Rappold is a 6th degree Black Belt in Taekwon-Do, Executive Director at Team Paul Mitchell Karate, creator o...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast I interview the Founder and Owner of Integrity Defensive Arts (Victoria, TX) - Sensei Rick Torres. Established 13 years ago, his school has a wide selection of offerings such as Judo, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Kick-Boxing and Philllipino Martial Arts classes. Starting at the age of 10, Mr. Torres now has 55 years of training in the Martial Arts and a M...

This episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast was a blast and I got to spend it with powerhouse couple Joseph & Diana Vigil of Vortexic Martial Arts (Katy, TX). The Vigils are Grow Pro and MAIA clients with a passion for teaching and complementary strengths, which has led to the massive success of their academy. With 12 years of instruction under his belt, Master Vigil is a 5th Degree Black Belt in...

Most people think that when a prospect is looking for a Martial Arts School the first place they go is to Google. And while Google is usually where prospects will go when they have an intent and are looking for a school - it’s not the FIRST place they go. So if Google isn’t the first place they go to, what is the platform they go to first and how can you get on it? The first place people go isn’t...

I wanted to share this quote that is behind me that we printed on our walls here in the office. It says “All you need is Innovation and Marketing” - but the full quote is this: “Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two--and only two--basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. Marketing...

On this podcast I wanted to share with you 5 questions you should make sure you ask before hiring a digital marketing agency. Question #1 - Do you have Industry experience? Question #2 - Can you provide me proof of the AVERAGE results you get? Question #3 - How does my account get handled and who exactly will be on my account? Question #4 - How big is your agency and do you hire in-house or V.A.s?...

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I have the honor of speaking with a dear friend, (and my first mentor) Matt Arroyo. Mr. Arroyo is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, former UFC fighter, Abu Dhabi Competitor, Co-Authored the BJJ Manifesto with Rob Kahn, and is the Owner of Gracie Tampa South (15 years). As the owner of a wildly successful Academy, operating a 9,000 sq. ft....

On this episode of the 7 Figure CEO Podcast, I speak with my friend Joshua Frye who is a Grow Pro and A-Team Client, USA Director of The Krav Association, and owner of The Training Grounds Martial Arts Academy (Estero, FL).  He is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, Black Belt in The Duke Roufus Kickboxing Association, and in his 22nd year as a full-time teache...

Dynamic Duo, 3rd degree Black Belts in BJJ, and Owner/Operators of Pendergrass Academy of Martial Arts (Raleigh, North Carolina) - the Pendergrass Brothers do not disappoint in this episode of the Podcast. It was an honor to interview these two as my very 1st A Team Clients on the 7 Figure CEO Podcast. Rob & Guy Pendergrass and I started working together back in 2017. They own a super successf...

On this episode of the & Figure CEO Podcast, I speak with  Natasha Kothare - Grow Pro Client, and Director of Operations for Master Peter's Academy of Martial Arts (Dayton, NJ).  Natasha shares how her academy pivoted during the pandemic through the use of a virtual learning platform. Despite the huge effects the pandemic had in their area, MPAMA is moving into their 11th year in business...