Build Immunity to Criticism: A Critical Success Skill for School Owners

Updated November 6, 2026

Here’s a business skill you must learn, and learn well: how to build immunity to criticism. The more visible and successful you become, the more critics you’ll attract — and how you handle them quietly shapes your peace of mind and your growth.

A Tale of Two Discoveries

Recently I searched my school’s name online to see whether anyone was misusing it or copying my content. Two things turned up.

First, plagiarism. I found schools that had lifted content from my websites word for word — some so blatant they kept my name and testimonials in the copied text. Worth knowing: you’re free to learn from and apply concepts, but you cannot legally duplicate someone else’s actual text or images. (That’s a general point, not legal advice — consult an attorney for your situation.)

Second, a critic. Someone had posted, in response to a person seeking a school in Colorado, that they should avoid my schools — dismissing us as a low-quality “chain” focused on character building, and mocking the fact that our instructors carry the title “master.” My honest reaction? Don’t engage. You must resist the urge to rebut people who make these kinds of pronouncements online.

Why the Criticism Missed

For the record: yes, our focus is character development for kids through quality martial arts training and the mental disciplines that come with it — and I’ll defend that all day. As for the “master” complaint, over the years we’ve developed many Black Belts, including instructors in their mid-twenties who’ve trained with us since they were seven. To be referred to as “master” in our organization, a person must first earn a 4th-Degree Black Belt — which takes an average of 12-plus years. And the notion that running multiple locations must mean low-quality instruction simply isn’t true anymore.

The Real Lesson: Two Skills That Build a Professional School

Building your school to a truly professional level requires two things:

• Systematize and professionalize. Consistent systems create a more consistent student experience and a higher-quality operation across every class and every location.
• Ignore the critics who don’t understand why you’re successful. Learn to build immunity to criticism. It is a critical success skill — not optional.

Tellingly, the very day I read that online jab, a letter arrived from an owner who’d implemented my marketing program and was thrilled — describing how it let him build a more manageable, more profitable school and a better quality of life for his family, while rendering genuinely valuable service to his students. That contrast is the whole point. There will always be people who mock what they don’t understand. Your job is to keep serving the people who value what you do — and let the rest go.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I respond to online criticism of my school?

Usually, don’t engage. Rebutting anonymous critics rarely helps and often amplifies them. Build immunity to criticism, stay focused on the students who value your work, and let your results speak.

Does running multiple locations mean lower quality?

No. With strong systems and clear standards, a multi-location school can deliver a more consistent, higher-quality experience than many single schools. Systematizing is what makes quality repeatable.

Can other schools legally copy my marketing?

They can learn from your concepts, but copying your actual text or images is plagiarism and a violation of your intellectual property. Consult an attorney if you find your content has been duplicated.

Ready to Add 100 Students to Your School?

Focus on the families who value your work: get your free copy of Six Simple Steps to Add 100 New Students to Your School at SimpleSteps.com.

And to systematize a consistently excellent experience, study Extraordinary Teaching at ExtraordinaryTeaching.com.

Stephen Oliver, MBA, is a 10th Degree Black Belt, the founder of Mile High Karate and Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, and is known industry-wide as “The Millionaire Maker.”