The shocking truth. Why I returned to JET.
August 2008 Update
Ok guys, first I must apologize on the very dramatic title, but thank you very much for clicking on the update page.
Now, yes it is true that I am back at JET and still with Smiths School of English Franchises. It’s been a great experience for me and my other fellow ex-JET and current Smiths School of English Franchise owners and it can be a great experience for you too!
Just earlier today I read a story posted on our Soapbox by Deana, another ex-JET who is currently running a very successful franchise, Smiths School of English in Azamino.
https://www.sse-franchise.com//200808/11/why-were-still-in-japan-after-8-years/
Update Time
Well, recently I felt it was time for an update to my testimonial. After reading what I had written up to this point I realized that several things have changed in my life since I originally wrote this testimonial.
First, I am now 34 years old and I continue to proudly and successfully run two Smiths School of English franchises, though they are not the same schools I had been running 2 years ago when I first wrote this testimonial.
As I previously mentioned 2 years ago my goal was to continue expanding my business within the Smiths School of English system.
I had set a goal of operating a third school within one year of writing the original testimonial and if you have read the articles over on my Soapbox you would realize that on July 1st, 2007 I achieved this goal.
On July 1st, 2007 I achieved this goal with the purchase of Smiths School of English in Fuse.
I operated 3 schools for approximately 7 months.
It was a lot of work but it was also a lot of fun and I learned many things during that period, especially relating to management of personnel and proper allocation of resources in order to maintain steady growth while continuing to provide a high level of customer satisfaction to my students who had chosen to enroll in one of the three schools which I operated.
Maintaining a high quality of service has always been number 1 priority for me and I would never sacrifice quality for anything else.
During this time it was also a lot of fun to experience the cross-pollination to which I have at times referred to in my Soapbox articles.
After operating these 3 schools for approximately 7 months I began to realize that I really wanted to focus on building Smiths School of English in Fuse.
This school was bigger than any I had ever operated and it held a tremendous amount of potential which I wanted to develop.
I spent quite a bit of time pondering how to achieve my goals based on my current structure at the time and decided that in order for me to realize my goals I would have to sell my Smiths School of English in Kamishinjo.
I had truly enjoyed that school but geographically I was spread a bit thin and it was becoming challenging for me to provide the level of service which I set as a standard for myself in everything I do.
Sale of Smiths School of English Kamishinjo
I placed Smiths School of English Kamishinjo for sale on our website and it sold very quickly.
Mark Smith looked after the sale the entire time and made sure all details were covered and all questions were answered for all parties involved.
I had run that franchise “by the book” so it was very simple for me to disclose all the information related to the school.
I had maintained accurate files detailing all of the marketing efforts and financial information about the school and made them readily available for the new owner.
The new franchisee moved to Osaka, attended the training at head office and in no time she was in place as the new proud owner of Smiths School of English Kamishinjo.
I had spent about 2 months preparing for the transition so when the big day came…it wasn’t so big.
The students felt comfortable with the new teacher/owner and judging by the new owner’s kind comments about the transition she is very happy with her purchase and new lifestyle at Smiths School of English.
Focus on Smiths School of English Fuse
After the sale of Smiths School of English Kamishinjo I then redirected all of the resources and energy I had been using there to the remaining two schools which I operate.
Leading up to the sale I had spent some time designing the new flyer campaign I would run at the remaining two schools. I had ordered the materials, hired the necessary staff and upon the sale of Kamishinjo I immediately put my plan into action.
I am now in the midst of a focused 1 year strategic flyer effort and the results are obvious. I quickly began to see that what I had anticipated regarding the potential of Smiths School of English in Fuse was in fact true. Results started to show and the overall sales of the school have doubled since this effort was put into place.
Of course, these stellar results could never have been made possible without the backup support of our head office.
Success through T.E.A.M
These results have only been made possible because of the reliable, professional and steadfast support of our head office staff as well as being linked into the most powerful and professional team of English teachers in Japan. There is no way I would have achieved these results by doing flyers as a lone ranger out there.
The more time I spend in this organization the more I realize Mark Smith is right on target when he states that Together Everyone Achieves More. (T.E.A.M.)
The synergy created by this team of professionals is both powerful and inspiring! I know that we are in the best position possible to continue to experience strong growth in our industry.
There is no other team of more dedicated, more organized and more professional English teachers in Japan.
I believe this wholeheartedly and I am reminded of this every time I attend one of our seminars or read the articles posted on our Soapbox.
We are having a lot of fun here in Japan while operating successful businesses.
Just recently I read a testimonial about a franchisee who had a very humble beginning here in Japan yet now he is operating a successful franchise which is providing him with a comfortable lifestyle and sufficient funds to begin real estate investing in Japan.
The story is very inspiring; I highly suggest giving it a read!
http://hubpages.com/hub/Smiths-School-of-English-Tsukaguchi
Return to JET
Back to JET?
That’s right but not as an English teacher this time.
I believe it was sometime around October of 2007 when I was first introduced to S. (Steven) McIntire Allen, or Mak, short for McIntire who is working as an attorney in Osaka and also the Chair of the Western Japan Jet Alumni Association.
I was introduced to Mak through Mark Smith who felt we may enjoy each other’s company given our shared JET background and also as a way for me to expand my circle of professional contacts in Osaka.
Mak and I met several times during the following months and it was during one of our lunch meetings that he mentioned to me that one of the Executive positions at JETAA Western Japan was up for election. He asked me to think about running for the position of Treasurer.
I told him I would be honored to be considered for such a position. For me, the JET Program has always held such fond memories. It was my introduction to Japan and had it not been for the JET Program I may never have come to this country.
The JET Program has enriched my life beyond imagination and I have always felt thrilled at any opportunity to give back in my own little way. For me, the JET Program was a life changing experience. It may not have been the same for other participants, but in my case, the JET Program changed the direction of my life, perhaps indefinitely.
It was so nostalgic and so much fun to once again start talking about the JET Program with another former participant. We both shared stories of our experiences and I realized immediately that I wanted to be associated with this group again. I decided to run for the position and in the spring of 2008 I became the new Treasurer of the Western Japan JET Alumni Association!
I am enjoying this position and especially being once again involved with the JET community in Japan.
My path from JET to Smiths School of English and now involved with both organizations has been very satisfying.
Are you a current or ex-JET?
For those who are nearing the end of their contracts on JET and are searching for options which will allow them to remain in Japan while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle I strongly suggest considering the Smiths School of English opportunity.
There are numerous former JET participants now successfully operating Smiths School of English franchises. Some have chosen to stay and set up their school right in their own community where they have already established a wide network of contacts while others have chosen this as an opportunity to relocate to their desired area in Japan.
The beauty of our system is that it allows you to literally live anywhere in Japan. Once you become a member of our team you are immediately plugged into the most powerful teacher-owned English school system in Japan.
I suggest you test this for yourself.
Get on the Internet, go to any of the major Japanese search engines out there and do a search in Japanese for “eikaiwa” and your town or city name.
I GUARANTEE you that if there is a Smiths School of English franchise in that town, it will be on the first page of results and oftentimes you will see links back to that franchise on most of the top 10 search results.
Ask, Think, Imagine…
Now, think about your area and ask yourself these questions:
- Have you enjoyed living there while on JET?
- Have you made a network of friends?
- A network of friends which trust you?
- A network of friends which would recommend you to their friends?
- A network of friends of which some may even join your school?
- Have you made a commitment to start a family with a Japanese national while on the JET Program?
- Would you like to remain in Japan but do so in such a way that you are in control of the length of stay, working conditions and level of income?
- Do you find yourself answering “Yes” to most of these questions?
Now, imagine you open your Smiths School of English franchise in that town.
Head office will immediately create your homepage and by the time you even open your doors for the first time, your school will be viewed as one, if not THE ONE, of the most well organized, committed and yes, powerful schools in that area.
My challenge to you
I challenge you to try the exercise I mentioned earlier.
Try them on one of my schools for example.
Go to www.google.co.jp and copy and paste this into the search “英会話 布施“
This is my Smiths School of English Fuse franchise.
I GUARANTEE you that the majority of results point to my franchise.
Try it with other franchises also.
That network of friends which I mentioned earlier and more importantly the TRUST you have established in your local community while on the JET Program coupled with the strength of the Smiths School of English opportunity is something worth considering.
Take control of your financial future in Japan and consider joining the ranks of numerous other former JET Program participants here at Smiths School of English.
I am looking forward to the many opportunities which the Western Japan JET Alumni Association will provide me to get involved with the JET community again. I know I am going to continue to enjoy the events organized by the Western Japan JET Alumni Association (JETAAWJ) which will allow me to meet other fellow JET Program Participants.
I will do my best to be of help and answer any questions which are posed to me by JET Program participants, both current and former.
I am proud to be a member of Smith’s School of English.
This is my story thus far and I am available to answer any questions.
I have always felt that Smith’s School of English franchises provide an invaluable service to our students, our local communities in Japan and to all foreigners within the system.
Value for value relationships.
The only truly sustainable type I know.
Alessandro “Alex” Stanciu
アレッサンドロ“アレックス”スタンシュー
Smith’s School of English Fuse
月謝制のスミス英会話 布施校
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/fuse.shtml 東大阪市 英会話