Here is a congruent, authority-consistent book description for The Way of the Mile High Maverick:
The Way of the Mile High Maverick is Stephen Oliver’s story of entrepreneurship, martial arts leadership, risk-taking, and the relentless drive required to build something bigger than yourself.
Stephen Oliver, MBA, 10th Degree Black Belt, is the founder of Martial Arts Wealth Mastery and one of the leading coaches in the martial arts industry for developing Million Dollar Martial Arts Schools. Long before coaching thousands of school owners, Stephen built his own success from the ground up—founding Mile High Karate, growing multiple successful schools, developing instructors and black belts, promoting major events, and helping shape the modern business side of the martial arts industry.
This book captures the mindset and lessons behind that journey.
Part memoir, part business philosophy, and part martial arts leadership manual, The Way of the Mile High Maverickshares the principles Stephen used to challenge conventional thinking, move faster than competitors, build stronger schools, and create lasting influence in the martial arts profession.
Inside, readers will find lessons on:
Thinking bigger than the average school owner
Taking calculated risks before success is guaranteed
Building a school with professional standards
Developing leadership through martial arts training
Creating systems for growth, enrollment, retention, and staff development
Avoiding the trap of playing small
Turning discipline, ambition, and persistence into long-term business success
Leading with both martial arts values and entrepreneurial intensity
Stephen’s path was not built by following the crowd. It was built by questioning assumptions, testing ideas, learning from mentors, pushing through obstacles, and refusing to accept mediocrity as the standard.
For martial arts school owners, BJJ academy owners, MMA gym owners, entrepreneurs, instructors, coaches, and leaders, this book offers a direct look at the thinking behind one of the industry’s most influential business builders.
The Way of the Mile High Maverick is for anyone who wants to build more than a school, more than a career, and more than an ordinary life. It is for those willing to think independently, act decisively, and create their own path.
Stephen Oliver began martial arts training in 1969 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at a branch school of the Jhoon Rhee Institute. He opened his first school in 1975. He later moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Jhoon Rhee Institute, first as an instructor, and later as their youngest-ever branch manager, while earning an honor’s degree in Economics at Georgetown University. In 1983, he moved to the Denver metropolitan area, and opened five schools in 18 months with only $10,000 in capital. He went on to promote the Mile High Karate Classic NASKA World tour event and serve on NASKA’s Board of Directors from 1989-1999, and on EFC’s Board of Directors from inception until 2002. In 1992 he earned his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Denver, and went on to serve on their Venture and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. He has also written several other books including: How to Market Your Martial Arts School Using the Internet and Direct Response Marketing for Martial Arts Schools. He has been actively involved in NAPMA since before its inception, and has been an on-going and active contributor and speaker. Currently, he is CEO of the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA), and Martial Arts Professional Magazine (www.MartialArtsProfessional.com). He continues to focus on his Mile High Karate schools, which has “Regional Developers” in place throughout the world, and is the leading, and fastest-growing, professional Martial Arts School Franchise system (www.MileHighFranchise.com), with locations worldwide. In the Denver area, he has nine locations, and continues to speak to and write for martial arts school operators throughout the world, as well as consult for a very select team of school owners. He is currently an 8th-Degree Black Belt in American Tae Kwon Do, and oversees an organization that teaches a diverse range of martial arts styles.
