Timing Belt : Karate Pro Masters His Schedule

Oscar Maldonado has worked full time at an aircraft electronics company since he arrived in Los Angeles from Guatemala in 1978. He has mastered the art of time management: While maintaining his day job, he has learned English, received an associate of arts degree and opened the Okinawan Karate School. Maldonado was interviewed by Karen Kaplan.

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I came to Los Angeles from Guatemala City when I was 17, and after a month I got a job with an aircraft electronics company. I felt that communication was really important so I enrolled in English classes after work four nights a week. It took me four years to pick up a good amount of English.

I was getting promotions at work, but I wanted something more. My parents had a general store in Guatemala, and ever since I was little I wanted to have a business of my own. So I enrolled at Los Angeles Trade Technical College to study business.

I took all my classes at night after work. That added four hours onto the end of my work day three nights a week. I did my homework on the nights when I didn’t have classes and on the weekends. It took me five years to complete a two-year associate of arts degree with a specialty in business.

I had a black belt in karate, so I got the idea to open a karate studio. I had done some teaching and that gave me the experience that I needed.

It took me a year to prepare to open my own studio. I visited other studios after work to see what kind of equipment I would need. Then I spent time looking for a small, inexpensive place in a good location for my own studio. Eventually, I found a place in central Los Angeles.

I did a lot of planning in the evenings after dinner. On the weekends I competed in karate tournaments so that I could win some trophies and attract students.

The school has been open for more than a year now and I have about 50 students. I teach the classes in the evenings three nights a week. On the nights I’m not teaching, I do the paperwork associated with the school. I have to figure out which students have paid, who has an exam coming up and who is being promoted to a higher belt. I also make up fliers and banners to use for my marketing.

In order to make time for both my day job and the business, I plan everything three weeks in advance. I’m always thinking ahead, and if I know that something needs to be done, I’ll get started on it right away. Then when the deadline is approaching, I’m either done or almost done.

I also adjusted my schedule at work to accommodate my business. On days when I have to teach karate classes, I punch out a little earlier and I make up for it by working more hours on the other days.

It is possible to start a business even if you have a full-time job as long as you’re organized and disciplined. But if you’re going to start a business that requires a lot of your spare time, you had better make sure that business is something you really enjoy. Otherwise it will be hard to devote the necessary time.

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AT A GLANCE

Company name: Okinawan Karate School

Owner: Oscar L. Maldonado

Nature of business: Karate training

Location: Los Angeles

Year founded: 1995

Number of employees: 1

Annual sales: Expecting $8,100 this year