Meet John Stumer, the small business owner of “Warwick Futsal” based in Warwick, Queensland.
Through his business, John teaches professional level futsal to kids in Warwick, QLD. He wants to offer top-notch coaching to kids in Warwick, like what you’d find in big cities like Toowoomba and Brisbane. There aren’t many opportunities or academies to learn futsal for kids in Warwick so he is creating pathways for them to learn the game so that they can compete in big cities nationwide and internationally as well one day.
“The most helpful thing for me from Many Rivers has been the mentorship I received from my business coach, Jamie. Jamie’s guidance keeps me focused on the business tasks. He’s realistic and always tries to keep me motivated. Honestly, Jamie’s mentorship is incredibly valuable to me; it’s priceless.
Read more about John’s business journey so far:
John’s Business
I’m John Stumer, and I run my own small business, Warwick Futsal in Warwick, Queensland. I’ve been running my business since July last year. My business is all about coaching futsal and building a club to help kids in the community improve their skills. I want to offer them top-notch coaching, like what you’d find in big cities. There aren’t many opportunities for kids here, so I’m creating pathways for them to compete.
I organize competitions where kids from Warwick can play against teams from Toowoomba and Brisbane. One of my students even made it to the international level and has travelled to Manila, Philippines for games. That’s the kind of success I aim to provide.
What were you doing before you made contact with Many Rivers?
Before starting my own business and connecting with Many Rivers, I spent ten years as a construction worker in Western Australia. I worked at various mine sites and had roles in firefighting as a first aid emergency responder. Additionally, I have also worked as a machine operator and before starting my career with futsal coaching, I also spent two years working as a pizza maker.
Why did you want to go into business?
Unfortunately, due to an illness during my construction work period, I had to transition away from construction work, and during this time, I found myself drawn to futsal.
Working with Many Rivers
For the past two years, I’ve been working with my business coach, Jamie, through Many Rivers. Jamie has been a huge help in guiding me with business tips and ideas to improve my overall business plan. Being a father of five and relying on Centrelink payments, I needed a mentor who would understand my personal struggles as well. Jamie has always been really understanding and supportive of my circumstances whenever I was not able to attend our catch-up meetings.
The most helpful thing for me from Many Rivers has been the mentorship I received from my business coach, Jamie. Jamie’s guidance keeps me focused on the business tasks. He’s realistic and always tries to keep me motivated. Honestly, Jamie’s mentorship is incredibly valuable to me; it’s priceless.
Did you get a loan from MR? How did you use the loan?
No, I didn’t get a loan from Many Rivers.
Do you have any current employees? If so, how many employees? Are they full-time or part-time?
I don’t have any employees, just myself.
Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge so far has been finding contentment with what I can offer without having a lot of financial resources. I’ve realized that I can still do a good job even without a large budget. It’s about learning to be patient and to have a problem-solving attitude when facing obstacles and challenges along the way.
Biggest Success
The biggest success so far has been coaching up to 72 students in just six weeks, with 28 of them participating in competitions. We’ve seen our number of students grow from zero to 72 and then from 72 to 130, which is quite remarkable. What’s even more exciting is that our success rate is 10% higher than that of a bigger city like Toowoomba, which has a population of 130,000, while Warwick only has approximately 12,000 residents. Additionally, last year I didn’t have a vehicle, but this year I do, which is a major achievement. Having a vehicle means I’m no longer confined to one place, allowing me to be more mobile and do more for my business.
Biggest Change
The biggest change for me and my family since starting my business is that I now get to spend more quality time with my kids and partner. My children join me during training sessions, and my oldest son even helps coach the younger kids. It’s wonderful to have them involved and to enjoy these coaching sessions together as a family.
Future Goals
In the future, my big goal is to expand internationally with my futsal club. I aim to take my students to compete in major competitions in cities like Melbourne and Sydney, and eventually on the global stage. It would be incredibly rewarding to see kids from my local area competing internationally. Ultimately, I want to provide them with a world-class experience.
Thank you, John, for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with your future endeavours and business success.
If you would like to stay updated with John and his small business, follow “Warwick Futsal” through the following links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094573957887
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