The Tune-Up
Summer is the time of year when most hunters start dreaming about the upcoming Fall and the outdoor adventures ahead. With that, comes the importance of practicing with your equipment (in my case a bow and arrow), and making sure everything is completely dialed in so that you are as ready as possible when you get one of those memorable opportunities in September, October or November.
In preparation for an archery elk hunt this Fall, I have picked the brains of people with much more experience than me and tried to take in as much wisdom as I could from their experiences over the years. I also went to see a friend of mine who is a bow expert to make sure my bow is properly tuned, my arrows are flying just right, etc. In that process, I started thinking about how much we all need tune-ups in our lives not just with our hobbies.
Here are some things I am learning that I think apply to life, bow hunting, work, and beyond:
How I was gripping/holding my bow was completely wrong, and I had no idea…Sometimes we have made bad habits that we are not even aware of. We need friends and mentors in life and in business that can help open our eyes to things that we may not be able to see from our own point of view.
Getting exposed is hard, but good…it is not necessarily fun sitting under a microscope so to speak and having someone tell you what you are doing incorrectly. But when you start hitting the bullseye more consistently, you begin to realize that the exposure/initial embarrassment is worth it.
Preparation / practice is key…I cannot show up for an elk hunt without spending time exercising, working on my equipment and practicing shooting my bow and expect success. I have to put the time in day after day for months beforehand to give myself the best chance to harvest a bull in September. In the same way, we cannot expect success in business or in our relationships by simply showing up. We have to put the work in and really give it our best every day over an extended period of time to ensure a positive outcome.
Attention to detail matters…I had previously taken my bow to an archery shop that has some good people working there but they did not spend the time really making sure my bow was ready for this next adventure. I needed someone to spend time on the small things, ironing out all the details to make sure it was as good as it can be. In life, attention to detail matters. It matters if we are truly listening to what our spouse is saying so we can love them well. It matters in business so clients feel cared for and understood.
Sometimes we all need a little tune-up here and there. It’s part of life…and it is so important in making sure we are coming the best version of ourselves.