Guest AuthorMy grandfather started teaching me how to use a bow and arrow when I was about 6 years old. He taught me using a longbow made out of yew, a specific type of wood used to make these bows.
Longbows are the type that Robin Hood used, and they were made from long, fairly straight pieces of wood along with a bowstring that was organic and waxed. It’s unlike today’s modern bows. Longbows have no pulleys or curved arms to aid the archer when you pull the arrow back and help you hold it until you are ready to release the arrow.
Bows are measured in pounds. For example, a 50-pound bow requires 50 pounds of force to fully pull the string back. Imagine trying to hold a 50-pound weight steady that is attached to the middle of a rope that is stretched tightly between your two outstretched hands. That is what using a 50-pound bow feels like.
The bow my grandfather used to teach me was as tall as I was. Here I was, at 6 years old, holding that heavy weight between my outstretched hands. Shooting my first arrow felt like I was not only trying to hold that weight up, but that I was trying to also thread a needle with one of my hands at the same time.
I have continued to use a bow and arrow through my adult life, and I have learned lessons from archery that have helped me in life and business. The theme that carries through all of these lessons is “focus.”
I have learned from archery to clearly see the target as well as the factors that could affect hitting it. Wind, distance and any movement of the target typically reduce my odds of hitting the target. To hit it, you must clearly identify the target (goal), consider the factors that will affect your aim and then adjust accordingly.
Archery has taught me to be aware of my readiness to release the arrow. One key is my breathing. Another is to be consistent with the draw of the string and how I release it. Tiny changes at the bow typically make big differences in the flight of the arrow.
In life and business, you must ensure that not only all of the external factors have been taken into account, but also that you have taken an internal inventory and that you are ready to make your shot.
Archery has also helped me ensure that I can concentrate under stress. This takes patience and perseverance. When I first looked down the length of an arrow at a target 100 feet away and tried to keep the tip of the arrow pointed at the bullseye, I felt very confident. But I was just holding the arrow in my hand – it was not on the bow.
The tip of the arrow seemed to do anything but point at the bullseye when I had it on the bow. Aiming at your target under stress is much harder than doing it under ideal conditions.
Finally, archery has taught me when to release the arrow. What good is improved focus if you don’t take the shot? When you have an arrow on the string, fully pulled into position and pointed toward the target, you must shoot when you have the shot.
To hit the bullseye, I had to practice. Over time, that gave me the confidence to take more and more shots. I learned to trust my skills and senses.
OK, I’m not Robin Hood, and you probably aren’t either. So what is the translated value of learning about archery to everyday life? In two words: improved focus.
Ultimately, everything I’ve learned in archery is related to helping me improve my mental focus. Archery requires patience. You must identify your main target, understand external factors, ensure you are internally ready, and ultimately take the shot.
I am often inspired by a memory from my last trip to Japan, when I had the opportunity to witness a display of great archery skill: a Ninja riding a horse and shooting at a moving target.
Maintaining your focus on moving targets these days can be hard. There are ever-increasing demands on our attention and our time.
To me, maintaining my focus means paying attention to my tasks, priorities and values in order to hit the important goals that make a difference. That is why I kept my grandfather’s bow as a reminder of the lessons he taught me about focus.
Bob Porter is executive director of downtown Orlando’s Executive Development Center, part of the University of Central Florida’s College of Business Administration. He can be reached at [email protected].
