Zig Ziglar shares a great story about famous archery named Howard Hill. Hill was one of the best if not the best of his time. Basically the real-life Robin Hood with the bow. (except I don’t think he stole from the rich and gave to the poor). He competed in 286 archery tournaments and won 286 of them. Zig then goes on the state that he is pretty good at archery himself and is even better at instructing archery. He states that within 20 minutes he prepare anyone to beat Hill in an archery shoot-out. He guarantees it.
Of course, Hill will be blindfolded and we will spin him around a few times. Then someone asks, “Well how is Hill going to know where to aim if doesn’t know where his target is? A great question, but Zig follow up with a better one. How does anyone hit a target if they don’t have one?
The lesson of the story here is clear and simple, but is powerful and often forgotten. Sometimes we understand the simple lessons but forget to leverage their wisdom.
I noticed a similar instance today on a walk with Augie (my shepherd). It was a chilly, windy, spring day. One of Augie’s favorite activities is to chase leaves, so when the elements align he is in heaven. Fresh leaves, and some fresh wind is his type of weather. Usually, on our walks we are playing ball, catch, and having 20-yard sprint races, but when the wind is blowing and the leaves are tumbling I take a back seat to blowing leaves.
What I noticed was that he gets so excited while chasing leaves that he rarely continues to chase one. He will begin chasing one and then another tumbling leaf will come into his sight and he will begin chasing that one. The loop simply goes on repeat. It seems like he is having fun but there is also a sense of frustration that comes over him. Because he only catches a few leaves with this tactic and the options seem at times to overwhelm him with analysis paralysis (basically just biting at the air while doing 360). How similar is this to anyone of us that don’t have a target? Especially for the fortunate who have many options and opportunities that cross their path.
The wind doesn’t always blow, and the leaves are not always dancing, but when they are there can either be a great opportunity or a great distraction. If we don’t have targets the leaves manipulate our attention, influencing us away from our desires. The leaves are creative and come in many different shapes, colors, and sizes. They excite us at the moment but then when the wind calms down, the leaves stop dancing, the walk is over, and if we are not clear on our target they leave us tired and lost.
We need a target for without one we are an archer with no bulls-eye or like Augie hypnotized by the leaves, letting external factors control where we go. Instead, we must develop the courage inside to set a target and embark on our journey toward it. Paving our own path. We create and navigate the route of the unknown.
“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path”.
Joseph Campbell
Be the Master of your Fate, The Captain of your Soul
