May 1, 2022
Happy Fire Friday, 🔥
Last weekend I had the opportunity to jump on a phone call with world-renowned shooting coach, Dave Love.
We just recently got connected through Instagram, and he generously offered his time to learn a little bit about me and to offer any guidance he had, and I couldn't be more thankful.
We talked for about 35 minutes, and we'd already tumbled through teaching strategies, blocked vs. variable vs. random practice, our personal starting-points, and more.
Towards the end of our conversation, we got to a place where I asked him about the business side.
I said, "The part of all of this that I'm completely lost in is the business stuff. Like, how did you handle or come to the place of getting high-level/professional clients all over? I travel to train, myself, but did you get linked up with an agency or did you start some other way?"
....and then Dave gave me a really hard truth.
He said,
"From what I've heard so far from you, you're not ready for that yet.
Keep doing what you're doing. Keep trying new things and building yourself up, and when you've done enough, those opportunities will follow."
My stomach tightened up a little (or a lot) and my defenses started to go wild.
I thought, "I'm not ready yet?? I put more time into this craft than literally anyone I know doing anything else. He doesn't even know me. How could I not be ready??"
But I quickly reminded myself that this is one of the best in the world at what he does... what we do. And the kindest thing he could have done for me was give me his truth.
The hard thing about this is, coaching isn't quantified like shooting is.
We can measure percentages for shooters... but there's no real way to determine progress in coaching--all I have to go on is a feeling.
And, like any young coach, of course I feel like I'm ready.
And I think there's power in believing that I am capable.
But there's more power in being blessed with a hard truth--because in a society where everyone tiptoes, the great people around us are the ones who walk with confidence and love.
I don't know when I'll actually be "ready". I think that's impossible to tell.
But what I do know is that I've never been more committed to finding a way forward. To getting better at this craft every single day.
My intention is not to run away from the things that scare me or make me uncomfortable.
Rather, I intend to sit down with fear, stare it straight in the face, and ask it exactly what it needs from me.
There's no faster way forward than through.
Off to ATL for a weekend full of growth, and then off to Utah after that!
I'll check back in with you next Friday. 🔥
Shooters Shoot,
BriAnna