“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” – Alexander Graham Bell
FOCUS
I’ve always wanted to join the military. But realised it ain’t my full time calling in the long run. I can play better with the pen and ink than with guns and bullets. Words have started wars quicker than shots and ended them faster than white flags.
And I see people getting admission for all the wrong reasons and motives than the right ones – talking about “I got intimidated by a soldier,” “a personnel snatched my girl from me” or “there are no jobs man.” What happened to patriotism and service?
Anyway, I won’t thrive there because I’m not a person of routine. But also there are people who go in with the right motives and stay on. And they succeed.
Every soldier/personnel is trained as an infantryman but only few get selected for trained sniping. Remember this. I’m coming back to it.
Now, I deal ideas, motivation, and entertainment.
And I’ve learnt from almost every experience in life whether first-hand or not. For sure one thing I’ve learnt from all the delving and dabbling is focus – long-term unwavering focus.
If I was focused on military I’d be a lieutenant now. And if I was focused on all the other jobs I did briefly and left I’d be known for them and gained more experience on the very one I choose to stay with.
But for me, everything counts and I have learnt a lot about myself, what I can do, made friends doing things I’ve done, and now I know what I really want to go for in the long run. And that’s what has set me on this path.
Now, focus on this…
Concentrating light beams into a laser cuts through steel.
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” – Bruce Lee
Setting your mind on a goal makes you achieve great results!
The lion focuses on one prey at a time. First, they separate just one target from the herd then go for the kill. So if you want to be on top of the food chain do one (daya, un, uno, otu, ọkan, unus, wahed, yi) at a time.
Identify one thing you want and gun for it. One at a time…
Entrepreneurs and people with great business ideas suffer so much from this syndrome of lack of focus in the beginning as they start up so many great ideas and fail in almost all of them (you probably read that 9 out of every ten businesses fail at startup. It’s a fat hairy lie but true if those 9 lacked focus.)
Even artistes and other creatives also fail at times not for lack of talent(s) but from the burden of being multi-talented. Can sing, dance, write, do comedy, rap, draw, and act. It’s truly a pain to choose from everything you love but you have to choose one to start with.
In life focus only on what you want as what you focus on is what grows and magnifies. So whatever you (want to) do, when you find it, do it with all you’ve got. Give it a 100 percent! One at a time…
So how do you know which one to start with before adding others subsequently?
It’s like being asked, “who will you give the only parachute between your dad and your mum on a crashing plane?”
It’s hard choice but instincts come to play when you have to decide.
Well, for me, dad is late so it’s just mum on the plane. Decide yours.
Same way I’ve decided to push all else aside and focus on what I’m exceptional at.
Remember I told you to remember a statement in the beginning? Now is the time to recall it for use.
Basic Rifle Marksmanship training requires guns like M16 and AK-47 which are automatic. But sniping rifles include M21, SR-25 and other single shot bolt action rifles for accuracy.
So how do these connect? Now focus.
“To aim for your goals and hit them require the focus of a sniper.
Be a goal ‘sniper.’ ” – NeuroKing
8 ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD ‘SNIPER’
1. DISCIPLINE
Put in work and start on time before others arrive and the last to leave. Experience steady hands with practice. Listen well. Stay awake when others are asleep. Patiently wait under the sun and rain knowing they’ll have a chance to take a shot or retreat when it’s time. Practice to be exceptional.
2. CONCENTRATION
‘Single-eyed’. Wear an ‘eye patch’ to have a blind spot for what they don’t want to see; to focus on target. Stay hidden and blend without distraction.
Comparatively you can’t look at your own two eyeballs at same time standing in front of the mirror! But they are yours. That’s focus.
Shooting the wings of a fly perching a deer’s ear require attention.
Set your target because when you don’t have a target you can shoot at anything.
3. GOOD SENSE
Do it big. Choose big guns and big bullets.
Big guns take big shots – call big shots! They require bigger calibre; not regular-sized. And that needs a gun with few moving parts to avoid vibrations.
Same bullet and shot you can use to kill a skunk can kill an elephant. Why not go for the elephant?
What is your primary objective? What’s your target? Let this determine your weapon.
So to be on top of your game and a person of calibre. Choose your games wisely and call the shots. That’s the definition of a boss!
4. POSITION
Choose and use vantage point and terrain advantages. Competition is mostly likely other ‘snipers’. Ability to discern where to mount and get into ‘pole position’. Ability to judge distance.
You didn’t come this far to shoot the breeze. Too far and you may miss. Location matters.
Can’t solve problems on same level you think about them. It will be worth your mental climb. See things differently and beyond what competition is thinking. Have a different point of view.
5. SILENT
See more, hear more, say less. Use silencer/muffler. Use earplugs/earpiece. Stealthy loner. Don’t say much because they’re busy doing much. Undercover. Camouflaged.
People don’t even know he’s there. That’s how enemy lines are crossed.
Don’t talk about it; be about it. Talking gives away position. Clog your ears as not every opinion will matter when you are determined. Let your results speak.
“When you have you shoot, shoot, don’t talk” – Eli Wallach
6. PRO-ACTIVE
Seize opportunities. Take shots or someone else will. Choose targets wisely. Don’t shoot blanks when it’s a clear shot. Keep scores. Sharp shooting.
Moving targets don’t stay in one place. If it’s not moving it’s probably dead.
Don’t hesitate to go for the kill. Take head shots right between the eyes!
What would you aim at if you had just one shot? Make it count.
(Don’t miss opportunities thinking they’ll come again because they may not.)
7. FAR/FORESIGHTED
Long distance range and barrel. One big shot at a time. Good sight. Good scope. Can tell where the next target likely is. Observant.
Good judgement. A good eye for details. Choose ‘problems’ wisely because you’ll be solving them for a good part of your life.
In ten years to come what/how/where/who will you be?
It may take longer but if it’s sure, wait.
How wide is your scope about what you’ve chosen?
Can you tell the next big opportunity?
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8. ALERT
Locked and loaded with finger on the trigger. Not caught unawares with pants down. Ready to go in or pull out. Calm and collected. Adapt. Anticipate the next move. Ready to take immediate shots.
Where are you currently? Do you want to move on up? Are you ready to make major decisions? Be alert for opportunities.
If we concentrate enough to make big decisions and set targets while taking advantage to seize opportunities to take our chances, even when it’s uncomfortable, we’re sure to hit our targets.
Load the gun with instincts and let your ideas pull the trigger. Bang!
Focus on climbing to the top to see the world from there. Be a Marshall in your field of endeavor as you call and take the shots!
Whats the one shot you’d take if you can’t miss?
*Salutes*
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Great read. Keep them coming.
Thank you. Expect more great content!
smilling