Aim Small

This post was originally published on my first blog, "Dad's Corner."

If you're into history like I am, you already know that weapons have been increasing in accuracy and range since the first bronze-tipped spears.  A javelin used in the Olympics is much more lethal than a primitive spear.  Likewise, a 50-caliber rifle is a great improvement over a musket from the Revolutionary War.  Yet, that war had its sharp-shooters that could hit their targets with surprising accuracy. 

Muskets were smooth bore rifles that shot a lead ball.  When fired, the hot gasses would push the ball down the barrel, much like today's guns.  However, because the inside of the barrel was smooth, the ball would come out spinning in a single direction.  So, like a curveball thrown by a baseball pitcher, it would arc through the air and go off-target further and further.  At a range of 200 yards, the musket was much less reliable than it was under 100.  Having a group of sharp-shooters would give you a keen edge in any battle. 

In the Revolutionary War movie, The Patriot, Mel Gibson's character Benjamin Martin reminds his sons about what they learned in hunting: "Aim small, miss small."  In essence, he was saying that if you aim at an animal or soldier, you will have less of a chance at hitting your target than if you focus in on a smaller portion of the target, like a tuft of fur or a button.  Even if you didn't hit the button, you would still be much more likely to hit the soldier wearing the button.

Most of us want to be great fathers.  Not just good fathers, but great ones.  But in your mind, what does that look like?  Does it mean spending time with your children in the evenings when you get home from work?  If so, how much time?  Does it mean taking one of your children out for some one-on-one time?  If so, then how often would you go out?  Put the target up there, get as small as you can on the bulls-eye, and then exhale and pull the trigger.  You may not hit your exact mark, but you'll come a lot closer to hitting the mark as a great father.

Aim small, miss small.