7 Life lessons that Rifle Shooting taught me

A lot of us have watched movie characters going to a gun range and shooting some shots to blow off steam. Seems cool, glamorous and thrilling, doesn't it? But there's so much more to shooting than what meets the eye.

Here's what I learned from this experience:-

1. Groundwork- Laying the right groundwork is essential to shooting. Breathe, Hold, Aim, Trigger, Follow through - these are the fundamental steps that have to be followed while shooting. Perfecting each element is a must as without these, one can never shoot the perfect shot. There are no shortcuts and building a strong foundation is key to getting to the top.

2. Discipline - Balancing on a plank, mental and physical training everyday was a must. This was part of the groundwork and while it may not seem directly connected to shooting, it was essential as it instilled a sense of discipline. Disciplined everyday efforts compound over time to give the best results and have a direct impact on performance.

3. Focus- the right kind of focus is when you focus on the process more than the outcome. The outcome will follow if you master the process behind every shot. Be more process driven than just outcome driven.

4. Consistency -Hitting one great shot does not seal the deal. There is a concept called grouping in shooting which indicates the consistency of one's shots. Shooting multiple shots accurately and consistently is what differentiates a good player from a great one. Don't undermine the importance of consistency in your work-life.

5. Patience -Sometimes it takes 30 shots to get to that one perfect shot and at times it may even take more. You need to hit every shot with the same conviction and keep at it till you hit your target. Sometimes things take time in life, be patient and have faith in your efforts.

6. Deep work -This is the kind of work that pushes your cognitive abilities to their limit. It requires a distraction free mind and environment. Perfect shots are an outcome of this. So leave your worries & gadgets behind and concentrate on the task at hand.

7. Resilience - There is a concept of cancelling a shot which is done when the setup to a shot is not satisfactory. Every shot requires the right build up to it. If you miss out on setting up the right shot, you'll miss out on hitting the right shot. Shooting taught me that its okay to start all over again from scratch and to double down on efforts.