Ballistics 101
Aim small, miss small
When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to join the Marine Corps because I assumed I would never have to do math again.
During my training as a Marine sniper, we spent a lot of time focusing on math.
I learned that long-range shooting relies on the study of ballistics, a field of applied physics. And so I conceded to learning enough math to get by.
But, I will spare you the formulas and focus on two simple principles.
The farther away the target is the higher you have to raise your sights.
To get on target, you have to zero your rifle, and it is best to zero your rifle on a close target, otherwise, you’ll have no idea where you are hitting.
How does this apply to life?
When you are preparing to aim for a new goal in life, it’s best to start close, and get rounds on target.
If that’s running a marathon, get really good at running the mile, then increase.
Build the habits, develop the systems, and create the consistency necessary before moving the target farther away.
If you want to run a 6-minute mile and you currently run a 6:30 mile, you can probably see the path to get there. You can see the target.
If you currently can’t run a mile, the 6-minute mile is too far away. Make the target completing a mile. Once you’ve hit it, move the target.
When you are hitting consistently, increase the difficulty and the distance to the target.
Ultimately, for optimal performance, we should aim for a challenge that pushes us just beyond the limit of our current capabilities as defined by the Yerkes-Dodson Arousal Curve.
And, yes, the Yerkes-Dodson Arousal Curve is based on math.
You can’t get away from it.
Until next week, Keep Walking Point!
Join me in September running, rucking, or walking 100 miles to support Project Recover. We are a non-profit dedicated to locating and recovering the remains of American MIAs.
Our biggest fundraising event of the year is the Mission-Miles event.
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See you next Thursday!
It sometimes feels as if my entire life was from point of concern on.
All of my sniper training came from Medal of Honor and Battlefield! Can’t imagine doing it in the real world. Awesome analogy as always, John.