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Aim for the Moon, and the Stars Surely Won’t Get In the Way

Writer's picture: Yan KatchYan Katch

Updated: 5 hours ago




Today while playing bowling I noticed a very interesting pattern: I hit a spare when there is one pin left with a 90% accuracy, comparatively to a much less accurate initial shot when all the pins are standing.


Narrowing my scope and aim to one single pin increases my accuracy tremendously. This is relatively obvious, but why does this happen, and most importantly, what learning can I extract from this to apply elsewhere in life?


It's not an easy to task to get a strike. Sure, it means to knock all the pins down, but that's a multi step operation where a lot of variables have to line up correctly. The release, the power, the spin, the point of contact... so in reality, properly executing a strike really means aligning all the single point variables correctly to achieve a greater goal down the line (or in this case, down the lane).


In the game of bowling, especially when it involves friends and competition, there is more at play. Your current score, what you need to hit to catch up or stay in the lead, how the other players are throwing, how you threw last turn and what went wrong, and so on. All of these considerations cloud the mind and take away from properly executing on the immediate goal.


While my general first attempt shot is pretty decent, where I excel significantly is the second shot, especially when aiming at a single last standing pin. I'm consistently more accurate, precise, and my form looks an feels better. And why is that?


The number of variables in consideration reduces - becomes less complex - and what I am aiming at becomes super obvious. There is one pin to hit, and I just need to focus on throwing straight. I stop thinking about the score, the concept of getting a strike or a spare, and simply focus on throwing straight.


While this technique is not a philosophical revelation, it was an interesting observation of how my mind and body act in the moment and what happens differently during a single pin shot compared to an opening shot. Why can't I channel the same kind of energy and focus in every shot? Well, maybe I can!


Especially nowadays, even though I deleted all social medias, my attention is called upon from an infinite number of sources at every moment of the day. Not only from the external world - but from internal stimuli, desires, and aims. I catch myself in a weird limbo of analysis paralysis even when trying to do a relatively simple task like cleaning the house - there are so many options, my mind is racing , and I think of 31 items and must do's simultaneously while recalling obligations I forgot about from weeks ago.


I can't clean the house as a concept by executing on the vague concept of cleaning... I execute one small step at a time, which adds up to the house being clean. Same goes for executing business goals, more complex social plans, or really anything for that matter.


As a "big picture" person, I live in the land of grand dreams and far away ideas, and this simple observation and concept really helps me be grounded and execute.


Playing games while being cognizant of my performance and mindset, especially during sports, is the most effective training and self-improvement regiment. Iterations are quick and the feedback loop of success/failure is obvious.


(To be discussed in another blog - how to balance and juggle between aiming for the strike and aiming for the pin. There's a right time for both.)


And so, I leave something to think about:


What am I aiming at? In any given moment and across longer spans of time.


Is it the music playing in the bowling alley, or is it the pin in front of me?







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