“First, say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” - Epictetus

What makes training effective? What makes practice productive? Why do some people progress and others spin their wheels for years? On a larger level, why do some people achieve life goals and continue personal growth throughout their lifetimes while others stagnate or regress into ever worse versions of themselves? There are many factors obviously, but one of the most important is that growth and success require purposeful practice.

For practice to be purposeful, it has to be focused and directed. This is the difference between training like an athlete and working out, between training your shooting and plinking, between study and recreational reading. The first step in planning out the next leg of your journey, whatever your goals, whatever your starting point, is a needs analysis. Want to be a Black Belt, a USPSA Grand Master, a Green Beret? Your goals determine your training needs, and an objective evaluation of where you are currently charts your course.

A needs analysis in our context here is a relatively straightforward planning process that all too few people undertake. Want to complete Special Forces Selection? One of the many on demand performance metrics for that process is a12 mile roadmarch carrying a 45 pound rack plus food, water, and a weapon in 3 hours or less. This has to be done hungry, exhausted, and possibly injured. So fresh and uninjured a performance “buffer” should be built in. This same planning process is done for all the known performance metrics for the goal.

Once you’ve done your needs analysis, your training is easily planned. Then every session is easy to organize so that it advances you efficiently towards that goal. Practice becomes purposeful and deliberate. Anyone who is a champion athlete got there by training, not working out. Top level shooters have organized live and dry fire sessions, they don’t plink. To succeed, be deliberate and purposeful in everything you do.