By Damien Koziol, TAB Franchisee, Basingstoke
Sometimes the best things in life happen almost by accident. That's certainly how my passion for archery began.
When my twins were very young, they decided they wanted to give archery a go. It was something I'd always liked the idea of trying, so I went along with them. As often happens with children, their enthusiasm eventually moved on to other things. Mine didn't.
They stopped going, but I carried on. What started as a family activity gradually became a serious hobby, then a competitive interest, and eventually something I enjoyed so much that I became a qualified archery coach.
Looking back, I never imagined that picking up a bow would teach me quite so much, not just about archery, but about myself, how I approach challenges and how I help business owners through my work with The Alternative Board (TAB) in Basingstoke.
From the outside, archery looks reasonably straightforward. You take a bow, aim at a target and release an arrow. How difficult can it be? Quite difficult, as it turns out.
The more I got involved, the more I realised just how complex the sport is. There's a surprising amount to learn about the equipment, how to set it up correctly and how to adapt it as you improve. Then there's the technique. Getting everything right once is one thing. Being able to repeat it consistently is something else entirely. But perhaps the biggest challenge is what's going on inside your head.
You can have the best equipment available and excellent technique, but if you're not in the right frame of mind, your performance will suffer. It's as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
There's also a wonderful history and a great deal of tradition and etiquette associated with archery. Some of that is gradually disappearing, which I think is a shame, because it's part of what makes the sport so interesting. And, of course, there's the satisfaction of watching an arrow fly exactly where you intended it to go. Although I should point out that doesn't happen quite as often as I'd like.
Like most beginners, my first challenge was simply trying to hit the target consistently. As my technique improved, I started entering club competitions. Archery competitions are generally very good-natured affairs. There's plenty of friendly rivalry, a lot of encouragement and a fair amount of laughter. And it's always nice to win occasionally. But something interesting happened as I became more experienced. I found myself spending more time helping other people.
When you're at a certain level, beginners naturally start asking for advice. You also begin noticing things that people could be doing differently, sometimes for their own safety, given that we're dealing with what is ultimately a potentially dangerous weapon. Eventually, I decided to qualify as a coach so I could help people properly. And somewhere along the way, I discovered something important about myself.
I get more satisfaction from helping somebody else improve than I do from improving my own performance.
These days, I probably spend more time coaching than shooting. And I'm perfectly happy with that. There's something enormously rewarding about watching somebody struggle with a particular technique, helping them make one small adjustment and then seeing the difference it makes.
Of course, we also have plenty of fun. Archery attracts a wonderfully varied group of people, with all sorts of interesting bows and approaches to shooting. We often invent different challenges and competitions just to keep things entertaining. It's a close-knit, slightly quirky community, and that's a big part of why I enjoy it.
One of the biggest lessons archery has taught me is also one of the most useful in my work with business owners. When I'm coaching a beginner, I can often see several things they need to change.
Their stance might be wrong. Their grip might need adjusting. Their release might be inconsistent. There could be half a dozen improvements that would help them shoot better. But if I tell them everything at once, they'll probably struggle to improve any of it. Instead, I ask myself a simple question.
What's the one change that will make the biggest difference?
We focus on that, practise it and make sure it becomes part of their technique. Only then do we move on to the next improvement. It's exactly the same principle I use when working with business owners through TAB.
Running a business can be overwhelming. There are always more things to do, problems to solve and opportunities to pursue than there are hours in the day.
Having spent over 35 years in business, from large organisations to working with growing, owner-managed companies, I've learnt that trying to fix everything at once rarely works. What makes a difference is identifying the most important priority, taking action and building on the results.
When somebody sees the benefit of making one meaningful change, they gain confidence. They're then much more willing to tackle the next challenge. You don't have to change everything overnight to make significant progress. Sometimes one well-chosen adjustment can transform your performance. Whether that's in archery or in business, the principle is remarkably similar.
People sometimes ask what archery gives me personally. My answer is that, on a good day, it gives me calm. On a bad day, it can drive me absolutely crazy! But even on those frustrating days, it gives me something incredibly valuable: a complete break from everything else.
As a TAB facilitator, it's very easy to become absorbed in the businesses I support. I work closely with more than twenty local business owners, helping them think through their challenges, make decisions and achieve their goals.
Naturally, those conversations stay with you. You find yourself thinking about somebody's business problem while you're driving, walking or doing something completely unrelated. Archery forces me to switch off from all of that.
When you're preparing to shoot, you need to concentrate completely on what you're doing. Your stance, your breathing, your technique and the target in front of you all demand your attention.
If your mind starts wandering towards tomorrow's meeting or a problem somebody mentioned earlier in the week, there's a good chance your arrow won't go where you want it to.
In that sense, archery can be a little like meditation. You have to be fully in the moment. And I've found that when I return to work afterwards, I often see things differently. Problems that seemed complicated become clearer. Priorities become easier to identify. Sometimes simply stepping away gives you the perspective you need. I think that's particularly important for business owners, who rarely get the opportunity to completely disconnect from their responsibilities.
Of all my experiences in archery, there's one that stands out. A few years ago, I was coaching a beginners' course when a young girl joined us. From the outset, she was determined to do well. It was clear that she had some natural ability, but what really impressed me was her attitude.
She wanted to learn. She listened, practised and kept working to improve. As the years went by, her talent became increasingly obvious, but so did her extraordinary dedication. She also had tremendous support from her dad, who spent countless hours taking her to competitions and making sure she had opportunities to practise at home. Today, she's part of the GB Archery squad, travelling around the world to compete.
Her dad has very kindly credited me with helping her get to where she is, which is lovely, but I know the truth. Her success is down to her own determination, hard work and the support of her family. I simply had the privilege of helping her along the way. I'm convinced that one day I'll be watching her compete at the Olympics, and I genuinely can't wait.
For me, that's what coaching is all about. It's not about taking the credit or being the person who has all the answers. It's about helping somebody discover what they're capable of and giving them the support and encouragement to get there. And it's precisely what I love about being part of TAB.
The business owners I work with know their businesses far better than I ever will. My role is to help them think differently, ask the right questions, challenge their assumptions when necessary and make the changes that move them closer to their goals.
Seeing somebody achieve something they previously thought was out of reach is hugely satisfying. Whether that's an archer representing Great Britain or a business owner finally achieving the freedom they've been working towards, the feeling is much the same.
Of course, maintaining a passion outside work isn't always easy. There's an old English law, dating back centuries, that required men to practise archery regularly. I sometimes think bringing that back might help me find more time to shoot.
The reality is that archery takes practice, and practice takes time. Between running my TAB business, supporting members and attending evening networking events, finding regular opportunities to shoot can be a challenge. It's also not the cheapest hobby.
As you improve, you often need a stronger bow. Then you discover that your arrows need changing to match. Before long, you're looking at different materials, accessories and all sorts of gadgets that promise to make you a better archer.
You can spend a small fortune if you're not careful. But despite the demands on my time and the occasional temptation to buy another piece of equipment, it's something I make an effort to continue. Because I know it's good for me.
I think archery has made me a calmer, more thoughtful person. It's helped me become a better coach, particularly when it comes to understanding what somebody is struggling with and asking questions rather than immediately offering solutions.
It's also taught me to look at setbacks differently. I'd like to say that when I have a terrible day shooting, I calmly reflect on what went wrong and focus on improving next time. In reality, I'm probably just grumpy for a while. But eventually, I pick up the bow again and have another go. And perhaps there's a lesson in that too.
I don't have particularly grand ambitions for my own archery career. I'm not chasing medals or trying to become the best archer in the country. If I can continue enjoying the sport, spending time with the people involved and helping a few more archers achieve their ambitions, I'll be very happy. And if I can help another young archer on their journey towards the Olympics, that would be something very special indeed.
What matters most to me is the opportunity to make a difference to somebody else's journey. That's something that connects my passion for archery with my passion for supporting business owners.
In both, I enjoy understanding what people want to achieve, helping them overcome whatever is holding them back and watching their confidence grow as they make progress. There's something incredibly satisfying about knowing you've played a small part in somebody else's success.
If there's one thing I'd encourage other business owners to think about, it's the importance of finding something you're passionate about outside work. I know that's easier said than done.
When you're running a business, there are always competing demands on your time. There's always another customer to speak to, another problem to solve or another opportunity to pursue. And sometimes the hardest part is understanding yourself well enough to know what you'd genuinely enjoy doing if you gave yourself the space to explore it.
I certainly didn't expect that taking my children to an archery session would eventually lead to years of coaching, competitions, friendships and some wonderful experiences. But I'm very glad it did.
Your passion doesn't need to be competitive, expensive or particularly ambitious. It simply needs to be something that gives you enjoyment and an opportunity to step away from the everyday pressures of work. Because taking time for yourself isn't time wasted.
It can make you calmer, more resilient, more focused and better equipped to deal with the challenges waiting for you when you return. And perhaps, like me, you'll discover that something you originally started for a bit of fun teaches you more about yourself than you ever expected.
After all, sometimes the best way to hit your target is to stop thinking about everything else and focus on what's right in front of you.
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