It’s about a lot more than just breaking the target.

“For those who come seeking our advice . . . 

our task is not to instruct but to enlighten.”

Daniel L. Schindler

She came to River Bend with a group of maybe ten ladies. Most had never touched a firearm. Once inside the clubhouse, surrounded by anxious looks, I offered confidence and safety in each handshake. The atmosphere softened as smiles replaced looks of apprehension.

Seating them around a large conference table, I explained that anyone who did not want to shoot today didn’t have to. A rush of relief went across many faces. I did, however, ask everyone to come and watch, supporting their friends in the shooting box. All agreed, anticipation replacing fear.

Eye-dominance checks and adjustments completed with my shooters, eye and ear protection in hand for everyone, off we went.

Assembling at the 5-Stand, I had the guns, low-recoil ammunition and super-friendly targets all set. Eager, my first shooter needed no further invitation.

“Give me a shell, Dan. Let’s GO!!!”

Keeping my instruction short, I had her success secured even before the trap machine fired. The only sound louder than the gun was the thunderous cheering behind us. Target pieces still falling out of the sky, her hand was already open for the next shell.

Thoroughly enjoying themselves, pride shone brightly on the faces in the shooting box.

And so it went, each lady having her turn, some asking, “Can I come back tomorrow and do this again?”

Ever mindful of safety and what was happening around me, more than once I noticed Annie in the back, intently watching everything.

Always standing in the same place.

Noticeably quiet.

For some reason, peripherally, I remained aware of her watching.

As my last and final shooter stepped out, Annie’s hand went up very tentatively. I sensed she was asking herself just as much as she was asking me.

Readers—the group silence was deafening—her friends already knew what this was about.

Approaching me slowly, everything about her revealed fear and apprehension.

Except her eyes.

In no uncertain terms, her fiercely determined expression told me this wasn’t just about shooting.

Pay attention, Dan!

I could feel her friends’ support pressing against my back. The look on my face reassuring her…

YOU CAN DO THIS!

As I always do, I took my time preparing her.

A look of desperate hope in her eyes.

Fear caused the first miss.

Her anger only deepened her resolve to get this done!

Our audience?

Stone still.

Chamber loaded, my hand coming off her shoulder to calm her, I pushed the button...X!

Five more times.

X. X. X. X. X.

Not a dry eye remained behind me as applause erupted and Annie stepped out of the shooting box.

Thanking everyone, I began collecting today’s gear.

A tap on my shoulder.

I was led to the hushed circle of hands surrounding her. In the middle, head down and choking back tears, she braced herself to speak.

“I’ve been told all my life that I would fail…fail at everything. As a child and then as a teenager, my parents, teachers and classmates all said I would never succeed and that I would disappoint everyone around me.

“For too long, every single day, from sunrise to sunset, fear has beaten me down.

“Not today.

“Today, I won.

“A gun and a little encouragement showed me they were all wrong. I will never, ever again be the victim of their mistaken beliefs.

“Thank you, Mr. Schindler.”

You’re very welcome.

Thank you, Miss Annie.

That afternoon wasn’t merely about teaching Annie to shoot. It was about giving her a safe opportunity to prove those voices wrong for herself.

As instructors, we have opportunities to change people’s lives in ways we cannot possibly fathom.

Knowing how to teach is honorable and important. Knowing how to orchestrate and execute an amazing experience—one built around the individual standing in front of me—is something I have worked on diligently throughout my career and continue working on today.

I am grateful for each and every opportunity.

As an instructor, you never know what someone may be struggling with outside of their shooting. You do not know what they carried with them when they arrived or what they desperately hope to leave behind.

I have been blessed with opportunities to be a change-maker.

There was the shooter in Detroit battling three kinds of cancer, whose dying wish was to break 25 skeet targets one last time. He did.

There was the master-class airline pilot in Colorado who was ready to walk away from shooting after too many bad experiences. Using my proprietary Blind Man’s Drill, he discovered his own signature swing—and rediscovered the joy he thought he had lost.

There was the woman who had endured abuse and learned to channel those horrors into her shooting, face her fears, and move forward into a more rewarding life.

And there was Annie.

I cannot take credit for those moments. I believe this is my Divine calling.

When I find myself in the most challenging situations, I stand still. The answers come to me. I remain in awe, listen carefully and do as I am instructed.

Annie’s life changed that day.

And once again, I was reminded that a broken target can promise a much deeper meaning than an X.

My wish is for every instructor to become such a competent instructor that they can have these kinds of experiences and for shooters in need to find an instructor who helps them reach their highest potential.

Be safe. Shoot well. And thank you sincerely for spending time with us.

XXXX

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Trusted by Shooters Worldwide for More Than Three Decades.

Many shooters start their Paragon journey with Dan Schindler's books and audio programs before working with Dan personally. These trusted resources have helped shooters in more than 30 countries better understand their shooting, solve problems, and build greater consistency.