The 2019 paintball season is a wrap. The NXL World Cup has come and gone and the carnage left in its wake is magnificent. Now it’s time to return to the “other life” or what most rational people call the “real world”. No doubt the off season silliness will begin soon enough. I, myself, plan on taking a hiatus to spend time with family and friends and refocus on some things that fell to the wayside during this wild season. Like my snap shot…
I don’t think many would argue that competition is almost always a good thing. Those who would argue, probably believe that socialism works and will no doubt vote democrat in the next election. Competition IS good. It forces us to do our best. A monopoly in anything is usually bad and renders people complacent only to become satisfied with mediocrity (see socialism). I personally enjoy competition. I find that I enjoy challenges in the spirit of competition. And that is how this whole adventure with CEP began.
When I was first asked to coach CEP prior to Chicago 2018, I asked my wife if she thought I should do it. I was skeptical because it would mean time away from the family again. I don’t half ass anything. She looked me square in the eye and said, “You’re the one always preaching about how if teams would just follow the process, they would do better. What better team to see if it really works than with that one? I think you should do it.”
She had me there…
So I agreed to come and coach for Chicago.
What kind of leap would the team see in just one event and a couple of practices? You had come off a 2017 season where you had won 1 match out of 16 matches played. The 2018 season wasn’t going that much better. After 3 events you had still only won 1 match out of 12 matches played.
So we had a challenge facing us; how could we become a competitive team in the NXL’s division 2? We started with the very foundation. We tore everything down and rebuilt it from scratch… not the personnel mind you, but the culture and the mindset. The approach the team had learned from others was detonated and blown to smithereens. No longer would it be allowed near you because it was toxic to success and counter intuitive. Once we established what the environment would be – one of accountability, work ethic, and order – then we got to work on the implementation. It was a trial by fire for sure. Not an easy task… there was kicking and biting and gnashing of teeth, but we would get there. We would restructure practice, we would drill till you were sick, we would discuss do’s and don’ts, we would talk about the WHY, the HOW, and the WHEN. Then we would do it all over again.
It’s been said that the best competition occurs when average people win by putting in above average effort. And that’s what I saw with each of you. You each brought a specific strength to the game along with some…well…not strengths (and that’s okay). The goal was to leverage those strengths based off our roster depth, how each of those strengths could be applied to the layout, and finally, how each of those strengths could be used in conjunction with each other to achieve a goal on the field. We would “Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, and add what was uniquely our own”. (You better know who said that!)
We also implemented a theme in Chicago – “Win the point”. Too many teams look past the moment or cling to a past moment; especially you guys! No, we would be IN the moment – that one point – that’s all that would exist until it was over and we heard “Point approved”. Not the previous point or a future point. The existing point, that’s where we would work. And it paid off. You made your first Sunday in Chicago going 3-1 in the prelims. We would then be faced with another diabolical challenge: you had afternoon bracket games for the prelims and now you had to be up early to play at 8am Sunday morning! This was new territory for the team. You had never been in the top 12 before. You lost a close game in the Ochos taking 9th at the event. But now you had tasted it…and motivation grew again.
I thought my job was complete but you had other plans. So we decided to team up again and prepare for World Cup. We would need a new theme and I had just the one.
“Believe.”
Besides changing the culture and our approach to practice and events, we had to change the mentality of the team. Why are we here? What are we doing this for? What’s the goal? There were certainly times I felt I was banging my head against a brick wall with this part of the process and I am positive there were times you thought I was difficult, overly critical, cranky, and maybe even harsh. But I think deep down you understood.
We went to World Cup in 2018 and on day one you came out swinging by mercying the first two teams 5-0 each. The next day we would tie our next match and win our last. Our second Sunday had arrived but this time it would be different. We would mercy the team we played in the ochos 6-1 then win another hard fought match in the quarters. We would face a solid team who moved on to Semi pro the next season and take them into overtime only to lose a long hard fought 2 and a half minute point on a layout that was averaging half that. And then it happened… you quit on me. Realizing you weren’t playing for 1st but now for pride and a 3rd place finish… you quit on me. You didn’t care anymore; it was all or nothing with you. You wanted too much too fast. Only two or three of you even wanted to play the next match. The team we tied in the Prelims would turn around and mercy us! To say I was disappointed would be the understatement of the year. I couldn’t fathom a team that wouldn’t give 150% every match, especially one coming off such lackluster performances in earlier seasons/events.
So, when I received the call to coach you for the entire next season, I was not interested. My wife would once again play an integral role. I wasn’t going to do it and I told her I didn’t think I could coach guys who quit when it counted. That’s when she said, “Sounds like you are being called to toughen them up.”
Sometimes this woman…
So I accepted the job again under a few strict conditions and we were off to the grind once again.
The season would prove to be a rollercoaster of a ride. And I must admit, I am happy I agreed to coach you for the season. Each of you I have grown to appreciate and call friend. I think we have each taught each other several lessons over this season. You would go on to make another 5 consecutive Sundays and now you are the 2019 NXL Division Two Series Champions for a reason. Because you faced Las Vegas “Together”, you had “Trust” in one another while in Dallas, you kept your “Focus” when we were in Philly, you showed “Discipline” in Chicago, and “Strength” at World Cup (maybe we should have switched the last two? Lol). And you did this even though the team was spread out over 4 states and could only get together on layout weekends! Imagine what this team could have accomplished if we were able to get together on off weekends as well!!?
Gentlemen – I prayed for the words every practice and every event while I led you this year. Sometimes the words I had worked and sometimes they didn’t. But I promise you, they always came from the same sincere and honest place. Words can be a powerful force. We can choose to use them constructively or destructively. I always chose the constructive approach because I genuinely want the best for you, not just in the paintball arena but in the “real world” too. We can use our words to help, to heal, or hurt, or humiliate. Use them to better yourself and those around you. Have your teammates back and stand your ground for what you believe.
Enjoy your series title but never forget what it took to get you there. The work ethic, the mentality, and the culture you experienced with one another is all vital to success. It’s ingrained in history now and no one can take that away from you. The question is, what will you do next? Because let me tell you…Semi Pro will require twice the energy and effort you put in this year. So, should you choose to continue, you better be willing to get after it twice as hard because that is what it will take to be competitive and win.
Michael Jordan said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” That was CEP this year. If you can build a little more consistency, you guys will be solid. You all did what was necessary most of the time ;). If you all continue to focus on what you can control and do the small things well- together you can win.
To the World Cup team -Christian Cifuentes, Aaron Barnes, Ryan Gibbons, Keaton Rhodes, Justin Bailey, Daniel “Ronny” Tiner, Collin Cherry, and Wes Ward – Well done!
And to members of the team from 2018 to prior to world cup – Jacob Bright, Sean Gronning, Chris Kent, Matt Wilson, and especially Casey DeRossett for all the behind scenes work– Thank you!
God Bless and be water my friends
Coach
PS – I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible service and partnership we received from #Pro-Shar paintballs and #Carbon Paintball.
I mean, it was outstanding! And we can’t forget all the amazing photographers – Michael Mohr, Dane Hawkins, Sean Snell, Soulless Photography, and Fava
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
Admit it, you like to look good. Who doesn’t? Taking pride in one’s appearance should not be disparaged. However, there has never been a vainer creature to walk the earth than perhaps a paintball player.
And why not? We play a high adrenaline sport where we shoot at each other, donning our “helmets”, our “uniforms”, “warring” with each other in “combat”, out thinking, out maneuvering, and out gunning our opponents like we are John Wick performing the Mozambique technique (at least that’s how we see ourselves yes?) Which brings us to the ones who captured it… the forgotten ones……the people who make us look good. The people who tell the story for those who were and weren’t there. Those who capture our most personal moments on the field and in some instances, off.
In triumph and defeat, I am, of course, speaking about paintball photographers.
“Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have had the privilege to meet and make friends with several photographers over my years in the sport, all with unique personalities. Each with a talent that is often misunderstood in a profession that is often misunderstood as well.
I thought, after all the times that they have helped us tell our story, we should hear theirs. I reached out to some who have not only made me look good but many of you as well. I have known some for years and others I have recently become acquainted with through teams I coach or other friends. All of them have something in common beside their paintball photography and that is that I find their work awesome.
When I first thought about doing this blog, I really didn’t know where or how I was going to write it. I thought, keep it simple. So I just shot off a couple of questions to see what I would get. What I got was some further insight into what I already knew were some pretty cool human beings. I am honored to know them so, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls (there are only two genders…) I give you my friends the paintball photographers!
BAUMS AWAY!
You can’t have a blog or whatever about paintball photographers without mentioning the guy who pretty much paved the way. Those cool action photos of the NXL professional division? Those cool NXL Europe photos you see of their pro division? Yeah, you can’t say paintball photos without mentioning Paintballphotography.com, run by none other than the man, the myth, the legend…Gary Baum.
A sighting of the Gary Baum creature in his natural habitat
How many of you know he is a orthodontist with a post doctoral degree, teaches at Universities, does leading research and writes journals for jaw surgery as well as a legal consultant and commercial drone pilot? Or that he wrote the NXL waivers? Did you know that 9 weekends out of the year he’ll walk 10 miles carrying around 50 lbs. of equipment?
Gary and I go back to 2011 (I was certainly familiar with his work prior – who wasn’t?). He came up to me after our finals match at World Cup and said, “Hey, that was a good match.” (It wasn’t…but thank you Gary). From then on, he and I would always stop and chat when we could. I spent about an hour and half on the phone with him recently and I have to tell you, I could probably write the entire blog on Gary alone. But he wouldn’t want that.
“Here’s my personal philosophy – I want to be that wedding photographer – he walks around, no one notices him, he does his job and goes home. Some people think I am anti social. I’m not. I’m there to work , I’m there to do a job. I don’t care what people think of me. I don’t need a persona. In my opinion, media should be invisible. I’m judged by my content not what I look or act like.”
“I started taking pics at NPPL at the first Huntington beach. Camille let me on the field. (That’s a funny story too – Zen). Afterwards, I got a call from Jungle magazine – they asked for me to give them 5 pictures – When they got them, I got hired on spot. Then things just took off.”
How many of you know that Jungle Magazine owns Facefull?
“I hated watching the paintball magazines all fold.”
Me too.
Did you know he has written the media regulations for all the leagues? NPPL/PSP/NXL – He’s known Tom Cole forever – And works for GI and Valken.
“I don’t make good pictures I take good pictures. I’m a witness…like a press photographer.”
So how does he get the shots?
“Pros are easy… they move easily. They are predictable. I’ve been shooting some of these guys for a long time so I have learned their nuances. I know what looks good. It’s the brute force approach. I take a lot of photos so I’m going to get some that look good. Spray and pray really. I’ve probably watched more paintball matches than anyone alive. I’m ambidextrous in my eyes and hands and I have great peripheral eyesight.”
“Speedball is repetitive. Scenario is more challenging. I want eyes as it gives a level of intensity. Now, you get shot to shit but I don’t notice it anymore.”
Like I said, we could probably write an entire disertation on Gary… but I like how he closed out our converation.
“So many great photographers coming up. I don’t have competitors. I have colleagues and I want to see them all do well.”
Word. Thank you for your amazing contributions to our sport sir.
BIGGER’N DALLAS?
This next photographer started taking photographs of paintball because he wanted to show his friends what they looked like when they played. It morphed from there.
“My friend got me into it back in 2006. I did take regular photos, but really enjoyed paintball photos. Video was just a natural progression, cameras nowadays have both abilities. We’d go to my house after practice and we’d make little edits just to share between us. ”
I remember Hunter Laughlin of Tufshot Media handing out his Tufshot stickers at an event (CFOA maybe?) back around 2010? I also remember every member of my team grabbing some and putting them on our hoppers. Mine stayed on my hopper for almost 3 years! What I like about Hunter is how passionate he is about … well… everything.
Hunter “Dallas” Laughlin and his famous smirk. Photo cred to Marcos Barradas
“Paintball is the most epic thing to shoot in my opinion because it’s so exciting. To me, nothing compares to seeing someone shoot someone else. Race cars, real guns…. nothing compares to seeing someone get someone else.”
He’s quick to tell you about the investment. And understandably so. I, personally, could not do it.
“One thing I wish people understood is how much money we spend on equipment, and how much our equipment takes. I’ve taken 100K+ setups on field before.”
Do you think paintball photographers and refs get the respect they deserve?
“Refs have it pretty bad but they have zero responsibility when they leave that field. Videographers and photographers have to worry about putting thousands of dollars of their own equipment in front of 300 mph objects… Once the event is over…. then the real work begins…. editing. For the next three weeks you edit and edit and edit. No one goes through what we go through…I filmed 40 teams last event. We don’t get to see games, just record parts, and rarely know who wins. So when people say they do it for the sport and say “grow paintball,” I snicker …. because none of them do what we do for our sport.”
Thank you Hunter! Please keep up the great work! And thank you for that video edit too!
STRETCHING IT TO THE LIMIT
I know one photographer who towers above the others… literally. And his Cooper has logged more miles in one season than most people put on their vehicle in a lifetime. Not to mention looks better than most paintball players. I also believe he was the first photographer that Prime hired when we finally felt like we were worth documenting. And yes, he did an excellent job.
“I got into photography shooting photos of my car. I was still playing paintball at the time. Once I figured out you could make money instead of spending it, I sold my guns and started taking photos. I haven’t shot a paintball gun in probably 6 years.”
Nice. Dude’s totally pragmatic. And I certainly appreciate that. So why does Phillip “Stretch” Baker of 1904Photography take photos of paintball players?
Only trees are taller than Phil. He has an elevated skill set. (See what I did there Stretch?)
“I like shooting paintball because it has a lot going for it in terms of photos… the action and emotion of the sport, plus cool stuff like snagging a photo that is clearly a fraction of a second, the splat.”
I asked Stretch to pick one specific thing that he wished people knew about him. He wasn’t having it. Instead, he gave me another sensible answer which I appreciated because of his candor.
“I’m terrible with questions requiring me to pick one thing… ha-ha, it always varies depending how I feel that day. Today’s answer is…. I’m not as much of an asshole as people think… I’m just quiet.”
Awesome. I think that’s what I love about Stretch… a man of few words but all are thought out. Thank you Mr. Baker sir for your continued work!
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MOHR!
This next photographer works with Gary and Hunter at NXL events. He also thinks I’m an angry guy… I’m not. But that is a story over beer… and with both of us at the table to defend our view points. (I’m kidding… He doens’t think I am an angry guy… much)
Michael Mohr of MMPhotography played his first paintball event at a 3 man tournament at Pevs Cousins Indoor on Long Island.
I had to use this one Mike. Don’t look so happy! Photo cred also to Marcos Barradas
“We went 1-7 the whole day. We were excited though because the only team we beat was the first place team of the tournament. Long story short, I had a good time with my friends and got an opportunity to meet Billy Wing and shoot his dm6. A photographer was there and got a picture of me shooting Billy’s new gun. I was beyond excited to get that one awesome clear picture. So even though we were terrible I got a memory of a good time I had with my friends on my first tournament.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
“I was taking photos for other stuff at the time but I wanted to be that photographer that got photos of the “new guys” of our sport. So, even though you could have gone 5-3,4-4 and just didn’t quite make it on to finals. You had a photo to look back on when you were playing with your bros. Next thing you know, I’m traveling around the states shooting multiple events meeting great people new friends and capturing great memories for people.”
Prime was lucky enough to be one of those teams a few times… But his story started like a lot of other photogrpahers that end up in Paintball.
“I was a normal photographer doing couples’ shoots and basic non action stuff. I was introduced into paintball at an early stage of my photography career as well though. As the years go by you learn and grow and find what’s your style for the sport.”
I like that line. Style for the sport. And it make sense to me. So what is it about Paintball he loves to shoot and why?
“No sport will compare to the speed of paintball. To be able to freeze a paintball in midair or a splat off someone’s mask. Any player in any position can make a great play and you have to be ready at all times or you’ll miss the shot. I almost get an adrenaline rush taking photos sometimes because the action gets so intense. I love having the ability to capture those action shots.
But again I love the friendships this sport creates. Memories between father and son, brothers, friends both good and bad. These moments in paintball are worth everything too.”
Outstanding view point my friend! Thank you again for all your amazing work sir! And remember, it’s not anger if it motivates them… lol
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME
What I find fascinating about Nichola Hayden in particular is that she hasn’t had any formal training or spent a single day in any photography classes. Everything to do with photography and editing she learned from trial and error. In other words, she practiced every chance she got.
No, not a crazy cat lady, she is an inked rose.
“I first got into paintball photography as a hobby. I’d snap a few pics here and there at the field I worked at. This ended with me shooting some at a tournament that happened and well, it took off from there. No photography experience and I just learned as I went along. It took me just 1 year to get my name and work out there.”
She worked at Westworld Paintball for 6 years. This was after she played paintball and got hooked so she decided to apply for a part-time cashier job there. But, Nichola being Nichola, she worked her way to Field Manager within a few months. After a couple of years doing that, she worked her way into the Marketing Management position, (again no experience in Marketing).
“Give me a few and I will learn my way around the job.”
Shortly after, Tim Montressor asked her while at a local event to cover some Luxe Pro teams.
“Tim Montressor noticed my work and we got to talking at the local events that he teched at and he offered me the opportunity to cover the Pro teams and I of course accepted. I had already built up a good following and in my first year I used to fill all my spots and then some. I got a chance to go to my first World Cup that year thanks to QT aka Aardvark who worked with the Planet Eclipse tech team. He Introduced me to cup teams as I was only covering the local West Coast teams for WCPPL and UPL. He also helped me out to Fulda Gap to cover the official Planet Eclipse team Capital Offense. ”
But why? Why paintball?
“I enjoy shooting it (paintball) because I enjoyed playing it. Unfortunately, I had to step away from playing as it wasn’t financially viable to do as a single parent on a single parent income. So I still got to be in the fray and environment of paintball and able to make extra money doing so. ”
Make no mistake, Nichola is a strong, independent, hard-working woman and is not afraid to speak her mind. Something that I appreciate… and some don’t.
“A lot of people would nay-say and “hate” that I only got the work due to wearing booty shorts and having an overtly sexual presence online. But when NXL banned my short shorts and Fuzzy ears I was still continuously booked. A lot of people who booked me were the parents for their kids. I started taking more time out last year to focus on my personal life and being home more often. But the NXL World Cup 2017 I ended up with 27 total teams booked in. As you can imagine that was hard work and I recruited Jeff Zapfe to assist me. So I believe 100% it was my hard work and having the ability to network and be able to Market myself to anyone that got me so booked.”
Rock on with your bad self girl. May you continue to find great success in 2019 and beyond!
SNAILED IT!
This last photographer is one I just met this past World Cup. We actually run in similar circles but it was the event that led to the meeting. Fun, jovial, opinionated, and driven, this guy is what we call in the south, “a hoot”. He is also quite modest. You can ask him, “Hey, if there was some advice you would give to teams looking to book a photographer, what would you tell them?” and he would say…
“Honestly not really sure here. If you do not know a photographer personally and you are needing pictures at an event ask around other teams and see who they suggest.”
Sean Snell of PFunky Snail photography is a genuine dude. Easy to talk to.
Sean Snell ladies and gentlemen. Would give gredit to APOLLO but don’t know any APOLLOs
“I began playing the sport in 2004 and took a break in 2008 till 2015 where I came back into the sport playing D3. I fell back in love with the sport immediately and found friends that I had honestly forgotten about. The amount of money and time that it took to play competitively throughout the 2015 and 2016 seasons was starting to show and I just could not sustain it any longer. I had always been decent with a camera so I decided to give it a try. The knowledge that I have of the sport mixed with the passion I have for it and photography made a perfect match! I have been able to spend those event weekends with people who I consider family while still being on the field with them, just without a marker.”
So why was it a natural progression to trade the marker for a camera?
“I started doing photography back in 2012 when I was working with a production company shooting for beauty pageants. While with this company I was able to learn the basics of a camera and also learn basics with video as well.”
Beauty pageant photos to paintball photos? I get it…
“My love for the sport and the friends that I have made along the way is 100% why I love photographing this sport. One aspect in photography that I have always hated is posing people. With paintball you take the pictures that are presented to you. Watching down the lens zoomed in as you witness and capture someone just getting destroyed is quite exhilarating!”
Okay, but….
“I do this for the love of the sport. As cliché’ as that sounds it is true. The sport has brought me many friends some of which I consider family and it is all attributed directly to paintball.”
Cheers to that sentiment Sean! Thank you for taking the time to respond to me for this blog. I look forward to getting to know you more and wish you and yours the very best!
I would like to thank all the photographers that took the time for this. There are a million more I wanted to talk to because I think they all have a fascinating story to tell and I truly enjoy hearing them. To those of you who I reached out to but were unable to get back to me in time, no worries! I understand and I am sure we will have another opportunity to tell your stories. In the meantime, if you are interested in the photographers who were in this blog, here are links to their work! And of course, you can find them all on Facebook, as well.
With that, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! I would like to leave you with this quote and prayer…
“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys” – Charles Dickens
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.” – St. Jerome
How many of you wake up every day with a positive attitude? How many of you get out of bed and think to yourself, “Today, I am going to be better than I was the day before.”?
I recognize that not everyone does this. But I am a firm believer that if more of us did, the world, especially the paintball world, would be a much better place. Positive thinking will always lead you to improvement much quicker than negative thinking. I am not ignorant enough to think that negativity won’t rear its ugly head in the most positive of people. Of course it will. But improvement has to start by recognizing you CAN do better and you have to recognize that it has to START somewhere. For instance, if you think you can improve your paintball playing, you’re probably right. If you think you suck and will never improve, well, chances are you’re right about that too.
So is this blog post going to be about the power of positive thinking? Maybe. Maybe not. I’m making this up as I go really but inspiration always strikes somewhere, yeah? I had the distinct priviledge of being asked to commentate this past weekend for a paintball webcast alongside a good friend of mine. I remember thinking, just do your best, try not to be repetitive (I was), silly (I was), or sound dumb (I did a few times). Besides having to speak about the action on the field while interacting with my friend/cohost (both trying to be somewhat interesting), we also had people in the press box talking and yelling as well as had an earpiece in where we could hear the director (shout out to my new friend John from Almost Famous Media) and occasionally a 30 second delay of our own voices. It was tough so hats off to the guys who do this on the reg. When the weekend was over and the last hand was shook, I realized a few things on the drive back home. One, I had a blast and want to do it again. Two, being johnny on the spot while trying to speak effectively and keep it interesting is not very easy. And three, If given another chance, I want to do better… and that got me thinking. What would that mean and what could that mean for others, especially paintball players/teams? So I came up with this:
B– Belief
E– Enthusiasm
T– Training
T– Teamwork
E– Evaluation
R– Recognize
I have been around some successful people in life. And they all seem to have something in common. These successful people are predominantly optimistic. They all took what life threw at them and turned it into something that was good. They chose to learn from adversity as oppose to being a victim. They each took action; they set a goal and went for it. They realized that success is achieved through a few simple behaviors that they repeated daily. But most importantly, they believed in themselves. So as a player or as a team, you have to believe you have what it takes. I heard recently that you can maintain the status quo or you can take a risk. You can be courageous or safe but you can’t have both. So believe in yourself, your team, as it is this belief that will start it all off.
“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin
I can’t remember if it was my mother or my father who told me that, if I didn’t expect great things to happen in my life, I would never recognize them when they did. It is easy to get bogged down. The pursuit of improvement can be tiring. You need to maintain that enthusiasm and realize your greatest moments as a player or as a team are ahead of you. If you’re going to play paintball, play paintball to have fun, play to win…
Any action is often better than no action. You have to actively get up, drive to the field, and play. If you wish to improve, it you wish to do better in the true sense, you have to practice. In other words, you have to train to get better. If you don’t feel you are improving, are you really putting in the work? Are you focusing on the right aspects of your or your teams’ game? When you make a mistake in practice or someone offers constructive criticism, do you learn something? If you do, guess what? It’s no longer a mistake. It was a step in the right direction, a step towards being better.
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett
It doesn’t happen overnight. You have to take baby steps. But you have to trust in the process, you have to trust in each other, you have to be a team. Be humble as you execute but visionary and gigantic in terms of your aspirations. In paintball, it doesn’t have to be about VAST improvement. It needs to simply be improvement each time we step out. 0.01% gain is still a gain and it adds up. How many times have we talked about the 0.01% gain? An improvement is an improvement. Any step in the right direction is positive. Being a team is about TRUST. Trusting each other and being on the same page. It isn’t easy but when you find the right crew, the right mix, and everyone is rowing in the right direction, good things almost always happen.
Every once in a while you need to stop and recognize where you were, where you are, and where you are going. Take the time to evaluate everyone’s progress. Who is struggling, who is excelling, and why. Don’t be harsh but be real. Don’t sugarcoat, be honest, but truly understand strengths and weaknesses.
Then recognize it all for what it is. Speak truth to power. Have no fear. Do what is necessary but do it with integrity.
What are some words you would use for the acronym?
Zen and the Art of Paintball 