Business Lessons from the Backcountry—Why Consistency Matters

Hunting elk taught me more about entrepreneurship than any business book ever could. Why? Because success in both requires the same thing: relentless consistency.

In archery, you can’t just show up once a season and expect to hit your target. You need to practice—every day. You need to know how your bow feels in your hands, how the wind affects your shot, and how to adjust when things don’t go as planned.

Business is no different. Especially in construction, where every project has its own set of challenges. You can’t expect to land big contracts or grow your company if you’re only putting in effort when it’s convenient.

Here’s what elk hunting taught me about business:

• Consistency builds confidence. The more you show up, the more you trust yourself to handle tough situations.

• Small wins add up. In hunting, every practice shot matters. In business, every phone call, every bid, every client meeting adds up over time.

• You can’t control the outcome, but you can control your effort. I’ve had hunts where I did everything right and still didn’t get an elk. Same in business. Deals fall through, projects get delayed. But if you consistently put in the work, you’ll win more than you lose.

The lesson is simple: Success isn’t a one-time event. It’s the result of showing up, day after day, even when you don’t see immediate results.

So whether you’re chasing elk or chasing business goals, remember—your effort today shapes your results tomorrow. Keep showing up.