Since 1994, I’ve shot sporting clays with the same group of buddies. Every Wednesday evening in the summer, it was the same comfortable routine: pulling triggers, sharing stories, grilling steaks, and enjoying a few well-earned drinks. The scores? They hardly changed over three decades. And that was perfectly fine. We weren’t out there to impress anyone. The point was connection, relaxation, and maintaining a rhythm of friendship in the chaos of everyday life.

But in March of 2025, my son Cody 35 years old and full of ideas, looked at me and said, “Dad, we should start shooting tournaments. It’ll be a fun weekend thing we can do together.”

Now, if you’re a father, you understand the weight behind a simple suggestion like that. Time with adult children is rare and precious. When they invite you into their world, you don’t hesitate. You show up. My reason for saying yes was simple. The mission: I wanted to spend more time with my son.

And yet, something unexpected happened.

What started as casual weekends turned into a full-on immersion into a whole new world of sporting clays. We began shooting in competitive tournaments across the Midwest, rubbing shoulders with top shooters who didn’t just show up for fun, they showed up to win. Watching them in action was like drinking from a firehose. Every detail mattered: stance, eye movement, trigger discipline, rhythm, gear. Suddenly, I realized just how much I didn’t know.

I’d been shooting the same classic 1958 Browning Broadway for decades. It had always felt like a badge of honor, something nostalgic and reliable. But it took one experienced shooter five minutes of watching me to point out something I’d never considered: I was left-handed, 6’2″, and broad-shouldered, and that old gun didn’t fit me, at all.

“You need a cast-on stock,” he said. “At least 10mm off center to line up your dominant eye. You’re fighting the gun every time you mount it.”

That conversation changed everything.

I got properly fitted for a new gun, and the improvement was instant and dramatic. Combined with drills for eye-hand coordination, new shooting strategies, and better pre-shot routines, both Cody and I saw our scores improve by over 20%. And it didn’t stop there.

Along the way, we discovered Helice.

If you’ve never heard of it, imagine a clay target with wings that takes off like a bat out of hell, zigzagging, dipping, climbing- completely unpredictable. It’s like trying to shoot a hummingbird on Red Bull. It’s chaotic, exhilarating, and ridiculously fun. Now, we’re shooting in Helice tournaments monthly, meeting new folks and adding a whole new layer to the sport.

And that’s where the real story begins.

At every age, there’s something magical about finding your people. Whether it’s on a sporting clays course or in your professional lane, being around others who share your interests and values supercharges your personal growth. You learn faster. You laugh harder. You think bigger.

These tournaments introduced us to a new tribe of fellow shooters who became friends. People we now look forward to seeing every weekend. The conversations go beyond shotguns and shells. They’re about life, work, family, and pushing ourselves to be better.

That same energy, that same growth, is alive and well in the business world, if you know where to look.

Industry events like The ProDealer Industry Summit hosted by the NLBMDA and HBS DEALER bring together high-level thinkers, operators, and builders from across the country. The vibe is very similar to a great sporting event. There’s energy. There’s mutual respect. And there’s always something new to learn.

But here’s the critical point: your definition of “great” is only as good as your exposure to the outside world.

If all you ever see is the way you do it, or how your local competitors operate, you’re missing out. You might be playing a strong game—just in the wrong league. Getting around high-performing peers in any domain resets your benchmarks. It sharpens your perspective. It shows you what “great” actually looks like.

Whether it’s a Helice target or a branch-level P&L, success hinges on knowing how to adapt and evolve. And that only happens when you step outside your usual circle.

That’s why I’m encouraging anyone in the building supply business to explore attending the ProDealer Industry Summit, October 8-10 in Louisville, Kentucky, at The Galt House Hotel. It’s where the best operators in the industry gather.

You’ll hear real-world case studies, meet peers solving similar challenges, and get exposure to the kind of best practices that drive impact.

Just like I discovered in the tournament circuit, the true value of what you learn is driven from who you meet.

Take the shot. You might walk away with new tools, fresh energy, and a few lifelong friends. And if you’re lucky, like I was, you’ll rediscover the joy of learning something new, side-by-side with someone you call your best friend.

Russ Kathrein, VP of Lumber and Building Products of Do It Best Corp.

“Attending industry events like the ProDealer Industry Summit, it forces you to get out of your box and see how different companies and markets operate. I like it for people who never travel outside of their county and state vs. people who travel around the country, or the world. It helps develop and hone one’s “intellectual curiosity.”

Johan van Tilburg, Owner of Tindell’s Building Materials

“The biggest benefit to attending the ProDealer Industry Summit is networking and sharing ideas and learning from others. Every meeting I have attended I have walked away with an implementable process or an idea to make our operation better. Come prepared with a list of processes that need improvement and challenges you are trying to solve. At the same time come prepared to share your best practices with the group. You’re never too old to learn something new!!”

ProDealer Industry Summit – 2025

WHEN: October 8-10, 2025

WHERE: The Galt House Hotel | Louisville, Kentucky

REGISTER HERE

*To attend ProDealer Industry Summit you must be an LBM Dealer.