Confessions of a Reckless Shooter: Lessons from My Verbal Misfires

I must admit - I am an expert shooter.

Not with guns or bows, but with my words, decisions, and actions.

My accuracy? Questionable.

My impact? Unforgettable (for all the wrong reasons).

I Shoot From the Hip

Why bother with careful thought or diplomacy when you can just blurt things out?

Colleague: “How do you like my new haircut?” Me: “Looks like you lost a bet.”

That, my friends, is what they call shooting from the hip.

Quick, unfiltered, and guaranteed to leave behind wounded egos.

“Speed is my weapon; discretion is my casualty.”

I Shoot Myself in the Foot

If there’s a way to sabotage myself,

I’ll find it.

I once bragged in an interview,

“My biggest strength is being brutally honest.” 

The recruiter smiled politely and said, “And your weakness?” 

I replied, “I’m brutally honest.” Result: I brutally walked out—without the job.

“When you’re your own enemy, you don’t need rivals.”

I Shoot Down Ideas

Brainstorming session at work:

Someone suggests, “Let’s try a creative campaign on social media.” 

I, the expert sharpshooter, say: “Terrible. Waste of time.”

Of course, my genius alternative?

Nothing.

But hey—at least I shot something.

“Some shoot for the stars. I just shoot holes.”

The Aftermath of Reckless Shooting

Words are like bullets—once fired, they can’t be called back.

Every time I shot from the hip, I lost an ally.

Every time I shot myself in the foot, I lost an opportunity.

Every time I shot down ideas, I lost respect.

The Takeaway: Think Before You Shoot

Satire aside, there’s a lesson here.

Shooting without aim is entertaining in anecdotes, but costly in real life.

Before you:

• Speak → pause.

• Decide → reflect.

• Act → consider.

  
  

Because it’s not about being quick on the trigger, it’s about being wise with your shot.

“Think before you shoot—your words and choices are loaded weapons.”

If you’ve ever shot from the hip, the foot, or straight into someone’s ego—don’t worry. Communication isn’t about being perfect; it’s about learning to pause, aim, and express with impact. That’s exactly what I help people master in my Impactful Speaking Programme - a 12-week journey where you learn to stop firing randomly and start communicating with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Ready to stop wasting shots and start hitting the bullseye? Let’s talk.

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