Skip to content
MyATA Login
  • Membership
    MEMBERSHIP
    Sign Up for ATA Text Alerts
    Renew Membership
    MyATA Login How-Tos
    Resource Library
    Beyond the Bow Podcast
    MyATA Service Providers
    ATA Retail Business Tracker Survey
    RETAILERS
    Bow Technician Certification
    Business Resources
    Retail Council
    Embed the Archery360 Widget
    Embed the Bowhunters United Widget
    Retailer Membership FAQ
    MANUFACTURERS
    ATA Technical Guidelines
    Intellectual Propery
    California's Proposition 65
    FET
    Manufacturer Membership FAQ
  • Trade Show
  • Learn
    EDUCATION PROGRAMS
    Archery Range and Program Call for Projects
    Conservation Initiative
    Archery Range Guides
    Archery Industry Masterclass
    Mentor Guide and Field to Fork
    Partners
    State Contacts
    Action Alert System
  • News
    CATEGORIES
    Legislation
    Business
    Marketing
    Retail
    Learn
  • About Us
    Bylaws and Code of Conduct
    Board Elections
    Position Statements
    Terms and Conditions
    Year in Review
    Join Bowhunters United
  • Contact Us
  • ATA Store
  • Membership
    MEMBERSHIP
    Sign Up for ATA Text Alerts
    Renew Membership
    MyATA Login How-Tos
    Resource Library
    Beyond the Bow Podcast
    MyATA Service Providers
    ATA Retail Business Tracker Survey
    RETAILERS
    Bow Technician Certification
    Business Resources
    Retail Council
    Embed the Archery360 Widget
    Embed the Bowhunters United Widget
    Retailer Membership FAQ
    MANUFACTURERS
    ATA Technical Guidelines
    Intellectual Propery
    California's Proposition 65
    FET
    Manufacturer Membership FAQ
  • Trade Show
  • Learn
    EDUCATION PROGRAMS
    Archery Range and Program Call for Projects
    Conservation Initiative
    Archery Range Guides
    Archery Industry Masterclass
    Mentor Guide and Field to Fork
    Partners
    State Contacts
    Action Alert System
  • News
    CATEGORIES
    Legislation
    Business
    Marketing
    Retail
    Learn
  • About Us
    Bylaws and Code of Conduct
    Board Elections
    Position Statements
    Terms and Conditions
    Year in Review
    Join Bowhunters United
  • Contact Us
  • ATA Store
Join Today

Matt's Blog

CEO Blog: Balance Work and Life By Getting Into The Woods.

Time management has always been a challenge and it’s crucial to take time to recharge.
Photo Credit: Matt Kormann

Share

Author: Matt Kormann

Time management has always been a challenge, but being able to stay connected 24/7 probably makes it more difficult than ever. It’s crucial to take time to recharge. Experts have long known that businesses benefit when employees use vacation time.

Although a few large corporations are moving to unlimited personal time, the traditional idea of “taking time off” isn’t always the solution. For instance, it’s been a few years since our family took a traditional vacation, but I often find chunks of downtime really help me focus. Last week was a great example.

If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know I’m new to hunting. Fortunately, I’m surrounded by mentors at the ATA. Dan Forster, ATA’s vice president and chief conservation officer, offered to take me on my first turkey hunt last week. We live relatively close to each other, so I could reach the woods early, hunt several hours, and be back at my desk before lunch. We got skunked the first day, but that time in the woods felt like a shot of work-adrenaline.

When I got back online late that morning, I think I accomplished more than I had the entire day before. Getting skunked also drove me to hunt again three days later. That was a good idea, because Dan got us close to a gobbler within 90 minutes, and I dropped him. Harvesting my first turkey provided several benefits. It got my creative juices flowing, inspiring me to write a blog I’d been struggling to complete. It also gave me perspectives I’ve never had before. Once I returned to my desk, I was fired up to work even harder.

Matt Kormann, President and CEO of the Archery Trade Association stated, "We owe it to our industry to share such experiences by mentoring beyond youngsters; beyond the stereotypes. Ask around at your next league shoot. Chat with folks in your small group at church. I guarantee you’ll find someone who’s interested in hunting, but just needs a nudge; a friendly invitation." Photo Courtesy: Matt Kormann.

One of the biggest revelations from those two hunts was the importance of mentoring, one pillar of the ATA’s strategic plan: We must increase participation in these sports we love. Mentoring plays a role there, but we too often think of mentoring as taking kids on their first hunts. Those are great experiences for both mentor and child, but it’s far from the only mentoring possibility.

I’ve felt intimidated by hunting because I didn’t grow up with it. You know all those second-nature things that lifelong hunters take for granted? They were hard for me to notice, let alone understand. I couldn’t even fathom carving up a turkey on a truck’s tailgate before last Friday. Today? I’m confident I could do it solo, because a great mentor took the time to show me how.

As a guy in his mid-40s who’s just entering the hunting community, I’m shocked by how easy it was to get into the woods and learn how to have some success. We owe it to our industry to share such experiences by mentoring beyond youngsters; beyond the stereotypes. Ask around at your next league shoot. Chat with folks in your small group at church. I guarantee you’ll find someone who’s interested in hunting, but just needs a nudge; a friendly invitation.

And what if you need an additional selling point to coax that 40-something friend to hunt? Maybe mention the added benefits of spending a little time away from the office!

Who mentored you on your first hunt? Have you mentored a new hunter in return? Tell us about it. We’d love to hear from you!

BECOME A MEMBER

WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE INDUSTRY, TO HELP INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES GET THE MOST OUT OF THE INDUSTRY, AND TO HELP YOU.

Join Today

SHARE THIS STORY

Related Stories

Industry

Madison Cox: How Archery Changed Her Life and Why You Should Encourage Women to Participate

Taylor Walston
  • June 1

Industry

ATA-Member Buyer Groups to Consider Joining

Cassie Gasaway
  • May 23

Trade Show

Mossy Oak Sponsors ATA’s Connections Celebration Event Back-to-Back Years

Archery Trade Association
  • May 22

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND NEVER MISS AN UPDATE

MyATA Login
  • Membership
  • Trade Show
  • Learn
  • News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • ATA Store
  • Membership
  • Trade Show
  • Learn
  • News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • ATA Store
JOIN TODAY
Facebook Twitter Instagram Envelope
Copyright © 2023 Archery Trade Association. All rights reserved.
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal
  • Careers