Some of the most important lessons I've learned about leadership, business, and even life have come from something as ordinary as a handful of wooden pencils.
First, I hand someone a single pencil and ask them to break it. And of course they easily do.
Next, I give them three or four pencils. It takes a little more strength, but eventually those break too.
Finally, I share the entire bundle – twenty or thirty pencils held tightly together. They push, twist, and strain, but the bundle refuses to break.
The lesson is obvious. One pencil alone is fragile. A bundle is remarkably strong.
I've always liked this demonstration because think you could argue it applies to nearly every part of our lives. Families find their way through difficult times by leaning on one another. Neighbors rebuild communities after floods, tornadoes, and fires because everyone pitches in for the cleanup and rebuilding. Championship teams aren't built around one superstar. They're built on people working together toward a common goal.
History, probably the best source of truth, tells the same story.
During World War II, Americans planted victory gardens, rationed supplies, recycled materials, and supported the war effort in countless ways. Things like gender, skin color and religious background simply didn’t matter. The U.S. was united in a common cause. No single family changed history, but millions of small deeds, driven by this singular purpose, accomplished something extraordinary.
I’d argue that our industry can come together in much the same way.
The shooting sports industry is made up of manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, sales representatives, media, technology providers, conservation organizations, and many others. We compete in the marketplace. It’s healthy. It’s a good thing. Competition drives innovation and better service.
But there are some things that simply work better when we work together.
- Developing common standards.
- Sharing reliable information.
- Building stronger business relationships.
- Investing in solutions that make every business more efficient.
Those aren't competitive advantages, they're industry advantages.
That's one of the reasons NASGW has invested so heavily in developing VAULT. At its core, VAULT isn't about creating another software platform. It's about giving our industry a single, trusted source for product information and digital assets.
Think about how many companies rely on accurate product information before a firearm, optic, accessory, or piece of hunting gear reaches a consumer. Manufacturers create the information. Wholesalers distribute it. Retailers depend on it. Online marketplaces display it and consumers do what consumers do, they live it and love it. If everyone is working from different versions of the same data, mistakes happen, time is wasted, and customers notice.
When everyone works from the same trusted source, everyone benefits. It takes companies willing to look beyond their own immediate interests and invest in something that strengthens the entire supply chain and to leave the industry stronger than we found it.
There's an old proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I’m unsure where that comes from, but I still believe it carries a lot of truth.
The challenges facing our industry today – technology, changing consumer expectations, regulatory pressures, and an increasingly competitive marketplace – are bigger than any one company. But they aren't bigger than an industry that's willing to work together where it matters most.
Every time I see a bundle of pencils, I'm reminded that strength isn't measured by the size of one company. It's measured by the willingness of many companies to pull in the same direction.
One pencil breaks easily.
A bundle doesn't.
Until next time,
Kenyon Gleason
NASGW President