Editor's Note: Today's the first of a series of reports following the progress of the OWDN's Paul Erhardt as he prepares (a first) for this upcoming Steel Challenge. He's shot it before, but as you'll read today, he's going out with a new purpose. Team Erhardt Project: Goodbye Mediocrity, Hello Glory As a competition shooter, I suck. No really, I do. And it probably has a lot to do with the fact that, even though I know how to shoot, I simply never, ever practice. I literally just show up and start blasting, and the faster I blast the better I sound so the better I must be. This was never more apparent than when I competed in the Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships in 2006 and 2007. In '06 I finished with a time of 203.56 seconds which was good enough to put me 223rd overall. In '07 I improved dramatically with a time of 200.11 seconds to place 210th overall. I'm pretty sure there are guys on the Super Squad that shot muzzleloaders and finished ahead of me, that's how poorly I shot. Well, no more. This year I'm going back to Piru, California and competing with a purpose, with focus, with the determination that this time I... will... not... suck. Yes, I'm thinking the same thing you are, good luck with that. But the truth about shooting is that it is a learned skill and not a genetic gift. And if you know and understand the very basics of shooting, have moderate hand-eye coordination and you come up with a training regimen that develops the correct techniques, then you can improve. And I'm hoping significantly. To take on the Steel Challenge I'm going to need some help, and since divine intervention is most certainly not going to happen, I'll have to rely on more worldly support. Fortunately I'm getting help. After what I am sure was a considerable amount of laughter and joke making, Paul Pluff at Smith & Wesson agreed to send me an M&P Pro 9mm to use. I guess if you're one of the world's most iconic brands and 159 years old, you have to be thinking 'how much harm can this joker do to our brand?'... either that or I'm a top prospect for Team Smith & Wesson and this is my secret trial period. I can't wait for that gorgeous blue Team S&W shirt to show up on my doorstep. Another monster name in competition, Safariland, was kind enough to send me a rig. No doubt Scott Carnahan is right now looking over that Team Safariland poster his shooters are always signing at trade shows and trying to find room to fit me in. Additional gear for my effort comes from Pro Ears, 1776 Tactical, Danner and Apex Tactical Specialties. I might not post the best score at the end of the day but damn I'll look good doing it. I've even got Mike Seeklander to help me with an actual game plan for how to improve, which I'll desperately need since last weekend I shot four of the eight stages in a time of 93.54 - well on my way to my usual 200+ performance and further mediocrity. Mike advocates a thorough training plan and based his book, Your Competition Handgun Training Program, on a one year plan of action. One of the key aspects is to set goals, so key in fact that Mike writes on page 30, "Goal setting is not optional in this program." Message received, Mike... Goal #1: Condense a one year program into a 14 week program. Goal #2: Humiliate myself in an ongoing series of articles to be featured in The Shooting Wire. Well, thanks to the good graces of the Outdoor Wire Digital Network's publisher, Jim Shepherd, I'm halfway home as I will be chronicling here in The Shooting Wire my road to greatness as I say, "goodbye mediocrity, hello glory." Wish me luck.... - Paul Erhardt You can also follow the Team Erhardt Project on Twitter at @TheShootingWire, use hashtag #TeamErhardt.