Stop shooting arrows into the fog
Welcome to the Dojo!
I start planning my annual September bow hunting trip around this time of the year, and this week, I’ve been thinking a lot about archery.
When you miss the target, the instinct is to shoot more arrows.
More applications. More outreach. More certifications. More content.
But in archery, missing isn’t solved by volume.
It’s solved by aim.
And right now, I see too many capable professionals shooting into the fog.
On the Mat
- Let’s Train: 7 Ways to Niche
- Ask Feras: “I don’t want to limit myself by niching too narrowly.”
- Sharpen the Blade: The Ultimate Guide to winning sales proposals in 2026
Let's Train
7 Ways to Niche
The job market is tight. And if you’re starting a business, finding clients isn’t easy either.
In both cases, I keep seeing the same issue:
Vanilla positioning.
“Strategy consultant.”
“Marketing expert.”
“AI consultant.”
If you pitch to everyone, you’re pitching to no one.
Niching isn’t about shrinking opportunity. It’s about increasing precision.
Think of it like archery.
You don’t need more arrows. You need:
1️⃣ The Right Bow (Skills on the Rise)
If your equipment is outdated, no amount of practice helps.
LinkedIn’s 2026 Skills on the Rise report makes it clear: skills-based, applied, domain-specific expertise is winning — especially where AI intersects with real-world work.
Start with skills that the market is already moving toward.
2️⃣ Understand the Wind (Vertical Knowledge)
Every industry has its own “wind conditions.”
Healthcare isn’t fintech.
Manufacturing isn’t SaaS.
When you understand the regulations, buying cycles, and language of a vertical, your arrow travels straighter.
3️⃣ Pick a Specific Target (Define Your Segment)
Not “healthcare.”
Private clinics with 5–20 locations.
Pre-Series B fintech startups.
Midwestern manufacturers with 50–200 employees.
Specific targets increase your odds of hitting something.
4️⃣ Know the Distance (Company Size)
Startup, SMB, enterprise — they are not just different sizes. They are different games.
Different budgets.
Different politics.
Different decision cycles.
You don’t shoot a 20-yard arrow the same way you shoot 80 yards.
5️⃣ Upgrade Your Equipment (Applied AI)
AI isn’t the headline — it’s the stabilizer.
Applied AI in your workflow (research, analysis, automation, client delivery) increases consistency and leverage.
But it has to be applied, not theoretical.
6️⃣ Steady Your Hands (Human Capabilities)
Precision comes from control.
Communication. Empathy. Judgment. Timing.
As AI lowers the cost of information, distinctly human capabilities become your edge.
7️⃣ Release the Arrow (Speed to First Dollar)
New consultants often overtrain and never shoot.
You don’t build confidence by studying the target.
You build it by releasing arrows.
Optimize "speed to first dollar."
Proof builds belief.
The Point
Archers don’t complain about the target.
They adjust stance.
Angle.
Focus.
Specialization doesn’t limit you. It clarifies you.
And clarity gets hired.
Ask Feras Recap
🔥 The Challenge
“I have experience in multiple areas. I don’t want to limit myself by niching too narrowly. What if I pick the wrong niche?”
🛠️ What I Told Them
Niching feels risky because it feels like closing doors. But in reality, it’s the opposite.
When you say, “I help anyone who needs help,” you’re shooting arrows into fog. No one knows if you’re talking to them.
When you say, “I help X solve Y,” suddenly the right people lean in.
Sharpen the Blade
If proposals are part of your business, this video will sharpen your aim for 2026.
It’s a full breakdown of what actually goes into a proposal that closes — not one that gets ignored.
Check it out here!
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