Training naturally draws our attention to mistakes. I have a terrible habit on focusing on the bad—the missed shot, the slow draw, the poor decision, or the repetition that falls apart under pressure. Those failures need to be acknowledged and corrected, but they should not become the sole measure of the session. Productive training also requires recognizing what worked, understanding why it worked, and learning how to reproduce it consistently.

Here are four simple cheat codes I use that can help you get more from every training session.

First, find the evidence. Before dissecting the mistake, identify the parts of the performance that held up. If I'm running a Bill Drill, I could focus on the one missed shot, or I could focus on the 5 that hit and analyze why. Most of the time, when I zero in on what worked, I can feel when things are not working and correct in real time.These are not small victories to dismiss. They are evidence of skills that can be strengthened and connected to the areas that still need work.

Second, diagnose without drama. A poor repetition is information, not a judgment of your ability. That one missed shot from the Bill Drill is not a reflection of my overall skill. It's an error and nothing more. The key is after I've reflected on what I did right, I often recognized what happened. For me, it usually means I muscled the trigger. Determine the actual cause of the problem and address the most important issue first. Trying to correct everything at once usually creates more confusion than progress.

Third, repeat success on purpose. When a repetition goes well, do not simply move on. Pay attention to what you saw, what you felt, and what you did differently. The goal is not to produce an occasional great run, but to understand the process well enough to repeat it. Confidence should come from proven performance rather than hope or memory.

Fourth, finish with proof. Once you make a correction, validate it. The last drill of my training session was outstanding. I was focused on the good and replicated it on the final drill. Ending with a clean and accountable performance reinforces the lesson and gives you a clear starting point for the next session.

Whether the pistol is carried concealed or worn as part of your professional responsibilities, training has to produce more than clean repetitions on a controlled range. The goal is not a flawless session; it is consistent performance you can recognize, repeat, and call on when the conditions are working against you.

That is the purpose behind Everyday Carry: Cold Performance Meets Dynamic Shooting, a collaborative course taught by Simon Golob and me. The course combines cold, on-demand technical performance with drawing from concealment, managing space, creating angles, moving efficiently, and delivering accountable hits under realistic demands.

August 29–30, 2026
Casa Grande, Arizona

Learn more and register:

https://tridentconcepts.com/product/everyday-carry-cold-performance-meets-dynamic-shooting/