Rocky Patel

Wanted to thank everyone for their responses. I know it has helped me put things in perspective. I hope it has helped others as well. I definitely plan on having some fun this year. Hope to see you guys some day at a match. Rocky

Hey Raymond! It was good to shoot with you again yesterday. Thanks for posting your schedule. That helps. Definitely looking forward to shooting with you guys.

These are what I have been using for two years. Good input. If it worked for 2 years it should work for me! Will give them a try.. Dear Santa for Christmas I would like ................

May want to ask the Triangle Guys.. They've been very helpful and friendly with me.

Don't know if I'll ever be PRO or the BEST. But I sure do love all of it. And my goal is to give it a good amount of effort and see where it takes me. Only one life to do it in. Might as well start now.... Not getting younger. But the nice thing about not getting younger is we are getting smarter along the way......hopefully. All of this is fun.

Great input thanks.. The Business part was primarily to get a tax break on my personal taxes. Not Actually to start a business. The few revenue generating ideas were simple . i.e My job will pay me some small amount to put their logo on my shirt.(They want to help support me). I have maybe 1 or 2 more like that. Also help setting up stages the day before to offset the match fee. The Match director said he would write me a receipt for the help and on match day I would not have to pay the match fee. I can consider that some income. Not looking to go out of my way. This was ONLY in efforts to help pay for a PORTION (Assuming 20-30%) by using the tax I already give away to uncle sam from my personal taxes. I fully intend on focusing on the shooting and not the business. Just needed the vehicle to get the tax write offs. Perfect! Sounds like the idea has some merit. Thanks. Not a lot of people talk about the tax stuff as it applies to our shooting. I did some looking around on the internet and could not find much on the subject at all. Hope this gives others some Ideas..

I gotta apologize for not getting back sooner to all the responses. I've been down sick with bronchitis and the flu. Just getting back to the land of the living...... (Thank God!) I did however read all the responses as I was laying there in bed. Some things that stuck in my head: - $30k - Take classes - Shoot as many matches as possible - Keep goals in mind when shooting matches to work on certain items during the match. - 2-3 classes (if needed), 30-40 club matches and 10-15 majors in a year - Start a solid physical fitness program (weights) 2-4 days a week with solid cardio work to get endurance up as well. This was wonderful information for me especially: The round count info. 2009 - 6000 2010 - 10000 2011 - 15000 2012 - 20000 2013 - 20000 This really puts it in perspective. Vs. trying to figure out what is considered good effort and winging it. Thanks for all your responses. It has truly been helpful. What I was able to figure out on the $30k: 1. Going to start a company i.e Rocky Patel Shooting Sports LLC. (something like that) 2. Creating a few revenue generating products or services to show inbound revenue. (Have about 6 off the top of my head) 3. Deduct shooting related expenses. Will end up with losses at the end of the year. 4. Offset current (Personal) Tax liability with losses from RPSS LLC. Will need to turn a profit within 3-5 years. (But that's plenty of time to get what I need done) The rest is just effort. Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, ........ Hopefully get better.. and somewhere in there find some good classes to take. It's funny, I woke up out of a sound sleep with this idea that came to me in a dream... I figure if NASCAR and other sports teams have businesses why can't I? Does anyone else(Shooters) do this?

Any day now...... Sent from Galaxy Note 3

You have legitimate reason for your request. It would have been disrespectful for anyone to continue to smoke in your presence. Gentlemen often smoke cigars. And it is not gentlemanly to be disrespectful. As cigar smokers, we should know it's our vice and pleasure but not to the detriment of others. I know I've been in that position. When I believed it is my right to be able to smoke my cigar where is was not prohibited. Took me a while to realize, while it was well within my rights to smoke, courtesy and respect should not be overlooked. (That was good old Mom....) Maybe this thread is not all wasted considering how it started... I believe we are giving people something to think about..... Myself included. I need to add one thing and then will stay away. Although I have been smoke free for nearly 30 years, I still miss it and were it not for the health factors, I would be sitting with you enjoying a fine cigar and loving it. Here's a few we can share. ) ( ( ) ) ( ######################00000 ########ROCKY PATEL##00000 ###TWO#ALPHA########00000 ) ( ( ) ) ( ######################00000 ########ROCKY PATEL##00000 ###TWO#ALPHA########00000

You have legitimate reason for your request. It would have been disrespectful for anyone to continue to smoke in your presence. Gentlemen often smoke cigars. And it is not gentlemanly to be disrespectful. As cigar smokers, we should know it's our vice and pleasure but not to the detriment of others. I know I've been in that position. When I believed it is my right to be able to smoke my cigar where is was not prohibited. Took me a while to realize, while it was well within my rights to smoke, courtesy and respect should not be overlooked. (That was good old Mom....) Maybe this thread is not all wasted considering how it started... I believe we are giving people something to think about..... Myself included.

Thank you, And long ashes to you too my friend..

I know.... cheers! Sent from Galaxy Note 3

Yeaah, I know........Probably best. I deleted most of my posts. I hate making enemies, that's all that's going to happen. Too sensitive of a subject. Sorta tripped into a mine field there. Lets get back to shooting. Something we can all agree on.

You won't see me with a Marlboro logo on my shirt either.!

I understand where your're coming from. Glad you're still with us.

Was just starting a conversation that I figure would have many different opinions. Not debating. R

Love a good discussion. What's the overall consensus on this? Should we keep sponsors away because their products may hurt people? What about the people who don't like guns in general. That's what we do? I'm not sure I agree ......completely. But out of respect I will not be the one.. Thanks for the respect. I return it. IMHO the difference between guns and smoking is that there is nothing good about smoking. Smoking kills the smoker slowly and horribly. Firing a gun in competition will not kill you. Smoking will. Shooting in competition costs other people nothing. Effects of smoking costs others a fortune in insurance costs etc. Shooting in competition brings joy and pride to family and friends. Smoking usually ends in grief and loss. How many of you have lost someone, or know someone, or God forbid are now someone, who have lung cancer from smoking? Sorry for the rant. You know guys he's called a doctor for a reason. Can't argue with that. Don't be sorry. You care...

Troy +1 Sent from Galaxy Note 3

So glad you liked it! Definitely one of his best. Cheers!

OK Never mind. Was just a thought. Since there is a manufacturer that happens to have my same name....... Aside from the youth however, I do see lots of guys smoking cigars when I go and shoot. BUT, I see where this can go. Don't want to offend anyone. R

Trying to make a case for some cigar manufacturers to support our shooting community. R

Top female is GREAT! Just depends on how you look at it. My first ever USPSA match I was so excited that I came in 2nd to last. YIPEEE!!! WOOHOOOO!!!!!... I beat someone .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. That someone was our senior division lady............... But hey, it only gets better from there.........

May I ask, what year that was? NM.Youtube is my other friend..1992 2004 went pro. Great looking video BTW.

May I ask, what year that was? Reason I ask is I hear many shooters say they have been shooting for like 10-20+years. It's sometimes discouraging to think I really just started a year ago. Wish I could go back and redo my life to be the guy who says "Oh,.. I've been shooting for 22 years." or for another example Mr. Eusebio seems to have been born with a gun instead of a rattle. I'm going to fight the thought and try anyways starting at 37 years old, this year I'm 38.. Oh yeah........., that was the best match ever!!!!!!!!!!! Which one you ask??? ...ALL OF THEM. (I am taking 2 ways: 1. this as a personal mental conditioning tip. Negativity is like cancer. it will affect your game and 2. Just have fun and enjoy it. is that correct?) Thanks Kurt for jumping in. Rocky

I wonder if you could share your plan as it were when you first started. Did you attend small local matches for some time before going to major matches? Or did you jump right in and start attending everything you could come up with. Was wondering for myself and my plan for next year. What should my plan be? I want to be aggressive but not pie-in-the sky. I currently am in a good position with my job. They are going to allow me what ever time I need for matches. This year I was recovering from rotator-cuff surgery and a SLAP tear. No shooting from April till end of OCT per doctors orders. They know next year it's on! How much were you shooting in the beginning? What would you consider a good plan for a beginner like me who wants to go from beginner to serious shooter. Also, the reason I ask is that, to shoot everything I can come up with means driving all over the place within 0-12 hours on/or flying to matches is going to be quite an endeavor. Is that what you did right off? If that's what it takes I'll do it. If someone wants to get serious what advise would you give them? For example SOMEONE went from 0-1000mph (AKA: top 5. You know who you are Mr.T) in 2 years or so. How and what was your training strategy/schedule? How many matches did you shoot in a month. How did you organize your training? What constituted training? Did you have a life? Any good training courses you recommend? Wanting to know from the guys who have done it. (not exactly the 2 year thing but go from beginning to great) This would be GOLDEN information for all aspiring shooters who want to take it seriously but not haphazardly . Thanks in advance for any input you can give. R AFTERTHOUGHT: Monthly round count would help put things in perspective too.