Raising Boys No. 1 - Home Made Bows and Arrows

Kids are attracted to danger. Especially boys, that's why I love doing stuff with them! They love the thrill of being on the edge and excitement of testosterone. To deny it is to stop the nature of boys. I say proceed with safety and a sense of adventure.  I would rather be with them when they experimented so I can teach them and keep them safe. So with that in mind, I taught my eldest son Hudson and his friend how to make a bow and arrow. 

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The boys loved it and was a great afternoons entertainment, so here is how you do it!

Making your own bow and arrow set:

1. You need some string, preferably plastic and strong. We only had cooking string so we doubled it for strength. 

2. You need a good knife. I used a large swiss army pocket knife and only I was allowed to use it as the boys are not yet old enough to have the dexterity to manage it.

3. Find some sticks on the ground or fallen trees and you are looking for two different parts. The Bow will be thicker and stronger, hopefully with a natural C curve so it will bend easier. It should be about the thickness of your thumb. The arrows need to be straight and thinner, about the thickness of your little finger.

4. Cut the bow to about a meter (3 feet) long so the kids can still use it. Keep the bark on it otherwise it will make a mess but cut any small branches off so it is relatively smooth. Then cut a notch at both ends for the string to sit in. This is a great time for a lesson on knife safety! Cut away from your body, treat knives with respect etc. 

5. Tie the string to one end of the bow, using the notch you made and then bend the stick with your knee so you can tie the string to the other end under tension. Double the string if you think the stick will be too strong. The type of knots don't really matter as long as it stays put.

6. With the bow completed, move onto the arrows. Strip the bark from the arrows to make them more streamline and cut a notch in the larger end. They should be about 3/4 of the bow length. Then sharpen the smaller end so that it has a point. 

7. Your done! Pretty easy to make really. Now is the lesson on safety; ensure your friends are behind you when shooting the targets. No shooting each other, your sister or cat!

We spent about 3 hours making them together and about an hour shooting. Then they sit in their room as a reminder of the day. It's about doing something together and I assure you the boys will remember it more than going to the movies or playing video games. Bows and arrows can be dangerous, but used well are loads of fun too!

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Andrew Ford

Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.

 
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