How Axe Throwing Can Make You a Better Marketer

Recently, I tried axe throwing for the first time. I struggle opening bottled water and pickle jars, yet there I was, gripping a far-too-large axe handle as the instructor said, “Just aim, step, and release.” Easy, right? Not exactly. My first few throws looked more like I was auditioning for a lumberjack blooper reel than hitting a bullseye.

But somewhere between clumsy releases and the satisfying thunk of an axe finally sticking, I realized: axe throwing has a lot in common with marketing. Both involve strategy, precision, and a surprising amount of trial and error. And if you can laugh at yourself in the process, even better. Read on how axe throwing can make you a better marketer.

1. Focus on the Target

   In axe throwing, if you don’t pick a target, you’re just redecorating the wall. Marketing is the same: without a clear audience, you’re throwing money, not axes.

   
   

   Lesson: Know your audience. Otherwise, you’ll keep missing—and someone in finance will start asking about all the dents in the budget.

2. Consistency Beats Luck

   Sure, I got one glorious bullseye early on. (Yes, I took a picture. No, you can’t see the 27 misses before it.) That one throw didn’t make me an axe-throwing pro, just like one viral campaign doesn’t make a marketing strategy.

   
   

   Lesson: The real skill comes from consistent, repeatable performance—not one-off stunts.

3. Misses Are Just Feedback

   When your axe bounces back at you (yes, it happens), you don’t quit. You adjust. Maybe your grip is off, or you released too soon. In marketing, a failed campaign isn’t failure—it’s data.

   
   

   Lesson: Every “miss” is just information telling you how to do better next time. Preferably without sharp objects flying back at your head.

   
   

4. Balance Power with Precision

   I learned the hard way: throwing harder doesn’t mean throwing better. It just means you look intense while your axe ricochets onto the floor. Marketing works the same way—pouring budget and bravado into a campaign won’t guarantee results. You need precision, not brute force.

   
   

   Lesson: Blend compelling creative with disciplined targeting. Otherwise, you’re just swinging wildly.

5. Celebrate Small Wins

   We marketers tend to not celebrate our successes. That's B.S. In marketing, small gains in the form of higher engagement, more leads, improved CTR...whatever, are worth celebrating.

   
   

   Lesson: Progress is progress, even if it’s not perfect. Take the win, take the picture, and keep throwing.

Final Thought

Axe throwing reminded me that marketing is about focus, practice, and not taking yourself too seriously

. Both require courage, resilience, and a willingness to laugh at your misses on the way to success.

So, the next time you’re stuck on a campaign strategy, maybe go throw an axe or two. At worst, you’ll work off some stress. At best, you’ll come back with a few fresh insights—and hopefully all your fingers.