I think the concept of a "finished gunfighter" really speaks toward a goal or outcome focus vs. a process focus. I think there should be SMART (or whatever acronym you want to use) goals for a person, but at the same time I think the process is equally important as it is what leads to meeting those goals. For example, if your goal is to shoot a FAST drill in under 7 seconds you could just practice that drill over and over. Or you could figure out where you're within the time and accuracy standards and where you need to improve and focus on getting better in those specific areas. By just focusing on the goal you may be delaying your progress.

Along the same lines, I think of the people who have been training in a martial art for years or decades, but couldn't fight their way out of a crowd of caffeine fueled kindergarteners. But, they know all the moves and all the minute details of their art.

I think, thanks in large part to guys like SouthNarc & Company, we're starting to make a mental shift from "gunfighter" to fighter with a gun. We're starting to see more of an emphasis being placed on non-gun skills and the ability to integrate all of those skills into one package so we don't "die in the gaps." With this in mind, the term gunfighter, in my mind, has become a piece of history, much like the stagecoach or the ability to take a swell gal out to the diner for a burger and a shake for less than a buck.

To me, there is no finished, but rather a list of priorities, which includes FAMILY. What good is it if you're the baddest dude in the world if you never see the people you love and are training for? Kyle Defoor put up a priority list on his site a while back, the jist of which was to honestly appraise what you're likely to need and what you're good or bad at. Things that you may need, but suck at, get the most attention. Things that you don't need, but are good at, get the least. Makes sense right? but how many people preach "train what you suck at," but don't honestly appraise what they suck at, or how likely they are to need the skills they have or want? At the same time, how many people can actually appraise where they're at? I've seen a lot of people who thought they were hot shit get their asses handed to them. If you don't know what you don't know, how can you actually gauge your level of need on different skills? How can you judge if you're "finished" or still a work in progress?

In the end I think a lot of us need to reassess and start thinking about being multi-disciplined fighters instead of gunfighters. Even guys like Mick, who spend a significant amount of time overseas will still come back and have to be able to address the civilian world CONUS problems.

Dig up Defoor's list of priorities and figure out where you fit in there. Add or subtract things as needed to fit your life. Put your good points on maintenance and work on your weak points. Decide where "good enough for now" exists in your list of priorities. If you can shoot a sub 5 second FAST, but have never set foot in a good MMA gym, fix that. If you can run a carbine like nobody's business, but live and work stateside and are about to develop Type 2 Diabetes because of things you have control over (diet and exercise) fix it. Don't buy into your own hype and be honest. If you spend more time worrying about the boogie man than you do with the people you're trying to protect from the boogieman, unfuck your priorities before you don't have to worry about protecting anyone because they've left you.