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I just remembered remembered that I had read something about the history of this phrase, and I found it: an answer on Quora from five years ago.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-putti...

> The background seems an oft-used phrase in Sun Microsystems by the former CEO, "all the wood behind a single arrow" which means focus on a single product and be the best in it.

> When deer hunting .. "Real men bring only one arrow. They know how to aim (and they remember to take plenty of time when aiming), and they put all the wood behind that one arrow."

They even managed to find a usage of the same space of metaphor from Apple!

> While the layoffs are intended to reduce operating costs, Apple said it trimmed its technology portfolio to streamline development efforts. “Time to market is very important to me,” Amelio said. “With the narrowing of our focus, we can put more wood behind the arrow.”

> —Stephen Howard, “Narrowing tech focus, Apple cuts 4,100 jobs,” MacWeek, March 17, 1997



Corporate buzzword bingo cards must have included 'wood behind arrows' in days of yore. I haven't heard it in a while...


Nice find!


So actual nonsense


If I have to shoot a tank, I'd rather have one 20kg anti-tank missile than 700 birdshot shells.

(Of course, if I want to shoot birds the reverse would be true)


Not if they’re photino birds.




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