SIICOACH is a blog with powerful tips and observations about personal success, high performance and entrepreneurship.

It aims to help you to

  • perform better
  • achieve more
  • get results faster
  • build a business
  • have a life

It's written by Siimon Reynolds, a highly successful high achievement expert and entrepreneur, who has co-founded two large enterprises, Photon Group and OMG. SIICOACH enables you to get Siimon's latest thoughts and discoveries on productivity, high achievement and entrepreneurial success.

Fire Warning

by Siimon 20. November 2009 14:16

 

I woke up this morning to see a small fire in an apartment across the road.

The fire was quickly put out and the occupant's cat quickly saved.

But what was amazing was the resources the Fire Department brought to the scene: no less than 8 different fire trucks arrived, a multitude of fire men, followed by the closing of the entire street.

I was struck by how useless it was to have so many people and so much equipment devoted to a tiny kitchen fire that had already been put out.

It got me thinking, how often are we guilty of dedicating too many of our resources to a project? Right now, is there something that you are simply giving too much time to, or too much mental space inside your head?

Many projects don't deserve the time and effort we're giving them.

It's often far better to rush these relatively unimportant jobs, even cutting corners here and there, so that we can get onto the few things that really matter.

The challenge is that sometimes, like that little fire, they are urgent. In which case, yes, solve them, but do it with one of your fire engines, not eight.

 

 

Comments

12/4/2009 4:42:08 AM #

Interesting insight.

But...

Don't be to quick to look at the situation in retrospect.

you can only react to the problem at hand with knowledge of past experiences.  there is a reason there were eight fire trucks there, and it probably has something to do with "better safe than sorry". that is the key to success and longevity in business.  

Taking chances.. using one fire truck when back up may be needed.. that is a risky way to operate and history has proven that point.

you do offer a very idealistic perspective and i can see why that is appealing.  

remember,
we can always react to problems of the past with perfection.. its the uncertainty of the future that is well.. uncertain.  

Kent Green | Reply

12/4/2009 11:02:07 AM #

"..Or......we can remember to be like water..

Throw a pebble into a still pond.. the water responds totally appropriately to the force and mass of the input; then it returns to calm.

It doesn't ovverreact or underreact.

You cannot ovverreact in one area of your life without underreacting in another, and the more volatility that exists the less sustainable it will be.."

kat | Reply

6/28/2010 9:45:57 PM #

Simon, I opt for a different viewpoint. Let’s look at the situation in a different way. Suppose the fire had not been attended to in time, and it was preparing to seep into the internal gas lines in the street around. Suppose there had been children trapped inside some high rise apartment who were panicking thinking that the situation was worse. Wouldn’t the presence of a whole fire brigade have been helpful? It’s a case of precious human life and property; I don’t think any administration will take a risk. Prevention is always better than cure and what you say is pure theory and that of a person who has not attended an emergency of the proportions.

Medical Alert | Reply

Add comment




  Country flag

Click to change captcha
biuquote
  • Comment
  • Preview
Loading




Links

Blog Home
Archive
Contact
Login

Feed Subscribe (RSS)