Have You Started a Fire Lately?

I'm starting a forest fire today...

Before you call the cops, I've got a permit. It's a controlled burn. At least, I hope so since our house is on the other side of the driveway :)

We lucked into a little land in North Alabama that includes 12 acres of planted pine. Planted pine is basically a long-term form of farming. So, I'm a tree farmer, of sorts...

Luckily, trees pretty much take care of themselves, because I don't know anything about it.

As you drive through Alabama and Georgia, rows of pine, straight and narrow, line the country roads. Maturing in 15 to 20 years, millions of acres throughout the south are planted in pine and...

cultivated in staggered growing periods to provide the lumber for houses and railroad ties for landscaping.

A pine forest is beautiful. Carpets of brown needles pad the earth below as the pines stretch 60, 70, 80 feet in the air.

And walking into a pine forest is like walking into a sound studio. The extraneous noises of the world are sucked into the brown needle carpet leaving only the whispering breeze through the pine boughs.

Really a peaceful place...

But if the pine forest is untended, saplings sprout in the fertile soil and steal the nutrients that pines require for fast growth.

That's the case with the 4-acre patch of our pines across from the house. The long gravel drive that encircles the pines is a natural firebreak that should allow us to easily control the burn and ensure the pines aren't damaged.

And that it stays on the right side of the road.

A controlled burn is the fastest way to clear the clutter on land and protect our big pines. But I don't have a clue how to do it...

But I love the idea.

Sometimes I just want to torch my life. You know, set a match to the little niggling details that keep me from seeing the big picture. Burn the distractions that fill up my day and leave me wondering to myself as shuffle off to bed, "Man, what did I get done today?"

I think we all need a controlled burn occasionally.

The hardest part about business or life in general is putting first things first to quote Stephen Covey. If you haven't read his book Seven Habits of Highly Successful People you must get it and read it immediately.

He tells two stories to demonstrate this concept:

1) Covey produces a big, clear water pitcher and fills it with big rocks.

Is it full, he asks the audience? They will say, "Of course."

Then he pours smaller rocks in the pitcher and they wedge around the big rocks.

Is it full, he asks again? "Well, yes it seems full," the audience responds.

He pulls out a jar of sand and pours it in the pitcher.

Is it full? Hesitantly, the audience responds, "Maybe."

And then, he pours a jar of water over the sand.

The point of the story:

If you pour the water, sand or small rocks in the pitcher first, there's no room for the big rocks. The key is to identify YOUR big rocks in YOUR life and pay attention to them first.

2) And the second story is short and to the point: Exchange your ladder for a compass.

Most people think they have to climb the ladder of success, but reach the top only to find that the ladder's against the wrong wall.

Covey suggests it's much more valuable to use a compass to guide your actions toward your goals.

First Things First!

I want my pine forest to grow straight and tall. A controlled burn is the shortest way to achieve the right environment. But like I said, I don't have a clue how to do it.

But my friend, Jeff, is a logger. He controls forests for a living. He's done this a bunch of times. He's an expert...

He told me how to start the fires. He described the conditions that would make it safe versus those that threaten the area -- think wind here. And he talked about the "rules of engagement"  -- permits, notifying the fire department we're doing this, etc.

It's no big deal, he says. Anybody can do it. Right! Not me. I certainly want to help and learn, but this is not something I want to do alone for the first time. Jeff's in charge of this burn.

I don't have any experience with this. By getting Jeff to take the lead on this, my learning curve starts where his ends. And I really reduce the risk of burning down my house.

By piggybacking on his experience, next time, I'll know how.

I've built businesses before too. But I hadn't built an internet business until 2005. And I didn't have a clue how to do that either. I did it on my own without following a mentor.

My learning curve was very steep.

The folks who followed along in my 60-Day Experiment learned from my experiences. They profited from my mistakes and my successes. And shortened their learning curve by months and years.

In 2006, I decided not to go it alone with my online business any longer. By meeting with Mark Hendricks each week to go over my projects, discuss my plans, the marketing, the logistics, and the tests, I'll shorten my learning curve, using his valuable expertise gained from 30 years of direct marketing.

Of course, those people in The 60-Day Experiment benefit too because they'll watch me apply the things I learn from Mark.

I expect Mark to help me do a controlled burn...

To light a fire in my forest...

To clear out the underbrush in my business...

To untangled the mess that allows my trees to grow straight and tall...

Okay, I'm done with the metaphor :) You get the picture.

What are you doing to make room for your goals?

Comments

[Stephen Voight]

David,
Thank-You for your insights and even for the metaphors. I appreciate your products and services as well as your lessons. I especially liked the idea of shortening my learning curve through piggybacking.

[Professor]

Dear David,

Nice read. Inspiring. The photographs added to it. Thanks. Keep up the good works and the good reporting thereof.

Fired up by your great article, these haiku just surfaced...

Brush hog made of fire
leaves tall trees standing if scorched,
better growth next year.

Ruthless vinedresser
prunes down to fruitwood. Vintner
smiles at the future.

Windowsill greenhouse:
garden herb seeds in peat pots.
Daffodills in snow.

Reduce, recycle...
early spring cleaning makes light
of worthy efforts. c.2007 H.M.J.

Peace and prosperity,
Harry Johnquest

[Amanda]

I was just wondering if I could use this beautiful picture of your started fire as some practice for using my photoshop software and possibly post it on one of my favorite web sites when completed? Please email me whenever possible.

Thank you
Amanda