If You’re Always Putting Out Fires… Consider Who the Arsonist Is
You know those lines that knock you sideways because they’re painfully true?
I heard one at the EOS European Conference and it hit me straight between the eyes:
“If you’re always putting out fires… consider who the arsonist is.”
Ouch.
But also — yes.
Because you and I have both worked with that founder.
The one who’s permanently exhausted, permanently behind, permanently “in firefighting mode”…
…and also quietly responsible for half the chaos.
Not because they’re bad.
Because they’re human — ambitious, driven, stretched too thin, and operating without structure.
And if we’re honest?
Most of us can see a little bit of ourselves in that description.
The uncomfortable pattern every founder eventually recognises:
The crisis that started as a tiny “I’ll deal with it later” months ago.
The sales dip that appears after weeks of ignoring pipeline.
The big launch delivered in a whirlwind of last-minute panic — again.
The messy team dynamic that was technically avoidable… but avoided.
It’s not incompetence.
It’s capacity and systems.
And it’s why, every year, founders tell me they’re ready for big goals — but secretly dread another year that feels the same as the last.
Which is exactly why I’ve built something new for 2026.
Not a course.
Not another strategy deck destined for digital dust.
A reset. A re-route. A proper “get your house in order before next year hits you in the face” container.
More on that shortly.
First — let’s talk about how you actually stop being the accidental arsonist in your own business.
The Triple-A Fireproof Framework™
(The simplest way to stop creating your own chaos)
High-achieving founders don’t need more theory.
They need clarity, momentum and structure they’ll actually stick to.
So here’s the three-step system I teach inside all my client work — including the new 2026 Reset.
1. Awareness — Name the fire. Name the fuel.
What exactly is the problem?
Where did it start?
What have you tried?
What have you avoided?
Why didn’t the old fixes stick?
Most founders skip this step because they’re “too busy”.
But the truth?
If you don’t create space to understand the root cause, you’ll rebuild the same problem in a new outfit.
Awareness isn’t indulgent.
It’s leadership.
2. Action — Change the thing that actually matters.
Not the fantasy version.
The real, practical move that directly solves the problem.
One of my biggest takeaways from the EOS conference:
What you tolerate, you deserve.
Brutal. Accurate.
You cannot keep tolerating:
broken processes
non-existent systems
unclear roles
unrealistic timelines
avoiding data because it feels overwhelming
If you want different results, you need different actions. Today.
3. Accountability — The part founders underestimate the most.
Here’s the truth:
Your brain can’t hold you accountable.
It’s too emotional, too overwhelmed, too optimistic, and too easily distracted.
You need external structure:
Weekly leadership rhythms
A scorecard you actually review
Clear quarterly targets
A system for execution
A place to track decisions, issues and next steps
When you lock these in?
Fires stop.
Because you stop lighting them.
Why This Matters Heading Into 2026
If this year has felt heavier than it should…
If you’re tired of operating like the entire business sits on your shoulders…
If you want 2026 to feel calmer, cleaner, more profitable, and more CEO-like...
You don’t need more hustle.
You need a reset.
A strategic clean slate.
A proper operational audit.
A realistic plan.
Systems that match your ambition instead of dragging behind it.
And that’s exactly what my Strategic Business Reset is built for.
A short, powerful, get-your-act-together container designed for founders who refuse to repeat another chaotic year.
Because you deserve better than firefighting.
And your business does too.
If you want the full details, just say the word — I’ll send them over.
Your takeaway:
If you keep running in circles, the problem isn’t your ambition.
It’s your systems.
Fix those — and the fires go out.