Before we dive into this article, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the devastating wildfires currently affecting many lives. Our thoughts are with those facing unimaginable loss.
While this article uses “firefighting” metaphorically to describe reactive decision-making in business, we recognise the gravity of the real-world challenges and mean no disrespect.
So, what does firefighting have to do with business?
One of my clients told me, “We don’t have time to plan. We’re too busy fighting fires.”
My response?
“Then you’re just running from blaze to blaze, hoping the whole forest doesn’t go up in smoke.”
The Problem:
When you’re constantly reacting to problems:
For a construction client, every week felt like a crisis.
Delayed suppliers, unhappy clients, missing tools—you name it.
They had no time to think long-term because they were too busy “keeping the wheels on.”
The Solution:
We started by identifying their Rocks—the 3-5 most important things to focus on for the next 90 days.
I said, “Imagine 80% of your time is spent keeping the lights on. Rocks are where you spend the other 20%—so you’re building a stronger business, not just maintaining it.”
Then I introduced Level 10 Meetings—a weekly check-in with a simple agenda to solve issues fast.
The beauty? It stops problems from festering & repeating.
The Results:
The Takeaway:
Firefighting feels urgent, but it keeps you stuck. Rocks give you a plan to break free.
What could you achieve if you spent just 20% of your time building for the future?
This section gives you quick access to 9 links - to articles, blogs, podcasts & stuff that will help you to create a better business & lead a better life.
Achieve big goals by keeping your pace and slowing down in Q1.
Identify and replace ineffective habits in decision-making.
Strengthen quarterly planning for clarity and productivity.
Scale and save your business through EOS implementation.
Assess readiness for EOS to optimise business performance.
Unlock success through effective business planning strategies.
This week, I came across a fantastic post by Mark O’Donnell featuring the EOS take on the Eisenhower Matrix, & I just had to share it with you.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Not everything urgent is important.”
Well, this matrix takes that principle & blends it beautifully with the EOS, giving you a clear framework to prioritise your tasks & stay focused on what really matters.
These four quadrants help you decide how to handle every task:
And what I love about this version is how it connects each quadrant to practical EOS tools & concepts, like Level 10 Meetings, & Quarterly Rocks.
It’s a brilliant way to make sure your energy is spent where it counts most. Plus, it’s a great reminder that delegating & deleting is just as important as doing.
If you’re someone who’s juggling a million priorities, this matrix can be a game-changer for creating clarity, focus, & results.
Take a look at the image for more details, & if you’d like to learn more, just hit reply.
We are here to help you live a better life by creating a better business. We are real-life business owners with years of experience & a strong desire to make a huge difference to the lives of entrepreneurs.
If anything here resonates with you or you would like our help, then please get in contact. Just reply to this newsletter & let us know who you would like to speak to…. Or visit our webpage & contact any of our team from their own pages.
If you know someone who would benefit from reading this, then please forward it onto them. 💖
If you’d like to learn more about any of these tools or would like to find out how I can help you achieve a better life through creating a better business, then book a free Discovery Call with me.
We’ll talk about what you want to get from your business & your life & come up with a plan to do that!
Debra Chantry-Taylor
Certified EOS Implementer | Accredited Family Business Advisor | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Speaker & Workshop Facilitator
