A Letter from Chris Suarez
IT’S TIME TO ADD SOME HEAT
For the past six months or so I’ve been studying the foundation of being curious...asking questions...challenging strongly held beliefs and behaviors. It has helped me find some pretty incredible lessons in every day life. This has been my focus of 2020 - constantly making sure I ask enough questions, learn about things I’ve never stopped to learn about, and find the lessons in those simple things for myself and those around me.
One such lesson presented itself this morning, before sunrise, at 4:30.
This morning I got out of my tent and made a simple fire. Just three pieces of wood. My daughter (clearly also an early riser) and I got the fire started right away and then we both sat there staring at the fire. We sat in mostly quiet for about 45 minutes, every so often adding a log to the fire, to keep the flame dancing.
Why can we stare into a fire forever? Why does it capture our attention and focus?
The simple answer, well, is just that. It’s simple. A fire isn’t very complicated.
And as simple as it is, it is beautiful, incredibly powerful, can do massive damage, and can grow rapidly. And there-in lies the lesson for the entrepreneur.
First, let’s understand what fire really is with a quick science lesson. With just a single piece of wood and a single heat source a flame can be produced. When that piece of wood gets to about 300 degrees Fahrenheit it will begin to smoke. That smoke is actually made up of just three gases - hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. When those gases increase to a temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, it will cause a flame to form. It is the carbon atoms that actually begin to emit light...producing that mesmerizing flame.
So whats the entrepreneurial lesson?
Fuel. Heat. Oxygen.
Have The Best Fuel
You can’t build a fire without a few sticks. This is where understanding what’s at the core of your business is all about. What industry are you in? If you have a product that you have built and are selling, this is your fuel. If you are developing software to distribute, that is your fuel. If you are in a service business, the level of delivery of that service is your fuel. If you are a knowledge worker, you are your fuel. Now, if you have a choice between burning paper or burning wood, you’d choose wood. So choose your product wisely. Constantly perfect your product or your craft. If you are going to do the work to get to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, then you might as well make sure you are going to be burning a solid piece of wood. So go throw a log on the fire.
Apply A Heat Source
Your level of activity will determine the temperature of your heat source. Business slow? It is because of the level of energy you are either applying right now, or that you applied in the not too distant past. Any point in time, if you are convinced that your product or service is ready to ignite, and yet you just cant get traction or get the results you’d like, then revisit your level of activity. In business there’s no such thing as just throwing some gasoline on the fire. Activity is always hard work. But remember, you will see very clear signs that what you are building is working. You will begin to see some smoke. Now just turn up the heat. Work harder. Increase the level of your activity. Remember that at 300 degrees the wood begins to smoke. You’re more than half-way there. At 500 degrees you have the power and momentum to light a full fledged forest fire.
One other question for you to ask. What color is your flame?
Color variation in a flame is based on the uneven temperature in different areas of the flame. The hottest portion of your flame will glow bright blue. The cooler parts will be orange or yellow. So where is your business right now? Did it just turn yellow? Moved to orange? Burning bright blue? Its a great metric to get a gauge on where you are vs where you want to be. Get your flame to blue.
Keep Your Oxygen Flowing
The cool thing about fire is that it is self-perpetuating. The heat of the actual flame will keep the fuel at the ignition temperature...so as long as there is fuel, it will continue. The only thing needed is the source of fuel and oxygen.
So here is the win for us as entrepreneurs. As long as we can get the fire started and the flames consuming your fuel, then it all comes down to consistency. Your level of consistency will determine whether or not your fire burns or if the flame goes out. Too often in businesses we go through unwanted cyclical results because we cut off the oxygen to the business...by our lack of consistency. Keep adding oxygen. Build the right habit of activities.
One final thought. Fires can travel up to 14 miles per hour in grasslands...and can double in speed if the land has an uphill slope. I find that interesting...as we tend to think everything goes faster downhill. Not true with fire or with business. The fire always burns upwards because the hot gasses are less dense than the surrounding air...so it rises. It’s the reason why flames always seem to dance upward in a point.
In business, as with fire, being willing to travel uphill and do the work will allow you to grow at a faster rate. It reminds me something I heard John Maxwell say once: “Everything worthwhile is uphill.”
Fuel. Heat. Oxygen.
Perfect your product...Focus on the right activity...Keep consistent.
Oh, and go build a fire to stare into for a while.
Chris