I've built hundreds of fires in various conditions as an Eagle Scout. While I don't spend as much time in tents these days, I can still tell within seconds who really knows the outdoors by watching how they build and tend their campfires. It's not just about getting the flames started—it's about building a fire that will sustain itself and grow stronger over time.
This same principle defines the difference between building a real business and just creating another job for yourself. Just as a novice camper might create a bright, quick-burning flame that requires constant attention, many entrepreneurs build businesses that depend entirely on their energy. The experienced scout, however, builds a fire that can sustain itself with proper structure and fuel—just like a well-designed business should.
The Art of Fire-Building in Business
My years as an Eagle Scout taught me that every successful fire requires four essential elements. These same elements are crucial for building a sustainable business:
The Fatal Flaw in Most Business Fires
Here's what most novice fire-builders get wrong: they try to do everything themselves. They exhaust themselves running around gathering small sticks, constantly poking and prodding the fire, never building the proper structure that would allow the fire to sustain itself. Sound familiar?
Many entrepreneurs make the same mistake. They:
This approach might work initially, but just like a poorly built fire, it will either burn you out or fizzle when you step away.
Building a Self-Sustaining Blaze
The secret to both a great campfire and a scalable business is the same: proper structure from the start. Most people get this wrong—they wait until their fire is "big enough" before building the right structure. But experienced scouts know that the structure needs to come first.
The Full-Time VA Strategy: Building Your Fire Right
One of the most controversial pieces of advice I give new entrepreneurs to hire a full-time Virtual Assistant right from the start. This isn't about getting help with tasks—it's about building a real business that can scale beyond you.
Think about it like building a fire. You wouldn't wait until you're exhausted to create a proper fire pit and gather enough wood. Yet entrepreneurs often wait until they're overwhelmed before building proper business infrastructure.
The Real Math of Building vs. Doing
A full-time VA costs $2,000-3,000/month. That might seem like a lot when you're starting, but consider what it buys you:
More importantly, it buys you the freedom to build your business by:
Seizing the Moment: When Your Fire is Hot
When your business is generating strong revenue, that's exactly when you should be reinvesting in growth. Think of taxes like water on your fire - they can dampen your growth if you're not careful. But smart reinvestment in your business acts like a protective structure around your flame:
The Compound Effect
Just as a well-built fire creates hot coals that make it easier to maintain and grow the flame, proper business infrastructure creates compound returns:
Real Numbers Example:
Consider this scenario:
Reading Your Business's Flames
Just as an experienced scout can read a fire's health at a glance, you need to monitor your business's vital signs:
Strong, Steady Flame Signs:
Warning Smoke Signals:
The best fires I built as an Eagle Scout weren't just for my warmth - they were for the whole troop. Similarly, the strongest businesses aren't built just for current income, but for lasting value. By investing in proper structure from the start—including a full-time VA—and reinvesting strategically when your business fire is hot, you're building a business that can:
Remember: Just as the best time to build a proper fire structure is before you light the match, the best time to build proper business infrastructure is when you're starting out. Don't wait until your entrepreneurial energy burns out to wish you'd built a more sustainable fire.