Builder or Firefighter?

In the business world, being a firefighter can be a lot of fun. Whenever there is a crisis, you come in, manage all sorts of drama, solve the problem, be celebrated as a hero, and then move on to the next fire.

Unfortunately, being a builder in the business world gets you a lot less recognition. There is nothing glorious or high profile about taking the time to put together a good plan, gather the required materials/resources and then construct a project or program that makes a difference in the world.  

It is easy to get sucked into spending all of our time as firefighters. It is exciting and we get a lot of recognition for the work.

But it is a dangerous addiction because if we spend too much time being firefighters, the things that create long-term value in our work and lives are left aside. 

When you are thinking about how you are going to spend your time today, it is worth considering, are you going to be a builder or a firefighter?