"As a small business owner, I have to solve for the biggest fire every day." I recently wrote down this quote from a business owner because it captures the reality of entrepreneurship. One day, the biggest fire might be finding new customers. The next day, it could be cash flow, a missed deadline, a client concern, or a process that is no longer working. Small business owners often become skilled firefighters. We learn how to respond quickly, solve problems, and keep moving. But constantly reacting can also prevent us from working on the systems that would reduce those fires in the first place. A helpful question to ask is: Am I solving today’s biggest fire—or building a business where this fire is less likely to happen again? Sometimes the immediate problem needs our full attention. After the fire is out, however, we should take time to identify its cause, document what we learned, and determine whether a better process, tool, boundary, or decision could prevent it from returning. What is the biggest fire you are solving in your business right now?