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In 1949, thirteen (out of a highly skilled team of sixteen men) died battling  a relatively small blaze that turned deadly in Mann Gulch, Montana. Upon  investigating the circumstances of why thirteen of the “smoke jumpers” died  while only three lived, Norman Maclean wrote a book entitled “Young Men and  Fire”, which is the true story account of that fateful expedition of the “smoke  jumpers” – fire fighters who parachute into the back country to fight fires.

Maclean found some startling and interesting facts. Mann Gulch is surrounded  by steep canyon walls with the northern slope at a 75% incline. When the wind  turned suddenly on the smoke jumpers, they were in a race with the fire up those  steep walls. Unexpectedly, the fire started to spread much faster than  anticipated.

One of the amazing and notable things that Maclean discovered was that the  thirteen who died had carried their tools – heavy poleaxes, saws, shovels and  heavy back packs – while attempting to out run the fire up those steep walls. In  other words, the thirteen had run as far as they could with all their equipment,  even though that equipment was worse than useless in a race with the fire. Their  inability to drop their heavy tools and packs ultimately prevented them from  being able to outrun the fire. To these seasoned fire fighters, their tools were  more than simple objects – they represented who they were, why they were there  and what they were trained to do. Dropping their tools would have meant  abandoning their knowledge, beliefs, training and experience.

This might not seem like a hard choice to make to you, but because these  specialized fire fighters hadn’t been trained for such an unpredictable moment,  they had no alternative models or maps for behaviour. In moments of uncertainty  and imminent danger, clinging to the old “right” way might seem like a good  idea… but more often than not, it is actually deadly.

The three survivors of the blaze were forced to think outside the box and  develop alternative methods of escaping the fire. Once they figured out they  were no longer “fighting the fire” but were instead “trying to escape from it”,  they realized they had to drop all of their useless equipment. One survivor used  an innovative technique called the ‘escape fire’ where he took a match and lit a  ring around him so that the fire would “jump” over him. When he tried to suggest  it to the other men, they continued running up the steep slope because the  ‘escape fire’ technique had not been part of their extensive training. Their  inability to drop the tools and equipment that weren’t working and seek new  methods to escape is what ultimately led to them being engulfed by flames and  smoke.

My question to you is this: What are the poleaxes, shovels and backpacks  you’re currently running with?

What are the tired, worn out strategies and tools which you are lugging  around? What existing beliefs and models of behaviour do you need to drop in  order for you to survive and prosper (even thrive in a recession)? What training, attitudes, decisions or  experience needs to be abandoned in favour of a new, innovative approach?

It has often been said that “the thinking that got you to here, won’t get you  to there”. Never has the simplicity and wisdom of this statement been more  poignant, than it is today. Those of you who adopt and learn the critical  skills, tools and mind-set necessary to survive and even thrive in a recession (or despite any challenge you face) will be the  winners in all this. But, this has always been true. Survivors and successful  people triumph because they are flexible and willing to do whatever it takes to  get the results they desire. New or changing circumstances always necessitate a  new perspective or approach: The alternative, “doing the same thing over and  over again” is the definition of insanity and can only lead to suffering,  disappointment, frustration and pain.

The events of the past few years have clearly shown that there is fire  raging out of control in our global economy – the markets are extremely  volatile, banks and corporations are in trouble, credit is tightening, our  personal debt is far too high and property values are threatened. Change is upon  us and we all must examine what we have chosen to carry on our backs to thrive in a recession. Burying  your head in the sand and “doing more of what you have always done” are no  longer viable options.

No matter where you are at right now…I have a belief that it is impossible  for you not to become even more successful NOW. Take some time today to assess  your approach to date – what is working and what is not. Write an action plan  and take 3 steps today towards achieving the life that you imagine in your mind.  After all, success is not by chance or circumstance, it is by choice! Choose  wisely.