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published on 09/13/2006
Ready, Fire, Aim
By
sigmtn.com staff writer
There is a saying in the entrepreneurial society, “READY, FIRE, AIM.” This is not to be confused with the traditional term marksmen use, “ready, aim, fire.” Instead this term is one that requires a leap in faith. For example, one might want to open a new business. The entrepreneur will make the decision, get started on the process and then set into motion a plan. I know it sounds backwards to many people, but it’s a great way to approach any project.
However, doing business this way does require a leap in faith. One has to trust themselves to take on this responsibility; just as citizens trust their elected officials. A common theme heard this summer over the zoning issues is that the town didn’t have a plan before making the zoning changes. But in truth that is putting the cart before the horse. How can you make plans without the laws set in place? If the Planning Commission had spent countless hours planning for changes and then spent countless hours approving the changes in the law, many of the plans could have become obsolete or have to be changed again to fit the laws. And to design laws to fit the plans is not taking into consideration what is good for the entire community.
Once again, the key element is a leap in faith. Faith in the American form of government which is a republic, not a democracy, as some have misstated in which we elect officials who represent the people but are not obligated to vote the “wishes” of the people but are called to vote their conscience. If someone disagrees with this then they need to elect someone who thinks like them or change the elective process.
The individuals elected, by the voters, in turn appoint commissioners and board members to do the work of the town. The Planning Commission did their job by getting ready (almost two years), firing (changing the ordinance), and aiming (requiring the developers to present plans according to the laws.) One can only imagine how chaotic the process would have been if done otherwise.
When we opened the GRAPEViNE eleven years ago, we had an idea. We felt in our heart that this is what we wanted to do. So we took a leap in faith and moved to a town with no ties, rented a space, took a month to paint and buy fixtures, and then gathered together with a flip chart and made a plan. And today, we have four stores and added nine employees to the four of us in the family and we are still using the flip chart to make plans.
READY, FIRE, AIM---a leap in faith, yes, but also a good motto for life!
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