Standing Outside the Fire

Every time I hear the song Standing Outside the Fire by Garth Brooks I can’t help but think about how it relates to my life and how true it is.

The lyrics:

We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned

We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned

But you’ve got to be tough when consumed by desire
‘Cause it’s not enough just to stand outside the fire

We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all

They’re so hell-bent on giving ,walking a wire
Convinced it’s not living if you stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire

There’s this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can’t abide
Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire

I know the song is about love, but I want to apply it to life in general, and more specifically to business.

It’s amazing how this world teaches people to be safe. Most people are taught growing up to get an education so they can get a good secure job. Our education system teaches people this from day one. It’s like it’s the education systems way of surviving. They tell people that the only way for them to get a job or to get ahead financially is by getting a good education or by getting more education. They teach that a good secure job is the only way to live in this troubled world. I disagree.

Life is not tried it is merely survived if you’re standing outside the fire.

Now, this isn’t to say that not having a safe secure job is for everyone. The world NEEDS those people who go to work 8-5 each day. I need those people. But it just doesn’t work for me. In fact, as far as I’m concerned there is no such thing as a safe secure job anymore unless you work for the government or for the LDS church (and even the government isn’t that secure). Companies aren’t loyal to their employees anymore just as employees aren’t loyal.

I believe standing inside the fire is taking a risk and going out on your own. Starting your own business. Risking failure. Risking financial hardship in order to get out of the rat race, in order to be financially free, not depending on someone else to put food on the table. Some would argue, on the other hand (myself included), that working for someone else is standing in the fire. You’re just waiting to get burned (by your employer, a co-worker, a downsizing…).

The world (and academia) has taught us that following the status-quo is what is correct, that we need to do what we’re taught, and that we HAVE to have insurance. I think the status-quo is changing.

From a religious standpoint, I believe there are a lot of people who stand outside the fire of their religion. They don’t get into it deep enough to have it make that big of a difference in their life. I think if more people would get into the fire for that which they believe, the world would be a better place. For me, I have a hard time standing up for what is right in a group when I know something is wrong. I know that standing up would be putting myself in the fire and it’s hard for me. I need to change that. A lot of other people need to do the same. There are a lot of things that are taught by religions that aren’t convenient for most of the members of that religion, so they don’t follow those teachings. This is standing outside the fire.

Basically I’m just trying to say that standing outside the fire isn’t ok for me.

I’m also admitting that I don’t mind country music!