A: Dear CFO, Being in reaction or firefighting mode will wear you and your team out, ultimately leading to "burn-out" (sorry couldn't resist). Don't worry, you are not alone. As you know, small business owners are among the hardest working people in the world, but to obtain sustained growth, your will have to adopt a strategic mind-set. As a strategic business owner, your primary aim should be to develop a self-managing and systems-orientated business that runs predictably and profitably while you are not there. This allows you to work ON your business instead of being stuck In your business. So, you're thinking, that sounds great but where do I start? It starts in your mind. Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that, "Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." You must first make the decision that you truly want to change. Change is not easy. However, when you expand your mind and your leadership potential then your business and your opportunities expand exponentially. No matter how overwhelmed you may feel, know that there is hope for real relief. However, the answer is not to shift into a higher gear; it is to shift mind-sets. Let me repeat. Sustainability comes from shifting mind-sets and strategies, not gears. To gain your second wind or fresh start, you must slow down, take a strategic time out and reflect on " why" you started your business in the first place; what was your DREAM? Go back to the beginning. What ignited that pitter patter in your heart? What stirred up the passion behind your idea? Now that you have that vision etched once again in your mind and on your heart, write it down. Clear visions have helped shape and propel successful companies for decades. Jack Welsh, former CEO of General Electric, has stated, "Good business leaders create a vision and relentlessly drive it to completion." Vision has a cascading effect: A strong vision, communicated clearly and priorities of your business. This leads to the goals, strategies and tactics that deliver business success. Once your vision is clearly defined everything else seems to fall into place. Unfortunately, many business owners lose sight of their original vision in the clouds of the day-to day grind. As a strategic business owner it is your role to ensure that your vision stays fresh and continues to drive choices that make your business successful. Bottom line, you should run your business; it should not run you, your family or your life. the object is to have a systems-dependent business not an owner-dependent business. Some of these concepts are very challenging for owners and will take time to transition. However, less time spent putting out fires(reacting) means more time to proactively grow your business.