Last summer I went to a retreat in the Western Algarve in Portugal, just weeks after there had been raging wildfires in the area.

Wandering around I saw a lot of charred trees. Entire trees completely burnt because of the fires.

Many people had lost their houses and belongings to the fires, so I was wondering:

How come everything on the retreat premises is still unharmed?

The owner told me: “Where I’m from in South Africa, we have regular wildfires. So, naturally, I set up firebreaks as soon as I started building this place.

The fires are inevitable. Sooner or later, they will come. The question
is: Will they go uncontrolled or will I be able to guide them?”

The fact that for him this was the most normal precaution and that others had forgone it left me stunned.

And I started wondering, what great precautions might I be missing?

So, let’s share:  In business or private life, what do you do that seems natural and logical to you yet others seem to forget it?

By the way, some of the burnt trees were completely dead whereas others – like the one in the picture – had new leaves already sprouting.

So I guess this one was lucky or resilient or both.