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When Igniting F.I.R.E.: How Burning 2000 Calories at Work Sparks Resilience and Excellence

Writer's picture: Toon StoryToon Story


You’re in the kitchen of your life, cooking up a “perfect” project. Suddenly, flames erupt (unexpected/unforeseen demands, budget cuts, or a glitch in the plan). What do you do? Panic? Blame the toaster? Or laugh it off and say, “On the positive side, I just burned 2,000 calories”?

That’s where I came up with a F.I.R.E. approach!


F — Failures

I — Initiate

R — Resilience

E — Excellence


— a recipe for growth and success in any walk of life, with a dash of humour to keep you smiling through the flames.


F — Failures Happen (Embrace Them)

We all have “burnt-toast” moments in our careers. Maybe a failed pitch or a typo in an important email turned “public relations” into “public relations.” Mistakes happen! The key is to stop seeing failures as catastrophes and start seeing them as learning opportunities.

Think of failures as life’s way of keeping you humble and your coworkers entertained during coffee breaks.

I — Initiate Recovery Quickly

Don’t just stand there blaming the manual when your metaphorical toaster is on fire. Act fast! Initiate recovery by taking stock of what went wrong and how to fix it. Remember, even the worst fires can be extinguished with the right tools — and a few deep breaths.

If your project is in flames, call it “an unplanned team-building exercise.”

R — Resilience is Built in the Flames

The flames of failure may be hot, but they forge resilience. Every burnt project adds a layer of toughness to your life armour. Resilience is about bouncing back and sometimes laughing at the absurdity of it all.

When you survive a tough week, reward yourself with something delicious — just avoid the toaster this time.

E — Excellence Emerges Over Time

Great chefs aren’t made without a few charred dishes, and great professionals or people aren’t made without a few missteps. Excellence is a journey, not a one-time event. Each time you recover from failure, you’re refining your recipe for success.

Remember, even Michelin-star chefs once burnt toast. They just called it “caramelized bread.”

The F.I.R.E. approach reminds us that life isn’t about avoiding the flames — it’s about learning to cook in the heat. So the next time you find yourself in a smoky situation, take a step back, crack a joke, and remind yourself: “At least I’m burning calories and building resilience.”


Everyone should be like a phoenix — rising from the ashes of burnt toast with a smile, a lesson, and a good story to share at the next meeting.

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