We don’t always think in terms of strategy, we think in terms of instinct. That’s how most firefighters operate. You see a problem, you move. You don’t overanalyze. You respond. That mindset works on the fireground. It’s baked into us. But off the job – in the chaos of relationships, ambition, burnout, and reinvention – that instinct can quietly backfire.
That’s where game theory comes in.
It’s a concept that usually lives in business schools and boardrooms, used to model how competitors act, react, and make decisions based on risk and limited resources. But strip it down and it’s simple: game theory is about thinking through the moves before you make them. It’s about seeing how a decision plays out, not just in your head, but in real life. And in our world, the opponent isn’t some rival or outside force. It’s time. It’s energy. It’s the ripple effect of every choice we make that feels isolated – but isn’t.
A Personal Wake-Up Call
I’ve lived this firsthand.
Years ago, I had a steady career in media sales. On paper, it looked like progress. I was managing five B2B publications, flying across the country, running expos for firefighters and aviation professionals. I was working harder than ever, telling myself I was building something important. But the truth? I was giving away more and more of myself until there was nothing left. I never expected to work that hard and lose so much at the same time. But that’s what happened. And it nearly cost me everything – my health, my family, my life.
When I made the decision to walk away and launch CRACKYL, I didn’t take it lightly. I knew exactly what it would take – the time, the energy, the financial pressure. I knew it wouldn’t just impact me. It would hit my wife, my kids, our income, our rhythm at home. I tried to prepare. I thought I was being smart. But I didn’t game it out properly. I didn’t bring my wife fully into the process. I didn’t lay out what this would mean for our day-to-day. I didn’t calculate the emotional toll of trying to build something real while still trying to be everything to everyone.
That’s the part most people miss – especially firefighters. We think, “This is mine.” We convince ourselves that if we’re the one carrying the weight, it’s our call. But nothing is ever just yours, not when you’re in a relationship, raising a family, or leading a crew. What we do off shift still impacts the people we say we’re doing it for.
Finding the Line
Here’s what I’ve learned: I know where I stop and where CRACKYL begins. That line wasn’t there when I started. I had to find it through exhaustion and trial by fire. But I’ve learned that if I burn out or break down, it doesn’t matter what meetings I’ve booked or how strong my vision is. If I’m knocked off my feet, the whole circus stops. End of story.
That’s why boundaries aren’t just healthy, they’re strategic. Because “Dedication without sustainability is just self-destruction disguised as commitment.”
So if you’re thinking about taking something on – a promotion, a side gig, a business, even a volunteer role – pause. Play it forward. What does it look like six months from now when the adrenaline wears off? What about two years from now? Five? What does it cost you in time, sleep, presence? What does it take away from the people in your life? And what happens if it fails?
This isn’t about fear. It’s not about killing momentum. It’s about building a decision-making model that includes the people who matter. Because if they’re not in the design, they’ll end up in the fallout. And by the time you realize it, you might have already built something that isolates you, when the whole reason you started was to create more freedom.
Don’t Skip the Strategy
If you’re going to build something, game it out. Game it forward. Game it backward. Be real about what it costs. Be clear about who’s coming along for the ride. Don’t wait until you’re burned out or resentful or disconnected to realize you skipped the strategy.
If you’re going to build something, make sure it doesn’t cost you everything in the process.
Kory Pearn is a career firefighter and captain; and the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of CRACKYL Magazine.
