Introduction
Hey there, fellow homesteaders—Scott here from Everyday Stories on Our Homestead! Have you ever felt like a total failure on your farm? Trust me, I’ve been there. Today, I’m sharing a story about one of my biggest missteps—planting blackberries just five feet away from raspberries—and how that “failure” turned into one of my greatest victories. Inspired by Michael Masterson’s classic book Ready, Fire, Aim, I learned that sometimes you’ve got to act first, then adjust your aim as you learn. In this post, I’m breaking down the three critical steps I took that transformed my approach, and I’m inviting you to “fire” into action with the One Funnel Away Challenge.
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​Get Ready – Prepare with What You Have
​The first step is all about preparation—“get ready.” When I planted blackberries too close to raspberries, I didn’t have a perfect plan in place; I simply used the knowledge I had at the moment. This is similar to the initial phase in Ready, Fire, Aim, where you gather your resources and set the stage for action. For you, that might mean taking stock of your homestead’s assets, identifying your strengths, and recognizing the opportunities that are right in front of you. Use the information you already have—your experience, your family’s support, and your homestead’s unique qualities—to lay a solid foundation.


Act – Fire That Gun!
Next comes the bold move: “act on it” or, as I like to say, “fire that gun!” Instead of overthinking every detail or waiting for perfect conditions, I took action. I let the blackberry and raspberry plants compete naturally, learning from the process as it unfolded. This is the “fire” phase in Masterson’s model—where you launch into action with a plan, knowing that you’ll refine things as you go. The key here is to commit wholeheartedly, even if you’re not 100% sure it will work perfectly at first. Remember, every action, no matter how small, is a step toward progress. In our fast-paced homestead life, sometimes you simply need to move, make mistakes, and learn from them.


Aim – Reflect, Adjust, and Refine
The final step is to “aim”—that is, take a moment to reflect on the results of your action and adjust your strategy. After firing that proverbial gun, I looked at how the plants interacted, noted what worked, and what didn’t, and then refined my approach. This continuous loop of reflection and adjustment is what transforms failure into success. Whether it’s tweaking the spacing of your crops, rethinking your livestock management, or even fine-tuning your marketing strategy for homestead products, every bit of feedback is invaluable. By embracing this cycle—ready, fire, aim—you create a sustainable process that turns setbacks into stepping stones for growth.

Fire Your Way to Success with the OFA Challenge
The journey from homestead failure to breakthrough success is all about embracing the process: prepare with what you have, act boldly, and then refine your approach based on what you learn. This is the core of both my personal journey and Michael Masterson’s Ready, Fire, Aim. If you’re ready to put this mindset into practice and transform your homestead into a profitable, thriving enterprise, it’s time to take action.

Click the button below to join the One Funnel Away Challenge and start “firing” on your goals today. Let’s turn those setbacks into powerful stepping stones—together!

Learn More & Join the OFA Challenge