Heart on Fire: The Leadership We Don’t Talk About Enough

“Build something bold. Set it ablaze. Let it live on in the hearts of those it touched.”

Have you ever seen art on fire?

I recently watched the documentary Art on Fire, which captures the stunning, surreal experience of Burning Man, a temporary city of creativity, humanity, and heat built in the Nevada desert. For one week, people gather to create massive, awe-inspiring works of art, only to burn them to the ground. And then, just like that, it all disappears - no trace, no souvenirs, just the afterglow etched into the memories of those who were there.

It’s not for everyone, but it has stirred something in me. Something I believe more of us need to discuss: What if your boldest contribution isn’t meant to last forever? What if it’s meant to ignite something in others… and then let go?

The Legacy We Carry Isn’t Always Tangible

What struck me most wasn’t the fire - it was the intention. Burning Man artists labor for months, sometimes years, building something truly epic in scale and vision. They collaborate, stretch, give it everything they have, and do it knowing it will all be consumed in flame. But they don’t create for permanence. They create for impact, transformation, and connection. Isn't that what great leadership is?

From “Art on Fire” to “Heart on Fire”

Most leaders I know are building for longevity, whether it's through strategies, organizations, or brands. And yes, there's value in sustainable success. But the part that moves people? The part that shifts hearts, cultures, and paradigms? That comes from a heart on fire. It's not always logical. It’s something that is felt. The leaders I admire most and the ones I help become even more effective are not just great thinkers. They burn brightly. They don't just build careers. They leave behind reverberations - moments that live on in the people they touched.

What if the impact you are meant to create doesn't sit neatly in a resume or a quarterly report? What if the most meaningful leadership move you could make isn’t about building something that lasts forever but about creating something bold, beautiful, and worth remembering? And what if the only way to get there… is to stop operating only from your head and start living from your heart on fire?

The Invitation

This is your moment - not to burn out but to ignite something new. Whether you are working inside a company or creating something of your own, the world needs your raw brilliance. Your full-hearted truth. The version of you isn’t trying to preserve a legacy but trying to live one in real time. If this resonates with you, if something within you knows you're meant to lead with more fire, more vision, and more of yourself, let’s have a conversation because when your art burns brightly, it changes people. And a leader with a heart on fire? They change the world.