Fire represents Motivation & culture fit

The Fire element is the energy, the driving force that fuels the universe. And so the Fire element is the metaphorical representation of our human values, which are the driving force that underpin our motivation and commitment, since values and needs demand to be fulfilled. Understanding human values enables us to account for an individual's motivation to perform particular tasks in particular ways. They also explain the relationship between the individual and the organisational culture into which the person is expected to fit.

Whether we are thinking of the sun in the sky, or a tiny spark in an internal combustion engine, it is clear that energy and action are vitally dependent on fire. Likewise, human behaviour is always driven by motivational forces. And, just as fire spreads, human motivation is catching, particularly when fanned by the winds of emotional passion. The motivational energy of an individual can quickly become the thrust that powers a team or even an entire organisation.

The human is the only species capable of exerting wilful control over the fire. When we consider the nature of motivational drives, we may observe that, as humans, we are unique in our capability to apply choice and morality to the values that direct our behaviour.

Of course, when human motivation is obsessive or self-indulgent it can burn to destruction. But without fire there is no action and the universe reduces to absolute zero.