During one of my visits to Stockholm, I went to the Vasa Museum with a friend. I was amazed when I saw one of the best-preserved ships from the 17th century in the world - the Vasa (Vasen). In its time, it was the most ambitious project of the Swedish navy. Launched in Stockholm, it set out on its maiden voyage and sank after just a few minutes of sailing. In calm waters. Without a storm. Without an enemy.
The Vasa was a symbol of power, ambition, and prestige.
It was meant to be a masterpiece, a large, lavishly decorated ship, full of cannons. A demonstration of the strength of a nation. But that is exactly what destroyed it.
It did not sink because of a storm. It did not sink because of an enemy. It sank because of too much ego.
Fire in business is pure energy, ambition, and visibility. Yet, like a real flame, it can warm and illuminate the path, but it can also turn everything to ashes if it gets out of control. Fire wants to be seen. It wants to shine. It wants to dominate. And that is its strength.
The Vasa was exactly that, “too much fire.” Too many cannons, too many decorations, too much pride. It was top-heavy, we have a vision, but no solid foundation.
When there is too much fire in business, projects stop being functional solutions and become monuments to the leader. Micromanagement emerges, leading to burnout; decisions are made from passion or pride, not clarity. Fire that constantly “crackles” creates a toxic atmosphere, a place where every critique is perceived as an attack, and every idea as a threat to authority.
On the other hand, when there is too little fire, the shine disappears. No passion. No motivation. Without vision and purpose, everything remains stagnant.
It is like a ship that never leaves the harbor. Safe, but useless.
I remember telling my friend that the scariest part of the story wasn’t that the ship sank. The scariest part was that there was no storm. No external enemy. No warning. Everything looked calm. And that is when the system collapsed.
Fire often doesn’t destroy from the outside. It burns from within, quietly in moments of apparent calm, simply due to its own instability.
The Vasa did not sink into the sea.
It sank in its own ambition - an ambition that forgot the laws of physics… and humility.
Because in business, as in life, it’s not a question of whether we have fire.
The question is, do we know how to keep it under control?
Whose Ego Is Steering Your Ship?
Next: Water – the element within me, and the journey from explosion to calm.
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