Why Every Leader Needs to Watch More Sunsets
I want you to ask yourself a question, and be truly honest with the answer: how many sunsets have you really watched this year? I don’t mean catching a glimpse of some colour in the sky as you rush from the office to your car. I mean the whole, magnificent, unhurried performance. The kind where you stop everything, find a comfortable spot, and simply watch as the day gives way to night.
If you’re anything like I used to be, the answer is probably… not many.
For entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone driven by a passion to build something, our gaze is perpetually fixed on the horizon of tomorrow. We are masters of the to-do list, the five-year plan, the next big goal. We are so focused on what’s next that we often miss the free, spectacular, and soul-stirring show that is happening right now, every single evening.
A sunset is a daily miracle of colour and light, a fleeting masterpiece that will never be repeated in exactly the same way again. And for years, I was too "busy" to notice. My journey as an Australian artist has been, in many ways, an un-learning of that busy-ness. It has taught me to stop, to see, and to appreciate the profound lessons hidden in these fleeting moments. And it has taught me that the vibrant, expressive, and joyful energy of a sunset is something we can all learn to capture, not just on a canvas, but in our work and in our lives.
A Race Against the Light
There is a unique and thrilling challenge to creating a sunset painting. Unlike a landscape that sits patiently for you, a sunset is a dynamic, fast-moving event. From the moment the sun begins its descent, you are in a race against the light. The colours shift, deepen, and fade with every passing minute. It’s an exercise in being utterly present and decisive.
As an artist, you cannot afford to overthink it. You have to trust your instincts. You must capture the feeling, the energy, the blaze of glory before it vanishes. It’s a wonderful metaphor for those rare, brilliant opportunities in business—the ones that appear on the horizon, glowing with potential. You can’t analyse them forever; you have to have the courage to act, to seize the moment, and to bring its energy into your world.
My process for creating sky art often begins with a feeling of pure joy. I work quickly, layering vibrant colours—the fiery oranges, the soft magentas, the deep indigos—letting them blend and bleed into one another. It's less about painting lines and shapes and more about painting emotion. It’s about translating that breathtaking moment of peak colour onto the canvas, creating a piece of Naomi Simson art that holds the energy of a perfect day's end.
The Lesson in Colour: Speaking the Language of the Sky
A sunset is nature's masterclass in colour psychology. The warm colour palette of a twilight sky is not just beautiful; it is a powerful, unspoken language that can influence our mood, our energy, and our creativity. Learning to speak this language is a superpower for any leader or innovator.
- Orange – The Colour of Creativity: Orange is the colour of enthusiasm, energy, and invention. It’s the colour of a brainstorming session where the ideas are flowing freely. It stimulates conversation and encourages a sense of adventure. When you see that brilliant blaze of orange in the sky, it’s a visual cue to tap into your own creative spark.
- Pink & Magenta – The Colour of Compassion: From the softest blush to a vibrant magenta, pink is the colour of nurturing, kindness, and playfulness. It reminds us of the importance of the human element in our work—of team culture, of customer relationships, and of self-compassion. It’s a reminder to lead with heart.
- Gold & Yellow – The Colour of Optimism: As the sun dips lower, it often casts a golden glow, bathing the world in a light of pure optimism and joy. Yellow is the colour of clarity and happiness. It’s the feeling of a project successfully completed, a team celebrating a win, a moment of pure, unadulterated satisfaction.
- Purple & Indigo – The Colour of Transition: As the light fades, the sky deepens into shades of purple and indigo. These are the colours of wisdom, intuition, and transition. They represent the calm at the end of a busy day, the moment of quiet reflection where our best strategic thinking happens. It is the colour of the shift from the 'doing' of the day to the 'being' of the evening.
By simply noticing these colours, we can start to consciously use them in our own lives to evoke these feelings, whether it’s in our branding, our office decor, or even the clothes we choose to wear.
The Wellbeing Connection: Your Daily Sunset Ritual
In our quest for productivity, we often forget the importance of rituals that mark the boundaries of our day. For many small business owners, the workday never truly ends; it just bleeds into our evening, our sleep, and our family time.
This is where the simple, powerful practice of watching a sunset can become a transformative act of mindfulness for leaders. It’s a clear, beautiful, and definitive full stop at the end of your workday.
Creating a "Sunset Ritual" is one of the most effective and accessible wellbeing practices there is. It requires no special equipment, it costs nothing, and it takes only a few minutes.
- It forces you to be present. You can't check your email and truly watch a sunset at the same time. It demands your full, gentle attention.
- It’s an act of gratitude. It’s a moment to pause and appreciate the natural beauty of the world, shifting your focus from what you lack to what you have.
- It creates a healthy boundary. It signals to your brain that the 'work' part of the day is over, and it's time to transition into a state of rest, connection, and recovery.
This is the importance of hobbies and rituals that have nothing to do with your professional output. They are not distractions; they are the very things that replenish your energy, restore your perspective, and refill your creative well.
Permission to Play with Colour
The magic of a sunset is that it gives us all permission to fall in love with colour. It reminds us that the world is a vibrant, beautiful, and ever-changing place. My journey as an Australian artist has been a journey of giving myself permission to play—to experiment with bold colours, to trust my instincts, and to find joy in the act of creation itself.
My hope for you is that you find your own way to do the same. You don’t need to pick up a paintbrush. Maybe it's taking a photo of the sunset every day for a week. Maybe it's buying a bright piece of clothing that makes you feel happy. Maybe it's just giving yourself five minutes at the end of the day to stop, look up at the sky, and simply watch the show.
Don't let the fleeting moments of beauty pass you by. They are not an indulgence; they are the fuel for a creative, joyful, and well-lived life.
