That is a quote from Arnold Glasgow discussed at Philosiblog in a post of the same name.
The concept is that you won’t become a success at what you want to do (get so hot you are ‘on fire) by accident or luck (spontaneous combustion) but only by very hard work (setting yourself on fire).
To do something really big in your life requires a driving passion. Won’t happen with just a little work or mere luck.
Why is that deep, irresistible, driving force necessary? We can make things happen:
We always find time for the things we must do. Not the things someone else tells us we must do. Not the things society expects us to do. Not the things we said we’d do. The things WE decided MUST be done will be done.
The author gives an example from his life. His passion to avoid failure drove him to get back in school and get a degree.
I can recall many times in my life when I had a driving passion to get something done. You know what? Those things got done.
This is the same concept as advanced by Seth Godin that you won’t get picked, so pick yourself as a winner.
Check out the full post. Then set yourself on fire.