It’s time to burn your ships and win!
A long while ago, a great warrior faced a situation in which he had to make a decision that ensured his success on the battlefield. He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe whose men outnumbered his. He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy’s country, and unloaded the soldiers and equipment. Then he gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them. Addressing his men before the first battle, he said, ‘You see the boats going up in smoke. That means we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win! We now have no choice – we win or we perish!’
They won.
If you’ve ever read Think and Grow Rich, this story should sound familiar. Or if you’re Hernando Cortez. Or one of his men. Or a pyrotechnic. A sailor? No? Alright, I digress.
Let me ask you a question: are you winning?
Yes? Well that’s awesome, stop reading and keep your ships.
No? Then maybe it’s time to burn your ships.
Maybe? If you’re just content, unsure, or just feel like you’re missing something in life, maybe now’s the time to get a bit drastic.
Here’s the biggest reason to burn your ships: your life. This is your life – not the government’s, the church’s, or your parent’s – yours. You’re the only one that can decide (or cares) if you’re going to get out of it all that you want.
Is your life not worth winning?
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13 Comments on “The Biggest Reason To Burn Your Ships”
You can track this conversation through its atom feed.
Bad Advice? Why You Should Stop “Being Yourself” Immediately | The Polyman says:
[…] Realize you’re worth it, and decide to do something about it. This is your life, start living it. Maybe it’s also time you burned your ships. […]
Posted on April 20, 2010 at 1:02 am.
Destroying Inhibitive Precedences (Or Why I Haven’t Blogged Often) | The Polyman says:
[…] with myself, and totally transparent with you, I take the leap into the pit of destruction, burn my ships, and start to break my precedences by going against them when needed, or even on […]
Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:48 am.
OnlineMagazine » Blog Archive » How Stormpulse made more money on fewer customers says:
[…] service aimed at a different market. For a bootstrapped startup, such a move is pretty gutsy, the equivalent of burning your ships, but that’s exactly what Stormpulse, a weather tracking service […]
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:14 am.
How Stormpulse made more money on fewer customers - Actualidad says:
[…] service aimed at a different market. For a bootstrapped startup, such a move is pretty gutsy, the equivalent of burning your ships, but that’s exactly what Stormpulse, a weather tracking service […]
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:36 am.
How Stormpulse made more money on fewer customers | TechDiem.com says:
[…] service aimed at a different market. For a bootstrapped startup, such a move is pretty gutsy, the equivalent of burning your ships, but that’s exactly what Stormpulse, a weather tracking service […]
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:40 am.
How Stormpulse made more money on fewer customers — Tech News and Analysis says:
[…] service aimed at a different market. For a bootstrapped startup, such a move is pretty gutsy, the equivalent of burning your ships, but that’s exactly what Stormpulse, a weather tracking service did. Stormpulse in use at the […]
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 1:12 pm.
How Stormpulse made more money on fewer customers | Smart Energy Magazine says:
[…] service aimed at a different market. For a bootstrapped startup, such a move is pretty gutsy, the equivalent of burning your ships, but that’s exactly what Stormpulse, a weather tracking service […]
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:37 pm.
Excellent and very well put. Thank you for the reminder Drew.
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:11 am.
You’re welcome, glad you liked it David.
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:16 am.
Excellent and very well put. Thank you for the reminder Drew.
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:11 am.
what a fantastic metaphor. I am going to meditate on it the whole month. Thanks for posting it. question though, seems like a Roman or greek story, could you please tell me the exact source or author? I appreciate it.
Posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:48 am.
You’re welcome! It’s about Hernando Cortez.
Posted on May 13, 2012 at 6:40 pm.
Para pensar…
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 10:04 pm.