Burning The Boats

What Does Burning The Boats Mean?

Burning your Boats?

In 1519, Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez landed in Mexico on the shores of the Yucatan, with 600 men and prepared for battle with the formidable native population.

Knowing the terror of his men, the captain ordered that the boats be burnt on the shore so that there was no retreat. He knew that while there was the option for escape, his men would only half-heartedly fight, expecting the call to withdraw to come at any moment.

By burning the boats, he steadied the resolve of his men and commanded their full commitment to the battle. They went on to defeat their enemy and claim the substantial riches of the Aztecs.

Putting aside the moral justification for the invasion, the story has become popular among many motivational authors and life-style coaches. If we want to be successful at any endeavour in life, we need to invest deeply in it, be it a business, academic study, a fitness goal or a charitable mission. It’s not always down to talent; most of those who are successful in life get there through perseverance and grit.