Burning the Boats: A Business Lifesaver

By The Fabulous Linda Lee, The Branding & Marketing Quarterback for Women Entrepreneurs

Reading is my favorite past time. We have a library of business and marketing books in our house. And while I eliminate most "distracting" emails from my Inbox, Amazon's "Recommendations" are welcomed with zeal!

Last week I picked up Napoleon Hill's classic book, Think and Grow Rich. While the language in the original version is dated, the principles are timeless. In the book, Hill wrote about a conqueror who declared, "Burn the boats!" My curiosity was peaked so I investigated further.

In the video below, Andy Andrews shares Hernando Cortez's famous boat story. Take five and watch it...because "burning the boats" could be your business lifesaver.

What are the Boats in our Hearts & Minds that We Need to Burn?

Interesting question, right? Take some time to really think about it. Open your mind because you may have "floaters" you aren't even aware of yet.

Possible Boats We Row Around In

• Friends and family who discourage or sabotage our dreams.
• Negative self-talk that breeds self-doubt and fear.
• Clients who don't value our services & products and want everything for free.
• Habits which prevent positive actions (ie. Netflix binging)
• Ineffective marketing activities we're terrified to stop doing.
• Comfort zones that keep us comfortable, but not challenged.
• Procrastination, excuses, and head trash.

Here's the simple truth, ladies! If we want our businesses to grow, we have to burn the boats. Conquering our business dreams means no option for retreat. No Plan B. No exit strategy. As Cortez proclaimed, "Take it or die." Take success or die.

Burning the boats is scary. I've recently watched a few boats go down in flames. Burning the boats is letting go of what we know and trusting a future we're not yet living!

But burning the boats is a business lifesaver! If we can't go back, we can only march forward! And business growth is the result of pushing forward to conquer our dreams.

Not sure which boats need burned for your business to flourish? To joyfully celebrate my recent burnings, I'm giving away ten complimentary 30-minute Huddle Sessions in the month of April! Together we'll get down & dirty and burn a few boats so you can take success or die too! Click here to grab your complimentary Huddle Session with The Fabulous Linda Lee!