When Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés landed on the shores of Mexico in 1519, he made a shocking decision: he ordered his men to burn the ships they had arrived in. This wasn’t madness—it was strategy. By destroying any option of retreat, Cortés forced his army to commit fully to the mission ahead. They would either conquer or perish. No Plan B. No escape route. Just resolve, grit, and survival instinct.
This historical example may seem extreme, but the principle behind it shows up time and again in the world of entrepreneurship. It’s the concept of “burning the boats”—removing the safety nets so you have no choice but to move forward and succeed. And when it comes to business, this mindset might just be your most powerful asset.
Let’s look at some data that supports this. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) conducted a study examining business success among military veterans. What they found was fascinating: veterans who left the service before retirement were more likely to succeed in their business ventures than those who stayed in long enough to collect a pension or retirement income.
Why would that be the case? You might assume that having a steady source of income would make the entrepreneurial journey easier. It provides a cushion, after all. A runway. A safety net. But that cushion can also become a crutch. It dulls the sharp edge of necessity that so many successful entrepreneurs credit for their drive.
Without that fallback, pre-retirement veterans had no choice but to make their businesses work. It was win or go broke. And that kind of pressure awakens something primal—your survival instinct. It’s the same mental engine that drives people to do incredible things in the face of adversity.
This isn’t to say that you should quit your job tomorrow and dive headfirst into your side hustle without a plan. But it does suggest that too much comfort can lead to complacency. When we have something to fall back on, we tend not to lean all the way in. We don’t fight for every sale, optimize every process, or learn every necessary skill as if our life depends on it—because, well, it doesn’t.
Think about it: what would you do differently if failure wasn’t an option? What if your business had to succeed, or you would lose everything? That’s not just a hypothetical question for many entrepreneurs. It’s reality. And often, it’s in those moments of do-or-die that creativity, tenacity, and perseverance show up in full force.
So how can you apply this principle in your own business or startup?
Cut ties with your Plan B.
Tell people publicly what you’re doing so you can’t back out.
Invest real time, energy, or money that will motivate you to see it through.
Build accountability into your goals so someone’s watching.
Remind yourself regularly what’s at stake if you don’t give it your all.
Ultimately, success often comes down to mindset. If you’re always keeping one foot out the door, you’re never really committed. But if you “burn the boats,” you awaken a new level of focus and determination.
Just like Cortés, and just like those veterans who bet everything on themselves, maybe it’s time you went all-in.
What safety nets are holding you back—and how might letting them go help you move forward faster?
