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Entrepreneurs Should Never Burn Bridges, but They Should Burn Boats
I heard a great story recently of Hernán Cortés, a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of what is now mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile, according to Wikipedia.
As the story was told to me, Cortés set out in the early sixteenth century with only 600 Spaniards to explore and settle the land now called Mexico. Colonizing the Yucatan Peninsula, however, seemed like an insurmountable campaign, especially with such a small army and against indigenous peoples with far more resources and understanding of the landscape.
Cortés had a vision, however, and he was committed. To motivate his army as they embarked on the march inland, Cortés is rumored to have ordered his army to “burn the boats” upon which they had arrived. The move was meant to eliminate the army’s ability to retreat, which meant that the men had two options: victory or death.
Today, most historians agree that Cortés did not burn his boats but instead scuttled them to eliminate the option for retreat and thwart attempts of mutiny. Regardless, the lesson of his commitment to his mission should not be lost.
How does this translate to business?
