Burn the Boats

Burn the boats.

I've been inside ~15 startups as an operator, fractional leader, or board member. Countless strategy sessions.

Optionality comes up often, and usually as a benefit of a particular strategy, in that "if path A fails we also have the option to pursue path B or path C."

I've argued on behalf of optionality many times.

I was wrong every time.

Winning requires conviction and patience. Optionality gives us the opportunity to give up, or hedge, when the going gets tough - and call it smart strategy.

The winners burn the boats.

I did a rim to rim trail run through the Grand Canyon with some good friends this weekend. The most powerful part of the experience (there were many) was that there is only one way through the Grand Canyon. There are no off ramps part way through, there are no aid stations, there is no cell service.

Once you're in, you're committed. I rolled my ankle ~ 7 miles in. My water reservoir sprung a leak a few miles later. If I had the option to bail out, maybe I would have.

But there were no choices. The only way out was through.

Next time someone is advocating for optionality, quietly burn the boats. They'll thank you later.