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    • Tue Jul 24, 2007

    Sometimes You’ve Got to Burn the Boats

    You know you should turn your service into an ebook product, create a new workshop, start a podcast, yada, yada, yada. Sometimes knowing and doing have a hard time intersecting. I learned years ago one of the best ways to get something done is to give myself no choice.

    There is a fable that tells about a captain coming ashore to conquer a new land and finding his forces outnumbered 10-1. Seeing this a sergeant asked what they should do, to which the captain replied, “burn the boats.”

    • If you want to create a new product – buy an ad for it in a magazine that publishes in 3 months
    • If you want to get into public speaking – offer to speak for free everywhere you can
    • If you want to hold a teleseminar training course – start promoting the dates now
    • If you need to ramp up sales – place an ad for a salesperson today
    • If you want to start you own business – start getting clients now
    • If you want to get in shape – enter a 10K coming up (that was a bonus one!)

    Years ago I received a call from someone wanting to buy a product I hadn’t actually created, but I had always intended to. So, I sold her one – and then I had to create it! Funny how your priorities can change when you have no choice. Don’t be afraid to succeed.

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    Posted by: John Jantsch on Jul 24, 07 | 1:01 pm
    Category: Small Business, Vision | Tags:

    Comments
    « Great photo, blog, podcast, video resource list | Home | Advertising Age to Use the ToddAnd Power 150 »
    • Hey! Maybe I can use this article to explain to my wife why I just bout a $2,000 computer!...not really the point, huh?

      Anyway, love the post! I think I'll go ahead and Invest in the ecommerce Website solution even though i don't have all the details mapped out! Thanks!
    • I agree with you John. I've been wanting to start my own business for a while now. I just burned my ship by purchasing a hosting plan for my web application. Considering the cost of the plan, the sooner I get the revenue coming in, the sooner I get out of the red.
    • Thanks John, nicely said. You reminded me of Adam Osborne, writer-turned-founder of Osborne Computers, and what he called the "Adam Osborne Theory of Trade Show Productivity," which went as follows: "90% of the GDP is finished the night before the trade show opens."

      Tim
    • Great post, John! A twist on this technique is what my friend Jim Canterucci over at MyPersonalBrilliance.com did for me in order to provide "motivation" to complete my lastest project at BoringMeetingsSuck.com -- HE set my ship afire! I wrote about it in today's Brain|Blog --
      http://www.dontheideaguy.com/mybrainblog/2007/0...
    • although i agree with your overall point - give yourself no choice which will in turn stop procastination and start your motivation, i disagree with "If you need to ramp up sales - place an ad for a salesperson today"
    • John Jantsch
      Todd,

      It's okay to disagree but share your ideas too - what would you do to ramp up sales - to give yourself no option but to ramp up sales.
    • This is a dangerous line of thinking in my opinion. Sure, commitment can be a huge motivator, but it's a double edged sword. What happens when:

      * 3 months comes and goes and your still in product planning?
      * It turns out you don't have anything to talk about?
      * You don't know how to use the remoting technology on seminar day?
      * your new salesperson sits around doing nothing on the clock for 2 weeks?
      * your clients move on by the time your ready to be a business?
      * ...ok, there are no losers when it comes to personal fitness!

      Burning your ships can work, but in my experience it can also fail more spectacularly than doing nothing at all -- not only have you failed, but now you're out a bunch of ships too!

      My point is that without risk there is no reward, but make sure the risk is worth taking before you force it.
    • John Jantsch
      Michael,

      You will get no argument from me on this point - I hoped it was implied.

      "make sure the risk is worth taking before you force."

      Business is hard enough without looking for thrills.
    • John, I just posted this comment over at Don the Idea Guy's site, but since he was quoting you, I figured it would be appropriate here, too:

      In regards to the idea about "burining boats," I couldn't agree more, especially when it comes to embarking upon a new life path.

      I heard a story about Eddie Murphy talking about starting out in the comedy business. He said that while all of his friends went to college and got degrees to have something to fall back on, he was out pounding the pavement and working in clubs. He knew he HAD to make it. And he said that of all of his friends, he's the only one still in the business.

      If you have something to fall back on, you most certainly will fall back on i
    • Javier Z
      Burning the Boats is not a fable, it is part of the History. Hernan Cortes, who discovered Mexico and Baja California did it.
    • Great Post, I always love reading this blog. *=)
    • Joe
      The advice you gave is quite obvious. Of course if you want to start your own business you should start getting clients now. HOW IS THAT DONE? Something not so obvious to me and perhaps others.
    • You need to have your life jacket on before you consider burning the boats. That means enough money saved for 2-4 months income to cover all the bills, and have a contingecy plan. Winging it just doesn't cut it. If your plan isn't working, try something different.

      Jill
      TheBoss@YourSoothsayer.com
    • John Jantsch
      Jill,

      Maybe yes, maybe no - sounds like it might be just another excuse not to take action. Taking action and winging it are not the same thing.
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