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Burn The Ships

Writer's picture: Daniel CuestaDaniel Cuesta

I was just ten as I stood helpless amidst the flames, watching them engulf my past month's work in twenty minutes. 


It all burned to the ground, and I could do nothing about it. 


Tears teetered in my eyelids as I attempted to salvage what I could, pouring buckets of water in hopes of slowing or stopping the spread. But it was too late.


Amidst the rubble, I learned the hard truth: Wool is exceptionally flammable in Minecraft, and that's likely that you don't see many chimneys on boats these days.


Occasionally, I wonder if I truly am past the trauma. But jokes aside, a beautiful metaphor lies here, one based in timeless wisdom:


Sometimes, it takes burning the ships to set our eyes on the next objective, not get distracted by the old, and really learn amidst the new.



Best-selling author and beyond-successful entrepreneur Steven Bartlett lives this out in a radically frightening way. He teaches that having a “backup plan” in many cases is a justifiable excuse to not work with everything we have towards what should be our primary targets.


While he is not advocating for a reckless, bet-it-all-on-black kind of thinking, the idea of a split focus being an opposing force is true.


While in moderation, being careful and meticulous can lead to an improvement in craft and skill, but too much caution will lead to nothing ever being published, shared, critiqued, or learned from.


Waiting for the perfect opportunity to arrive equates to more dust collecting on all your shelved ideas.


I’ve been thinking this over for some time now and have implemented it into a variety of areas in my life. It has led to both enlightenment and knee scabs, but no regrets.  It has also been a considerable reliever of stress by providing peace in the form of knowing I have given it my all. Whether the discipline in question worked out or not, there is no manner in which the blame or sense of lack can be traced back to my efforts. Not having a Plan B results in all my energy being invested in Plan A, and yes, that can be scary.


I understand this thinking is not for everybody, and the further we progress in life, the more it seems we have to lose, but as I remember my digitally burned boat, I realize that letting some things go gives way to much more clarity towards what we should be focusing on.


Think of dedicating it all to a “Plan A” lifestyle as slowly burning your ships and making way for your greater commitment and focus.


It’s worth noting you don't have to light it all on fire at once. 


Use some of the wood for a fire when it gets cold or as a light when it's dark. Between seasons, you may find yourself using wood from your old ships to get through the night as you tirelessly work on building your new project, home, or piece of art.


Having a day job while composing a novel into late hours is a logical position to be in as an author. Working part-time to pay the bills as you leverage your creations within your network and broaden your audience is necessary for stability. Earning a college degree, even though you have yet to align your purpose with your work, is ok; it takes time. 


These practices will help you keep going, but don't allow them to become substitutes for what you should be doing. Look at them as guardrails to keep you on the road, not as alternative roads themselves.


Slowly but surely detach what you “should” be doing from what you are “meant” to be doing.



Reframe your thinking and work steadily towards your objectives. Make sure “Plan A” makes sense, accounts for contingencies, and allows for adaptation and growth; whatever you do, don’t lose sight of the work amidst the allure of a “Plan B.”


If that is too difficult to do all at once, start by Burning The Ships, slowly at first if you have to, but begin somewhere and then stay at it.


- Making The Most Of Being Curious

Daniel J. Cuesta


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