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Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential
Early praise for Burn the Boats :
"Matt has a rare ability to articulate the fears that loom so large in our collective subconscious. Burn the Boats is a brilliant book that will renew your faith in your ability to achieve exactly what you set out to do, to stop settling, and start striving for the life you always imagined. In these pages, you'll discover the practical tools you need to conquer your self doubt and navigate around people's opinions of you. This book will change your life."
- Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times best seller author of Think Like a Monk
"Matt Higgins knows from experience that when you have little to lose, there's a lot to be gained by making bold bets. In this engaging, actionable book, he shows how it's possible to take the reins and reinvent your career."
- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best selling author of 5 books, Think Again
"Matt holds nothing back in this raw and vulnerable polemic against Plan B. Beginning with the moving, personal story of his early trauma, Matt conveys to the reader that anyone can engineer their way to a better life if armed with the right mindset."
- Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Jones Road
Executive fellow at Harvard Business School, Guest Shark on Shark Tank , and famed angel investor Matt Higgins reveals the counterintuitive formula for a life of perpetual growth that has been practiced for thousands of years by military leaders and serial entrepreneurs alike--forget the Plan B and burn the boats.
From Sun Tzu to Julius Caesar, the ancient Israelites to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there's a bold and highly effective tactic seen throughout history--when leaders want to motivate their troops for success, they destroy all opportunities for retreat, and go all-in on the mission. They burn their boats; it's win or perish, and the clarity of sheer desperation propels them to victory.
Serial entrepreneur, brilliant investor, and television personality Matt Higgins makes the case that burning the boats isn't just advantageous in times of war or crisis, but a strategy we can all use to achieve our greatest dreams. Conquerors don't have a Plan B, knowing intuitively what science bears out: the mere contemplation of a Plan B weakens our resolve and diminishes our chances for breakout success.
In Burn the Boats, Higgins draws from experiences in his own rags-to-riches life to show you how it's done. The lessons he's learned along the way, and witnessed in the leaders around him, are now for the first time distilled down to a template for success that's available to everyone bold enough to use it. Each chapter includes clear, actionable advice that readers can immediately start applying to their own lives, along with inspiration drawn from dozens of real-life success stories, adding up to a blueprint for a future filled with victories.
"Matt has a rare ability to articulate the fears that loom so large in our collective subconscious. Burn the Boats is a brilliant book that will renew your faith in your ability to achieve exactly what you set out to do, to stop settling, and start striving for the life you always imagined. In these pages, you'll discover the practical tools you need to conquer your self doubt and navigate around people's opinions of you. This book will change your life."
- Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times best seller author of Think Like a Monk
"Matt Higgins knows from experience that when you have little to lose, there's a lot to be gained by making bold bets. In this engaging, actionable book, he shows how it's possible to take the reins and reinvent your career."
- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best selling author of 5 books, Think Again
"Matt holds nothing back in this raw and vulnerable polemic against Plan B. Beginning with the moving, personal story of his early trauma, Matt conveys to the reader that anyone can engineer their way to a better life if armed with the right mindset."
- Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Jones Road
Executive fellow at Harvard Business School, Guest Shark on Shark Tank , and famed angel investor Matt Higgins reveals the counterintuitive formula for a life of perpetual growth that has been practiced for thousands of years by military leaders and serial entrepreneurs alike--forget the Plan B and burn the boats.
From Sun Tzu to Julius Caesar, the ancient Israelites to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there's a bold and highly effective tactic seen throughout history--when leaders want to motivate their troops for success, they destroy all opportunities for retreat, and go all-in on the mission. They burn their boats; it's win or perish, and the clarity of sheer desperation propels them to victory.
Serial entrepreneur, brilliant investor, and television personality Matt Higgins makes the case that burning the boats isn't just advantageous in times of war or crisis, but a strategy we can all use to achieve our greatest dreams. Conquerors don't have a Plan B, knowing intuitively what science bears out: the mere contemplation of a Plan B weakens our resolve and diminishes our chances for breakout success.
In Burn the Boats, Higgins draws from experiences in his own rags-to-riches life to show you how it's done. The lessons he's learned along the way, and witnessed in the leaders around him, are now for the first time distilled down to a template for success that's available to everyone bold enough to use it. Each chapter includes clear, actionable advice that readers can immediately start applying to their own lives, along with inspiration drawn from dozens of real-life success stories, adding up to a blueprint for a future filled with victories.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2023
309 people are currently reading
10589 people want to read
About the author
Matt Higgins
10 books90 followersFounder. Operator. Investor. Educator. Shark. No matter the role, Matt Higgins has always believed in trusting his instincts and never outsourcing his judgment. Higgins grew up in Queens, hawking flowers on street corners and scraping gum under tables at McDonald’s to help feed his family. On a mission to escape poverty as fast as possible and provide for his home-bound mother, he dropped out of high school, took his GED and enrolled in college at 16 – eventually earning his juris doctorate from Fordham Law at night while working full-time.
A decade after dropping out of high school, Higgins was appointed the youngest Mayor’s press secretary in NYC history at 26, managing the global media response during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He then became one of the first employees – and ultimately Chief Operating Officer – of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the federally funded government agency created to rebuild the World Trade Center site. Higgins helped organize the largest international design competition in history culminating in Reflecting Absence, the September 11th National Memorial, and the development of the 1,776-feet-tall One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the northern hemisphere.
Higgins has deep experience in sports, having spent 15 years in senior leadership positions with National Football League teams. He made his mark with two NFL franchises, overseeing the revenue functions of the New York Jets as Executive Vice President of Business Operations, and after leaving the Jets, serving as Vice Chairman of the Miami Dolphins from 2012 - 2021. Higgins cofounded New York City-based RSE Ventures in 2012 alongside developer Stephen M. Ross, amassing a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio of leading brands across sports and entertainment, media and marketing, food and lifestyle, and technology industries. NYC’s iconic Magnolia Bakery is one of the latest additions to a portfolio that includes David Chang’s renowned culinary brand, Momofuku, and Australian-inspired hospitality/lifestyle brand, Bluestone Lane.
RSE has successfully backed many challenger brands from inception, including RESY, an Open Table competitor that American Express acquired in 2019; the Drone Racing League, which was named among Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Sports Companies; and Relevent Sports, the leading international soccer agency in the US. Higgins was the first client and ultimately only partner in VaynerMedia, the largest social-media first agency in the world founded by Gary Vaynerchuk. VaynerMedia was recently named
Adweek’s 2022 Breakthrough Media Agency of the Year and ranked #5 on Ad Age’s 2022 Agency A-List.
Higgins is a prolific investor in the direct-to-consumer space, having invested in over 100 DTC brands throughout his career. He leveraged this expertise to become a lecturer and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, where he teaches the popular course Moving Beyond DTC alongside HBS Professor Len Schlesinger. Each year, the course features real-world case studies on some of the top consumer brands in the US. Higgins’ first book Burn The Boats will be published by Harper Collins William Morrow in 2023. The book offers a blueprint for a life where ‘Plan B’ is never an option – instead, advocating to always move forward with visionary defiance, bold self-confidence, unwavering commitment, and rigorous honesty.
Higgins’ reputation as a self-made serial entrepreneur earned him a spot as a recurring guest Shark on the Emmy award-winning TV show Shark Tank during seasons 10 and 11. In 2019, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, joining the ranks of seven former US presidents, Nobel Prize winners and other leaders for work to improve society. He is also a longstanding board member of Autism Speaks, advocating for scientific research and greater acceptance of neurodiversity. In 2021, Higgins had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss human ri
A decade after dropping out of high school, Higgins was appointed the youngest Mayor’s press secretary in NYC history at 26, managing the global media response during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He then became one of the first employees – and ultimately Chief Operating Officer – of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the federally funded government agency created to rebuild the World Trade Center site. Higgins helped organize the largest international design competition in history culminating in Reflecting Absence, the September 11th National Memorial, and the development of the 1,776-feet-tall One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the northern hemisphere.
Higgins has deep experience in sports, having spent 15 years in senior leadership positions with National Football League teams. He made his mark with two NFL franchises, overseeing the revenue functions of the New York Jets as Executive Vice President of Business Operations, and after leaving the Jets, serving as Vice Chairman of the Miami Dolphins from 2012 - 2021. Higgins cofounded New York City-based RSE Ventures in 2012 alongside developer Stephen M. Ross, amassing a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio of leading brands across sports and entertainment, media and marketing, food and lifestyle, and technology industries. NYC’s iconic Magnolia Bakery is one of the latest additions to a portfolio that includes David Chang’s renowned culinary brand, Momofuku, and Australian-inspired hospitality/lifestyle brand, Bluestone Lane.
RSE has successfully backed many challenger brands from inception, including RESY, an Open Table competitor that American Express acquired in 2019; the Drone Racing League, which was named among Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Sports Companies; and Relevent Sports, the leading international soccer agency in the US. Higgins was the first client and ultimately only partner in VaynerMedia, the largest social-media first agency in the world founded by Gary Vaynerchuk. VaynerMedia was recently named
Adweek’s 2022 Breakthrough Media Agency of the Year and ranked #5 on Ad Age’s 2022 Agency A-List.
Higgins is a prolific investor in the direct-to-consumer space, having invested in over 100 DTC brands throughout his career. He leveraged this expertise to become a lecturer and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, where he teaches the popular course Moving Beyond DTC alongside HBS Professor Len Schlesinger. Each year, the course features real-world case studies on some of the top consumer brands in the US. Higgins’ first book Burn The Boats will be published by Harper Collins William Morrow in 2023. The book offers a blueprint for a life where ‘Plan B’ is never an option – instead, advocating to always move forward with visionary defiance, bold self-confidence, unwavering commitment, and rigorous honesty.
Higgins’ reputation as a self-made serial entrepreneur earned him a spot as a recurring guest Shark on the Emmy award-winning TV show Shark Tank during seasons 10 and 11. In 2019, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, joining the ranks of seven former US presidents, Nobel Prize winners and other leaders for work to improve society. He is also a longstanding board member of Autism Speaks, advocating for scientific research and greater acceptance of neurodiversity. In 2021, Higgins had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss human ri
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
February 26, 2023
Where to begin? Burn The Boats is an absolute MUST read.
The book is an easy, and moving, read full of life and business lessons. Anytime I picked it up I couldn’t put it down and as I was reading it kept thinking of people, both professionally and personally, that I want to share the book with.
Some words that describe the book are honest, vulnerable, insightful, inspiring, positive and action oriented. Balanced, equal parts personal | emotional and rational | business insights. As I shared with Matt, I’ve read many books but none as captivating and inspiring personally and professionally.
The insights about turning anxiety into a positive super power are excellent. So many people, myself included, are “high functioning anxiety” people. The book was very helpful to be to be able to say, hey, I’ve got anxiety , it’s ok , I am aware of it, it’s part of me but doesn’t consume me. Let’s go!
The questions weaved throughout the book are really important and helpful. For those wanting to further evolve themselves doing the work around the questions is recommended.
This book changed my life and I know it will change yours as well! Burn The Boats!!
Claudia L
The book is an easy, and moving, read full of life and business lessons. Anytime I picked it up I couldn’t put it down and as I was reading it kept thinking of people, both professionally and personally, that I want to share the book with.
Some words that describe the book are honest, vulnerable, insightful, inspiring, positive and action oriented. Balanced, equal parts personal | emotional and rational | business insights. As I shared with Matt, I’ve read many books but none as captivating and inspiring personally and professionally.
The insights about turning anxiety into a positive super power are excellent. So many people, myself included, are “high functioning anxiety” people. The book was very helpful to be to be able to say, hey, I’ve got anxiety , it’s ok , I am aware of it, it’s part of me but doesn’t consume me. Let’s go!
The questions weaved throughout the book are really important and helpful. For those wanting to further evolve themselves doing the work around the questions is recommended.
This book changed my life and I know it will change yours as well! Burn The Boats!!
Claudia L
December 19, 2022
I did receive an advanced copy of the book and my review is based on that. Let me just say that almost every entrepreneur I've ever known (and I've worked with many) has had a back-up plan, including me. But that's why so many fail -- because they can. And that's what's so different about this book and Matt's central theme. The whole point is to go all in on a new business or endeavor. And to do that you have to give yourself no choice but to succeed.
Matt weaves his personal story into this book, and that's important as he started with nothing but his own wits -- he had no boats to burn; no plan B. In a strange way, I guess I'd have to say that he was lucky.
This book is not just a business book -- it’s part self-help, part business, and truly compelling drama. But more importantly, it unfolds on an emotional level higher than anything in this category.
Two thumbs up.
Matt weaves his personal story into this book, and that's important as he started with nothing but his own wits -- he had no boats to burn; no plan B. In a strange way, I guess I'd have to say that he was lucky.
This book is not just a business book -- it’s part self-help, part business, and truly compelling drama. But more importantly, it unfolds on an emotional level higher than anything in this category.
Two thumbs up.
February 26, 2023
I was very fortunate to have picked this amazing book up. I was surprised at how much of a page turner this book is! Such an extensive and rare insight into the inner workings of the psyche of one of today’s most pre-eminent entrepreneurial minds. This book is chock full of refreshing insights that others have yet touched on. Phenomenal perspective and wisdom on how to move on in life and become a true success. Thank you, Matt, for such a great read, and providing the readiness to conquer the world!
December 17, 2022
I have been so fortunate to receive an early copy of this book as Matt was kind enough to feature our story of working together.
This book is more than a normal business book and it’s a hand book for anyone who’s deciding what road to take or looking for what the next road should be.
I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
This book is more than a normal business book and it’s a hand book for anyone who’s deciding what road to take or looking for what the next road should be.
I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
December 22, 2022
Burn the Boats is an incredible book for anyone that thinks it may be too late in life to pursue their dream. The stories that Matt uses pull you in from the jump but the actionable strategies and research he shares will elevate your current business plan immensely. I read this book in one day simply because I couldn't put it down. You are literally receiving private coaching from a Harvard professor who has taken his life from poverty to incredible success and he includes countless examples that support his theories from other massively successful entrepreneurs. The foundation for the book is based in teachings from the Old Testament and The Art Of War and other iconic examples that all leave you reassured it is time to burn your boats and go for more! thank you, Matt!
December 20, 2022
I was fortunate to receive an early copy of the book and had the opportunity to interview Matt today to support his book launch. I put this book on the must-read list. Matt exposes many of the triumphs and obstacles over the course of his life in a very vulnerable way. He uses stories from leaders across many industries to help highlight the key lessons from each of his chapters. Each chapter has easy-to-understand takeaways. I read over 80 books a year, and this one is a gem. I highly recommend it.
December 21, 2022
The instant I finished this book, I decided to finally act on that nugget of an idea I’ve always had. Perhaps lacking the confidence, I truly felt emboldened by this book. Reading not only Matt’s origin story, but seeing how countless others have made difficult and uncomfortable decisions, left me no choice but to make my own!
For anyone needing that nudge or inspiration, read this book. Matt doesn’t talk at you, he talk to you with stories and accounts we can all relate to, understand and feel motivated by. It was a pleasure to read.
For anyone needing that nudge or inspiration, read this book. Matt doesn’t talk at you, he talk to you with stories and accounts we can all relate to, understand and feel motivated by. It was a pleasure to read.
February 25, 2023
I couldn't finish it. It's all over the place going a mile wide and an inch deep on way too many people's stories. "Facts" are cherry picked to loosely support his thesis. Many of the stories offered have little or nothing to do with the point he is trying to make other than the fact that the person he is talking about is successful. The entire book is a case study in hindsight bias.
At the time of my rating, this book has mostly five star reviews, but they all appear to be from people who were given advanced copies and asked to leave them.
At the time of my rating, this book has mostly five star reviews, but they all appear to be from people who were given advanced copies and asked to leave them.
January 30, 2024
I got this book as a gift and read it in one sitting during my flight today. Well... I do not recommend it. The advice is quite shallow, clickbite-y and seems to be advocating for rather unreasonably risky behaviour and somewhat toxic practices. Not sure I can relate to the positive reviews from other readers 🤷♂️.
I left it on a plane. Just in case someone else can make better use of this book. Or at least recycle.
I left it on a plane. Just in case someone else can make better use of this book. Or at least recycle.
May 9, 2023
If you’re at all on the fence or apprehensive about taking the plunge into business or into your life’s next chapter, this book is for you! Matt lays out countless examples of why taking your proverbial ‘plan B’ out of the equation is not only important but necessary! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 6, 2023
Wow, what an amazing book, full of inspiration. Matt digs deep into his own experiences and those of many, many others to provide inspiration. Despite focusing on career/business topics the lessons can be equally applied to one's personal life. Excellent work!
January 31, 2023
I HIGHLY recommend Burn the Boats! I had the pleasure of taking Matt's course at Harvard Business School and was given an advance copy of the book in exchange for feedback. Through the book, I learned so many valuable lessons applicable to entrepreneurship, business, and life in general. Matt does a phenomenal job weaving together his own impressive story, lessons and anecdotes from his deep and accomplished network, and psychological and academic principles relevant to each takeaway. It's the perfect combination of a business book and self-help guide.
Some of my favorite takeaways included:
- The key to success is going all-in unapologetically and trusting your instincts.
- You are the only one with the full context of your life, so you will see your path forward before anyone else.
- You can't do it all; hire people who are better than you and submit to what makes them incredible.
- Success and contentment are built on perpetual pursuit.
Some of my favorite takeaways included:
- The key to success is going all-in unapologetically and trusting your instincts.
- You are the only one with the full context of your life, so you will see your path forward before anyone else.
- You can't do it all; hire people who are better than you and submit to what makes them incredible.
- Success and contentment are built on perpetual pursuit.
March 11, 2023
With BURN THE BOATS, Matt Higgins describes an approach to life that is terrifying and incredibly rewarding, simply one where you go all in on whatever your endeavor and do not have a fallback, a safety net, nothing but the knowing you have to figure it out, head straight for the goal, and keep going no matter what. I loved the writing style, the stories of the ones who have taken this approach to their goals and made their dreams come true. Higgins writes with deep honesty, profound vulnerability, and compassion -- making this the ultimate business of life book.
February 12, 2023
Burn The Boats is an excellent read for anyone looking to adopt a growth mind set. Matt's stories along with others will allow you rethink your internal strategy and push you towards personal and professional happiness. It's a must read!
February 21, 2023
I received Burn the Boats as my first Goodreads Giveaway! I couldn't put it down! Thanks Matt for the additional free workbook. I believe in divine timing and this book is the motivation I needed! I burnt the life rafts too!
February 22, 2023
I love that self awareness is so heavily valued through this book. Inspiring stories deliver the practical, tangible advice in a way that lands. A very enjoyable and useful read.
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May 9, 2023Here’s motivation to go all-in on your dreams.
When Julius Caesar arrived on the English coast with his army, ready to conquer the island, he quickly realized that he was outnumbered. So he did something that would seem absolutely reckless to most observers: he ordered his men to burn their own boats.
Worried that his soldiers would be tempted to retreat, Caesar didn’t want to give his men any reason to hold back in battle. Burning the boats meant there was no way home. No alternative. No Plan B.
At 14, Matt Higgins didn’t know about Caesar's strategy. Yet even at such a young age, he intuited the wisdom of burning your boats. Today, Matt is a successful venture capitalist. But back then, he was desperately searching to escape the grinding poverty that he and his mother were trapped in: a tiny, rent-stabilized apartment in Queen’s, New York, with an almost-empty fridge.
He knew that his low-wage McDonald’s job wouldn’t cut it. And it would take years before he would start college and get paid college student rates. If he wanted to escape this dire situation quickly, he would have to take a leap.
Matt realized that he could drop out of high school at 16, take the GED, and then apply to college two years faster. That meant two years closer to earning college wages and two years closer to putting food in his mother’s fridge.
Matt didn’t tell a soul about his plan. He knew that his teachers would try to pull him back on course if he were merely scraping by. They had to believe he was hopeless. In other words, he had to burn his boats. So Matt stopped going to school. He failed every class spectacularly, and the day he turned 16, he dropped out.
Why is burning your boats so effective? And how can you find the courage to take similar bold action in your own life?
That’s what you’ll discover in this book. With the wisdom of Matt Higgins to guide you, along with inspirational stories from people who’ve built wild success and achieved their dreams, you’ll learn how Plan B sabotages your true calling. So grab your matches – and let’s get burning.
---
Trust yourself to take the leap.
Matt immediately recognized the genius in 26-year-old Jesse Derris. Already making partner at the publicity firm where he worked, Jesse had no trouble offering unapologetic truths to CEOs twice his age. His ability to see patterns and predict trends was practically a sixth sense.
But Matt could also see that Jesse’s talents were being squandered. So the two went for a walk one day, and as they looped around Manhattan’s Madison Square Park, Matt offered to invest $2 million in Jesse to start his own PR company.
Despite Matt’s confidence in him, Jesse was petrified to strike out on his own. Was this a good time? Was he capable? Still, his gut was telling him this was the right move, and after an encouraging conversation with his girlfriend, he took Matt’s offer.
Jesse’s story demonstrates the first key to burning your boats: Taking the leap requires trusting your instincts, even when it goes against convention.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. When you’re about to jump into the unknown, your mind will pull out all the stops. The signs will suddenly try to point you to safer ground. Here are just a few things to remember if conventional ideas are keeping you from taking the leap.
The first is that there will never be a perfect time to act, and, in fact, it will probably only get harder later. If something is calling to you, do it now.
Second, don’t wait for validation or buy-in from others. Taking calculated risks is all about seeing opportunities where others don’t.
Third, don’t think that you have to stay in your lane. Society will tell you to stick with what you know. But consider Sarah Cooper, who had a 15-year career in tech. When her satirical blog about Silicon Valley blew up, she took the leap into comedy, leaving her cushy Google job behind. And in 2020, she landed her very own Netflix show.
Last, don’t buy into the convention of incrementalism. People will convince you to put in your time on each rung of the ladder. But some goals require a leap – or a whole different ladder. Incremental growth is just a Plan B in disguise, so don’t let it hold you back.
In short, when your instincts conflict with what the world is telling you, do not hesitate or doubt yourself. What is your vision for your life? Do you really want to miss the chance to be the most extraordinary version of yourself?
Just ask Jesse Derris. In 2022, a few short years after starting his own firm, he sold it to PR giant BerlinRosen, and is now a self-made millionaire.
---
When the going gets tough, chase the fear.
The journey to a rewarding life isn’t always smooth. After you take the leap and burn your boats, it’s common for fear and anxiety to set in. Crises are inevitable when you take big risks and go all-in. So it’s best to buckle up and prepare for the bumps ahead.
When the going gets tough, the temptation will be to slam on the brakes and make a U-turn. But what you should do instead is drive into the discomfort.
The night before Matt joined the hit TV show Shark Tank as a guest investor, he lay wide awake in his hotel room, riddled with anxiety and self-doubt. At 8 a.m. Matt walked onto the set, and as soon as the cameras started rolling, he completely froze.
The first thing to understand is that a healthy dose of fear can actually be a good thing. With the right mindset, it can help drive performance. That means the goal isn’t to obliterate all stress from your life, but to manage it, and use it to your advantage.
For example, research by Barbara Fredrickson at the University of Michigan looked at college students’ responses to the September 11th attacks. She found that having positive emotions during a crisis builds longer-term resilience and protects against depression. In other words, seeing a crisis as an opportunity helps you to thrive.
Matt knew that going on Shark Tank was an incredible professional opportunity. So he signed up, despite his fear. He then spent the next year preparing by watching all 200 episodes with his son and taking detailed notes.
Of course, there is such a thing as too much anxiety. What do you do when the fear threatens to pull you under, when it moves from optimal stress to derailing stress? For Matt, it’s all about plugging into who you are. Remember your strengths, and how you’ve used challenging circumstances in the past to define what you’re capable of.
On that first day of shooting Shark Tank, Matt was able to break out of his frozen state of anxiety through what he calls self-talk. He told himself that he was completely capable of doing this, and that he was here because he belongs here.
In the following moments, Matt beat out veteran shark Kevin O’Leary in his first deal by showing the pitching entrepreneur exactly who Matt was. He would be by the entrepreneur’s side through the struggles, supporting him every step of the way – because that is the kind of investor Matt is.
The lesson is that a crisis forces you to act. When faced with the possibility of losing everything you’ve worked for, you have to gather all your strength and fight. This is what it means to embrace the crisis, and run toward the fear.
---
Consolidate your gains and burn the boats again.
Burning the boats is about owning your journey, whatever it may be. You don’t have to chase other people’s ideas of success. It all starts with a vision for your life. Maybe you want to work on your own terms. Maybe you want more financial security, or to serve an important cause.
Whatever the vision, no matter how fantastical it sounds, listen to it. When your psyche is trying to tell you something, take it seriously.
Matt’s story serves as a great inspiration. At age 16, he recognized that he needed to be on a different path. The vision he had for his life came from a deep need within. He wanted freedom for both himself and his mother from their poverty and the limits it placed on them.
After burning his boats by quitting high school to start college two years early, Matt knew he would have to shed his identity as a dropout. He eventually got himself a job in the press office of New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, while also putting himself through law school at night.
When Giuliani’s office passed him over for a promotion, Matt burned his boats again and left the job. Within months, they came back and made him press secretary at just 26 years old. He now had a new story – no longer “high school dropout,” but instead “youngest press secretary.”
Matt’s life exemplifies a secret to living your dreams: When you reach the end of one journey, you burn the boats and do it all over again. This takes courage, and also practice. It isn’t like riding a bike – learn it once and you’re set. Instead, it’s like a muscle that strengthens with use. Each time you burn your boats, you get better at it. And what you’ll find is that it gets easier each time.
From managing the mayor’s press in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Matt became CEO of the effort to rebuild Ground Zero. Then the New York Jets hired him to build a new stadium for them on an underused piece of Manhattan real estate called Hudson Yards.
While that development never got off the ground, Matt leveraged the opportunity to become a senior executive with the Jets. When he was no longer able to grow in that role, he left without a plan B. It was the owner of the Miami Dolphins, Stephen Ross, who offered Matt his next job, having seen Matt’s initiative with the Jets.
Notice how Matt never let himself stagnate. He consolidated his gains from each step, and used them to leverage the next opportunity. Don’t wait until something finishes; start planning the next opportunity now. Use every advantage you currently possess to take the next leap.
---
Keeping Plan B in your back pocket is only holding you back from realizing your dreams. Instead, you have to trust yourself and take the leap, even when your gut goes against conventional wisdom, or when the challenges seem too steep. Today, Matt Higgins has come a very long way from the poor teen living in a small Queen’s apartment, caring for his mother. Now he runs his own venture capital firm, RSE Ventures, where he gets to help entrepreneurs around the world realize their own business dreams. And it was all thanks to his ability to go all in, time and time again, by burning the boats and abandoning Plan B.
When Julius Caesar arrived on the English coast with his army, ready to conquer the island, he quickly realized that he was outnumbered. So he did something that would seem absolutely reckless to most observers: he ordered his men to burn their own boats.
Worried that his soldiers would be tempted to retreat, Caesar didn’t want to give his men any reason to hold back in battle. Burning the boats meant there was no way home. No alternative. No Plan B.
At 14, Matt Higgins didn’t know about Caesar's strategy. Yet even at such a young age, he intuited the wisdom of burning your boats. Today, Matt is a successful venture capitalist. But back then, he was desperately searching to escape the grinding poverty that he and his mother were trapped in: a tiny, rent-stabilized apartment in Queen’s, New York, with an almost-empty fridge.
He knew that his low-wage McDonald’s job wouldn’t cut it. And it would take years before he would start college and get paid college student rates. If he wanted to escape this dire situation quickly, he would have to take a leap.
Matt realized that he could drop out of high school at 16, take the GED, and then apply to college two years faster. That meant two years closer to earning college wages and two years closer to putting food in his mother’s fridge.
Matt didn’t tell a soul about his plan. He knew that his teachers would try to pull him back on course if he were merely scraping by. They had to believe he was hopeless. In other words, he had to burn his boats. So Matt stopped going to school. He failed every class spectacularly, and the day he turned 16, he dropped out.
Why is burning your boats so effective? And how can you find the courage to take similar bold action in your own life?
That’s what you’ll discover in this book. With the wisdom of Matt Higgins to guide you, along with inspirational stories from people who’ve built wild success and achieved their dreams, you’ll learn how Plan B sabotages your true calling. So grab your matches – and let’s get burning.
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Trust yourself to take the leap.
Matt immediately recognized the genius in 26-year-old Jesse Derris. Already making partner at the publicity firm where he worked, Jesse had no trouble offering unapologetic truths to CEOs twice his age. His ability to see patterns and predict trends was practically a sixth sense.
But Matt could also see that Jesse’s talents were being squandered. So the two went for a walk one day, and as they looped around Manhattan’s Madison Square Park, Matt offered to invest $2 million in Jesse to start his own PR company.
Despite Matt’s confidence in him, Jesse was petrified to strike out on his own. Was this a good time? Was he capable? Still, his gut was telling him this was the right move, and after an encouraging conversation with his girlfriend, he took Matt’s offer.
Jesse’s story demonstrates the first key to burning your boats: Taking the leap requires trusting your instincts, even when it goes against convention.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. When you’re about to jump into the unknown, your mind will pull out all the stops. The signs will suddenly try to point you to safer ground. Here are just a few things to remember if conventional ideas are keeping you from taking the leap.
The first is that there will never be a perfect time to act, and, in fact, it will probably only get harder later. If something is calling to you, do it now.
Second, don’t wait for validation or buy-in from others. Taking calculated risks is all about seeing opportunities where others don’t.
Third, don’t think that you have to stay in your lane. Society will tell you to stick with what you know. But consider Sarah Cooper, who had a 15-year career in tech. When her satirical blog about Silicon Valley blew up, she took the leap into comedy, leaving her cushy Google job behind. And in 2020, she landed her very own Netflix show.
Last, don’t buy into the convention of incrementalism. People will convince you to put in your time on each rung of the ladder. But some goals require a leap – or a whole different ladder. Incremental growth is just a Plan B in disguise, so don’t let it hold you back.
In short, when your instincts conflict with what the world is telling you, do not hesitate or doubt yourself. What is your vision for your life? Do you really want to miss the chance to be the most extraordinary version of yourself?
Just ask Jesse Derris. In 2022, a few short years after starting his own firm, he sold it to PR giant BerlinRosen, and is now a self-made millionaire.
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When the going gets tough, chase the fear.
The journey to a rewarding life isn’t always smooth. After you take the leap and burn your boats, it’s common for fear and anxiety to set in. Crises are inevitable when you take big risks and go all-in. So it’s best to buckle up and prepare for the bumps ahead.
When the going gets tough, the temptation will be to slam on the brakes and make a U-turn. But what you should do instead is drive into the discomfort.
The night before Matt joined the hit TV show Shark Tank as a guest investor, he lay wide awake in his hotel room, riddled with anxiety and self-doubt. At 8 a.m. Matt walked onto the set, and as soon as the cameras started rolling, he completely froze.
The first thing to understand is that a healthy dose of fear can actually be a good thing. With the right mindset, it can help drive performance. That means the goal isn’t to obliterate all stress from your life, but to manage it, and use it to your advantage.
For example, research by Barbara Fredrickson at the University of Michigan looked at college students’ responses to the September 11th attacks. She found that having positive emotions during a crisis builds longer-term resilience and protects against depression. In other words, seeing a crisis as an opportunity helps you to thrive.
Matt knew that going on Shark Tank was an incredible professional opportunity. So he signed up, despite his fear. He then spent the next year preparing by watching all 200 episodes with his son and taking detailed notes.
Of course, there is such a thing as too much anxiety. What do you do when the fear threatens to pull you under, when it moves from optimal stress to derailing stress? For Matt, it’s all about plugging into who you are. Remember your strengths, and how you’ve used challenging circumstances in the past to define what you’re capable of.
On that first day of shooting Shark Tank, Matt was able to break out of his frozen state of anxiety through what he calls self-talk. He told himself that he was completely capable of doing this, and that he was here because he belongs here.
In the following moments, Matt beat out veteran shark Kevin O’Leary in his first deal by showing the pitching entrepreneur exactly who Matt was. He would be by the entrepreneur’s side through the struggles, supporting him every step of the way – because that is the kind of investor Matt is.
The lesson is that a crisis forces you to act. When faced with the possibility of losing everything you’ve worked for, you have to gather all your strength and fight. This is what it means to embrace the crisis, and run toward the fear.
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Consolidate your gains and burn the boats again.
Burning the boats is about owning your journey, whatever it may be. You don’t have to chase other people’s ideas of success. It all starts with a vision for your life. Maybe you want to work on your own terms. Maybe you want more financial security, or to serve an important cause.
Whatever the vision, no matter how fantastical it sounds, listen to it. When your psyche is trying to tell you something, take it seriously.
Matt’s story serves as a great inspiration. At age 16, he recognized that he needed to be on a different path. The vision he had for his life came from a deep need within. He wanted freedom for both himself and his mother from their poverty and the limits it placed on them.
After burning his boats by quitting high school to start college two years early, Matt knew he would have to shed his identity as a dropout. He eventually got himself a job in the press office of New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, while also putting himself through law school at night.
When Giuliani’s office passed him over for a promotion, Matt burned his boats again and left the job. Within months, they came back and made him press secretary at just 26 years old. He now had a new story – no longer “high school dropout,” but instead “youngest press secretary.”
Matt’s life exemplifies a secret to living your dreams: When you reach the end of one journey, you burn the boats and do it all over again. This takes courage, and also practice. It isn’t like riding a bike – learn it once and you’re set. Instead, it’s like a muscle that strengthens with use. Each time you burn your boats, you get better at it. And what you’ll find is that it gets easier each time.
From managing the mayor’s press in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Matt became CEO of the effort to rebuild Ground Zero. Then the New York Jets hired him to build a new stadium for them on an underused piece of Manhattan real estate called Hudson Yards.
While that development never got off the ground, Matt leveraged the opportunity to become a senior executive with the Jets. When he was no longer able to grow in that role, he left without a plan B. It was the owner of the Miami Dolphins, Stephen Ross, who offered Matt his next job, having seen Matt’s initiative with the Jets.
Notice how Matt never let himself stagnate. He consolidated his gains from each step, and used them to leverage the next opportunity. Don’t wait until something finishes; start planning the next opportunity now. Use every advantage you currently possess to take the next leap.
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Keeping Plan B in your back pocket is only holding you back from realizing your dreams. Instead, you have to trust yourself and take the leap, even when your gut goes against conventional wisdom, or when the challenges seem too steep. Today, Matt Higgins has come a very long way from the poor teen living in a small Queen’s apartment, caring for his mother. Now he runs his own venture capital firm, RSE Ventures, where he gets to help entrepreneurs around the world realize their own business dreams. And it was all thanks to his ability to go all in, time and time again, by burning the boats and abandoning Plan B.
April 8, 2023
Burn the Boats is a must-read for anyone who wants to achieve their goals and live a more fulfilling life. In this book, Matt Higgins shares the lessons he's learned from his own successful career as an entrepreneur, investor, and television personality. He argues that the key to success is to be willing to take risks and to never give up on your dreams.
Higgins shares stories from his own life and from the lives of other successful people to illustrate his points. He also provides practical advice on how to overcome obstacles, build a successful team, and achieve your goals.
Burn the Boats is an inspiring and motivating book that will challenge you to think differently about your own life and to take action to achieve your goals. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to make a change in their life.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the book:
* The only way to achieve your goals is to be willing to take risks.
* You need to be willing to fail in order to succeed.
* You need to surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
* You need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.
* You need to be persistent and never give up.
If you're looking for a book that will inspire you to achieve your goals, then Burn the Boats is the perfect book for you. Higgins's stories and advice are both inspiring and practical, and they will give you the motivation you need to take action and achieve your dreams.
Higgins shares stories from his own life and from the lives of other successful people to illustrate his points. He also provides practical advice on how to overcome obstacles, build a successful team, and achieve your goals.
Burn the Boats is an inspiring and motivating book that will challenge you to think differently about your own life and to take action to achieve your goals. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to make a change in their life.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the book:
* The only way to achieve your goals is to be willing to take risks.
* You need to be willing to fail in order to succeed.
* You need to surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
* You need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.
* You need to be persistent and never give up.
If you're looking for a book that will inspire you to achieve your goals, then Burn the Boats is the perfect book for you. Higgins's stories and advice are both inspiring and practical, and they will give you the motivation you need to take action and achieve your dreams.
May 16, 2023
Burn the Boats by Matt Higgins is a powerful and inspiring book that offers a roadmap for success and personal transformation. Higgins's writing is clear, concise, and backed by case studies of some of the most successful companies and entrepreneurs who went all in on their dreams.
The book is based on Higgins's own experiences as a successful entrepreneur and investor, as well as interviews with other high achievers, including celebrities and other unexpected businesspeople. Higgins argues that the key to success is a willingness to take risks, to embrace failure, and to burn the boats behind us — AKA to commit fully to our goals and leave ourselves no chance of escape.
What sets Burn the Boats apart from other self-help (or business/motivational hybrid) books is its focus on action and accountability. Higgins encourages readers to set clear goals, create a plan of action, and hold themselves accountable for their progress. He also emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, of embracing challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.
Despite a brutally difficult origin story, Higgins's ultimate message is one of hope, possibility, and transformation, and his writing is infused with a sense of energy and purpose that is infectious.
We are all looking to make positive changes in our life. Here is a blueprint on how to do so and a roadmap to live your dreams. Burn the Boats is not just an ancient wartime philosophy, it's timeless advice to not second guess yourself and be brave when reaching for your goals—no matter how impossible they may seem.
A powerful and inspirational read!
The book is based on Higgins's own experiences as a successful entrepreneur and investor, as well as interviews with other high achievers, including celebrities and other unexpected businesspeople. Higgins argues that the key to success is a willingness to take risks, to embrace failure, and to burn the boats behind us — AKA to commit fully to our goals and leave ourselves no chance of escape.
What sets Burn the Boats apart from other self-help (or business/motivational hybrid) books is its focus on action and accountability. Higgins encourages readers to set clear goals, create a plan of action, and hold themselves accountable for their progress. He also emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, of embracing challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.
Despite a brutally difficult origin story, Higgins's ultimate message is one of hope, possibility, and transformation, and his writing is infused with a sense of energy and purpose that is infectious.
We are all looking to make positive changes in our life. Here is a blueprint on how to do so and a roadmap to live your dreams. Burn the Boats is not just an ancient wartime philosophy, it's timeless advice to not second guess yourself and be brave when reaching for your goals—no matter how impossible they may seem.
A powerful and inspirational read!
May 9, 2023
Burn the Boats is an incredibly inspiring and motivating read that will leave you feeling ready to take on the world! From start to finish, this book is full of powerful stories and insightful lessons that are both practical and profound.
The author, Matt Higgins of Shark Tank (et al.) fame, shares his personal journey from a troubled youth to a successful entrepreneur and investor, and he does so with humility and authenticity. What strikes me the most is that Matt is not afraid to talk about his failures and setbacks—which only makes his triumphs all the more impressive and inspiring.
One of the things I loved most about this book is the way it challenges you to rethink your relationship with risk and failure. Matt argues that it is only by embracing risk and learning from failure that we can truly achieve our goals and realize our full potential. His approach is refreshing and empowering, and it's clear that he has lived these principles in his own life (just take a peek at his social media and online talks). He even teaches a class at Harvard about it!
Another standout feature of Burn the Boats is its incredible cast of characters that support the thesis. From tech titans & sports legends to everyday people that risked it all to live their dreams, Matt has worked with some of the most innovative and inspiring people of our time, and he shares their stories with great enthusiasm and insight. The result is a book that is both deeply personal and universally relevant. Its a book that meets you exactly where you're at—at whatever point in your life.
Overall, I would highly recommend Burn the Boats to anyone who is looking for a dose of inspiration and motivation. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a student, or just someone who wants to live a more fulfilling life, this book has something to offer.
Matt Higgins is a gifted storyteller and a true thought leader, and his message will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Time to light that match!
The author, Matt Higgins of Shark Tank (et al.) fame, shares his personal journey from a troubled youth to a successful entrepreneur and investor, and he does so with humility and authenticity. What strikes me the most is that Matt is not afraid to talk about his failures and setbacks—which only makes his triumphs all the more impressive and inspiring.
One of the things I loved most about this book is the way it challenges you to rethink your relationship with risk and failure. Matt argues that it is only by embracing risk and learning from failure that we can truly achieve our goals and realize our full potential. His approach is refreshing and empowering, and it's clear that he has lived these principles in his own life (just take a peek at his social media and online talks). He even teaches a class at Harvard about it!
Another standout feature of Burn the Boats is its incredible cast of characters that support the thesis. From tech titans & sports legends to everyday people that risked it all to live their dreams, Matt has worked with some of the most innovative and inspiring people of our time, and he shares their stories with great enthusiasm and insight. The result is a book that is both deeply personal and universally relevant. Its a book that meets you exactly where you're at—at whatever point in your life.
Overall, I would highly recommend Burn the Boats to anyone who is looking for a dose of inspiration and motivation. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a student, or just someone who wants to live a more fulfilling life, this book has something to offer.
Matt Higgins is a gifted storyteller and a true thought leader, and his message will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Time to light that match!
May 11, 2023
At 24 years old, I’d fallen victim to what most of us do: a life lacking fulfillment and filled to the brim with complacency. But the day after I finished reading Burn the Boats, I quit my job to pursue my dream.
Had it not been for Matt, I very well may have let the fear of striking out keep me from playing the game. But the conviction in his voice as he recounted parts of his own story instilled within me the confidence to believe in myself and my story that has yet to be written. In many ways, it felt as if he was speaking directly to me. He brought to light one of the greatest truths I’ve ever known – the only thing more frightening than failing is not trying, and the only thing standing in my way was myself.
And that’s the thing, you can’t win if you give yourself the option to lose. So if you’re looking for a voice of reason; for someone to believe in you and most importantly, inspire you to believe in yourself; and ultimately, a reminder that the life you dream of is a life you CAN live, if only you choose to live it – then this book is for you.
Life is full of risk. But the greatest and only risk with no reward, is not betting on yourself. The only thing standing between you and the life you dream of is the Plan B you’ve put in the way of it. No matter where life takes me, I feel grateful that it led me to Burn the Boats and blessed that the words and stories on the pages of this book gave me the faith to write the next chapter of my story. Thank you, Matt, for sharing your story so that I could go on to live mine.
Had it not been for Matt, I very well may have let the fear of striking out keep me from playing the game. But the conviction in his voice as he recounted parts of his own story instilled within me the confidence to believe in myself and my story that has yet to be written. In many ways, it felt as if he was speaking directly to me. He brought to light one of the greatest truths I’ve ever known – the only thing more frightening than failing is not trying, and the only thing standing in my way was myself.
And that’s the thing, you can’t win if you give yourself the option to lose. So if you’re looking for a voice of reason; for someone to believe in you and most importantly, inspire you to believe in yourself; and ultimately, a reminder that the life you dream of is a life you CAN live, if only you choose to live it – then this book is for you.
Life is full of risk. But the greatest and only risk with no reward, is not betting on yourself. The only thing standing between you and the life you dream of is the Plan B you’ve put in the way of it. No matter where life takes me, I feel grateful that it led me to Burn the Boats and blessed that the words and stories on the pages of this book gave me the faith to write the next chapter of my story. Thank you, Matt, for sharing your story so that I could go on to live mine.
March 12, 2023
Hi everyone, thank you so much for taking the time to write a review. I'm Matt, the author of Burn the Boats. You may have seen me as a shark on Shark Tank or heard about my lectures at Harvard Business School. But nothing I've done matters to me as much as this book, the most important project of my life. It took me three years to write it and 48 years to live it.
Some background on the origin of the phrase, burn the boats.
First of all, the concept dates back to the beginning of recorded history, embraced by the ancient Israelites, Caesar, Sun Tzu and countless others. When outnumbered 10 to 1 and facing near certain death, the best military leaders intuitively understand that humans actually perform better with no safety net and no option for retreat.
“When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home.”
- Sun Tzu, Art of War
Following in Tzu's footsteps, President Zelensky proved himself a master of both history and psychology when President Biden offered him an escape from advancing Russian troops, and he replied, "I don't need a ride. I need weapons!"
I decided to resurrect this ancient concept and apply it to the pursuit of excellence in peacetime. Now if you’re anything like me, at times your intuition has said you're due for that promotion, or a job change, or to launch the new business stirring butterflies in your stomach at 2am. Yet when standing on the precipice of going all in, something - or someone - holds you back, telling you that it’s not safe, or just isn’t the right time. Or maybe it’s that insidious voice in your head that whispers: you’re just not good enough.
So three years ago, I set out to answer a very simple question: What does it take to fully commit to our own potential, to toss Plan B overboard and Burn the Boats once and for all?
I wrote Burn the Boats to be actionable:
– Why research proves that the mere contemplation of Plan B statistically reduces the probability Plan A will ever materialize
– How to retrain your brain to become your greatest ally
– Why you don’t need a revolutionary invention to launch a breakthrough business
– How to overcome the internal and external forces that impede risk taking so you can confidently pursue radical change
– The 5 types of corporate saboteurs who are standing in the way of your ambition (from the Withholders to the Office Gaslighters)
I've never been to war but my life has often felt like one. One burn-the-boats move to drop out of high school at 16 and start college early with a GED, get a better paying job and help take care of my ailing mother gave me no choice but victory. It took me 11 grueling years to finish college and law school at night while working two jobs, but by the time I was 26, I had become the youngest press secretary in NYC history. Conventional wisdom would have predicted I would never lose the stigma of being a high school dropout, but I trusted my raw instincts and chose the path I knew was right for me
I’m grateful to the 50 different founders, athletes, artists, and celebrities I interviewed for Burn the Boats, from Gary Vaynerchuk to Scarlett Johansson, all of whom share their own journey to finally pursue Plan A.
Lastly, since I advise everyone else to shed their shame, I share many painful details of my own life - growing up hungry, dropping out of high school, surviving testicular cancer, divorce, and of course, my mother's health struggles. Starting with Linda Joy Higgins, a long line of strong women have had a profound impact on my life. It was an honor to celebrate many incredible stories of female leadership in Burn the Boats and at the same time, pay tribute to my librarian mother, who died on the very morning I became Press Secretary.
While I wish she would have lived to read this book, it only exists because of the love of words she instilled in me.
I can't wait to hear what you think!
Matt
Some background on the origin of the phrase, burn the boats.
First of all, the concept dates back to the beginning of recorded history, embraced by the ancient Israelites, Caesar, Sun Tzu and countless others. When outnumbered 10 to 1 and facing near certain death, the best military leaders intuitively understand that humans actually perform better with no safety net and no option for retreat.
“When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home.”
- Sun Tzu, Art of War
Following in Tzu's footsteps, President Zelensky proved himself a master of both history and psychology when President Biden offered him an escape from advancing Russian troops, and he replied, "I don't need a ride. I need weapons!"
I decided to resurrect this ancient concept and apply it to the pursuit of excellence in peacetime. Now if you’re anything like me, at times your intuition has said you're due for that promotion, or a job change, or to launch the new business stirring butterflies in your stomach at 2am. Yet when standing on the precipice of going all in, something - or someone - holds you back, telling you that it’s not safe, or just isn’t the right time. Or maybe it’s that insidious voice in your head that whispers: you’re just not good enough.
So three years ago, I set out to answer a very simple question: What does it take to fully commit to our own potential, to toss Plan B overboard and Burn the Boats once and for all?
I wrote Burn the Boats to be actionable:
– Why research proves that the mere contemplation of Plan B statistically reduces the probability Plan A will ever materialize
– How to retrain your brain to become your greatest ally
– Why you don’t need a revolutionary invention to launch a breakthrough business
– How to overcome the internal and external forces that impede risk taking so you can confidently pursue radical change
– The 5 types of corporate saboteurs who are standing in the way of your ambition (from the Withholders to the Office Gaslighters)
I've never been to war but my life has often felt like one. One burn-the-boats move to drop out of high school at 16 and start college early with a GED, get a better paying job and help take care of my ailing mother gave me no choice but victory. It took me 11 grueling years to finish college and law school at night while working two jobs, but by the time I was 26, I had become the youngest press secretary in NYC history. Conventional wisdom would have predicted I would never lose the stigma of being a high school dropout, but I trusted my raw instincts and chose the path I knew was right for me
I’m grateful to the 50 different founders, athletes, artists, and celebrities I interviewed for Burn the Boats, from Gary Vaynerchuk to Scarlett Johansson, all of whom share their own journey to finally pursue Plan A.
Lastly, since I advise everyone else to shed their shame, I share many painful details of my own life - growing up hungry, dropping out of high school, surviving testicular cancer, divorce, and of course, my mother's health struggles. Starting with Linda Joy Higgins, a long line of strong women have had a profound impact on my life. It was an honor to celebrate many incredible stories of female leadership in Burn the Boats and at the same time, pay tribute to my librarian mother, who died on the very morning I became Press Secretary.
While I wish she would have lived to read this book, it only exists because of the love of words she instilled in me.
I can't wait to hear what you think!
Matt
May 9, 2023
This book will ignite (pun intended!) your passion and push you to take bold action towards your dreams. It's a treasure trove of wisdom, insights, and stories from the author's personal experiences and those of other interesting, successful people as case studies.
What sets BURN THE BOATS apart is its unique perspective on risk-taking and the importance of overcoming fear. The author argues that in order to achieve success, we must be willing to take calculated risks and embrace failure as a necessary part of the journey. He uses the metaphor of burning the boats, a reference to the ancient Asian military strategy (used throughout history by various cultures), to illustrate the idea that we must commit fully to our goals and leave ourselves no option but to succeed.
What is most useful is that the book is filled with creative and practical strategies for achieving success. The author encourages readers to think outside the box and experiment with new ideas and approaches, and he provides numerous examples of individuals and companies that have done just that—even despite insurmountable odds.
The author, Matt Higgins' writing is passionate, uplifting, and often poetic. He weaves together his personal experiences and those of others into a tapestry of hope and possibility that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered to take action towards your own dreams.
This is a book for anyone looking to live a life of purpose and meaning.
What sets BURN THE BOATS apart is its unique perspective on risk-taking and the importance of overcoming fear. The author argues that in order to achieve success, we must be willing to take calculated risks and embrace failure as a necessary part of the journey. He uses the metaphor of burning the boats, a reference to the ancient Asian military strategy (used throughout history by various cultures), to illustrate the idea that we must commit fully to our goals and leave ourselves no option but to succeed.
What is most useful is that the book is filled with creative and practical strategies for achieving success. The author encourages readers to think outside the box and experiment with new ideas and approaches, and he provides numerous examples of individuals and companies that have done just that—even despite insurmountable odds.
The author, Matt Higgins' writing is passionate, uplifting, and often poetic. He weaves together his personal experiences and those of others into a tapestry of hope and possibility that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered to take action towards your own dreams.
This is a book for anyone looking to live a life of purpose and meaning.
May 11, 2023
As a regular consumer of business, strategy and motivational books, mostly through audio while exercising, I am happy when I find stories that are easily digestible and have a rhythm that allows me to shift between allegorical storytelling and helpful tips from someone who has successfully navigated through some challenging and complex personal and professional experiences.
I found this desired rhythm in Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential. As an Entrepreneur and long time leader in business, I gravitated to the stories where grit, determination, vulnerability, humility and ultimately burning the boats came together.
I'm also a sucker for a checklist of things I can implement to grow and improve. One particular spot had teachings that included the usual self-care concepts like how to find your steady through meditation & visioning and balanced that with techniques like exposing your "achilles heel" to engage and welcome support from your teams and your broader stakeholders such as your investors or a board.
Overall, I'd recommend this easy read/listen and give kudos to author, Matt Higgins for his storytelling success.
I found this desired rhythm in Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential. As an Entrepreneur and long time leader in business, I gravitated to the stories where grit, determination, vulnerability, humility and ultimately burning the boats came together.
I'm also a sucker for a checklist of things I can implement to grow and improve. One particular spot had teachings that included the usual self-care concepts like how to find your steady through meditation & visioning and balanced that with techniques like exposing your "achilles heel" to engage and welcome support from your teams and your broader stakeholders such as your investors or a board.
Overall, I'd recommend this easy read/listen and give kudos to author, Matt Higgins for his storytelling success.
May 10, 2023
Matt's story is truly ridiculous and extremely ordinary at the same time. Being able to do what he's been able to do, coming out of nowhere is the allusive American Dream. What I love about him/this book is that it is incredibly practical about how you can actually get there and incorporate some of the incredible stories into your life.
Success isn't this thing that exists for some and is totally unattainable for the rest of us, but you have to get after it if you want it.
Would highly recommend this read and know that you'll enjoy it.
Success isn't this thing that exists for some and is totally unattainable for the rest of us, but you have to get after it if you want it.
Would highly recommend this read and know that you'll enjoy it.
May 13, 2023
I really got a lot out of this book both for my business and my overall life. It being entertaining and well written made it that much better. Highly recommend!
May 10, 2023
This book should be required reading for all entrepreneurs or anyone interested in started a business. It is the perfect book for these times. Clear, concise advice. Relatable examples. Reminders of how to keep going when it seems like there is no path forward. This book already has gotten me through several rough patches. Read it with a pen, a notepad, and a highlighter. And then read it again.
May 11, 2023
Very good book for self development. Read it you will not be sorry.
May 12, 2023
The book showed up the second week of May. Unfortunately, this thing is all over the place. Anecdote after anecdote, interspersed with "look at me, I'm so cool" stories. It's offputting. This is more of a dude telling a story about his own (perceived) awesomeness than it is anything remotely resembling non-fiction. This is the guy you smile and nod at in a bar and slowly back away and hope they get distracted. Red flag after red flag, and zero statistical or empirical data to back anything up. Nope.
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Original comments:
Won a copy of this in a goodreads giveaway back in January, but the publisher never sent it and now Goodreads is getting impatient for me to review it. Leaving this placeholder here. Will update it with an actual review if the book ever shows, but I don't want the publisher's screwup to influence the giveaway algorithm, so dumping this, archiving the emails, and moving on.
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Original comments:
Won a copy of this in a goodreads giveaway back in January, but the publisher never sent it and now Goodreads is getting impatient for me to review it. Leaving this placeholder here. Will update it with an actual review if the book ever shows, but I don't want the publisher's screwup to influence the giveaway algorithm, so dumping this, archiving the emails, and moving on.
May 17, 2023
Burn the Boats by Matt Higgins is an amazing book! Though its main focus is on business I think the ideas and suggestions in it can apply to many areas in life. The main idea being that when we create a plan B, we create a plan to fail, when instead what we need to do is to put all of our focus and commitment on plan A, which is what we actually want to happen. Because if you allow for the plan B escape route, it tends to prevent you from taking all the actions you would have had it not been there. Actions that could have meant success! This isn't the usual vague self help stuff that we've all seen and read before, instead on offer here is real immediately actionable steps you can take based on what has actually worked for Matt himself and many others like him who have already achieved and continue to achieve incredible, unbelievable successes in so many endeavors. It's really a fantastic book and I highly recommend it!
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