Cortez knew if he kept the ships seaworthy, the men would believe they could escape if things went south.\u00a0 By destroying the ships, Cortez removed escape from the equation.<\/p>\n It was, quite literally, do or die.<\/p>\n This story pertains to each of us in a very important way.<\/strong><\/p>\n It's difficult becoming exceptional at something.<\/p>\n But it is the difficulty in becoming exceptional that makes it worthwhile.<\/strong><\/p>\n Being exceptional is valuable precisely\u00a0because <\/em>it\u2019s hard<\/strong>, and painful<\/strong>, and tough<\/strong>, and most quit<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n Let them. But not you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If you have that gut feeling \u2013 that desire that never fades (the one that beat\u2019s you up for not writing enough pages) \u2013 if you know deep down this is it; that you were made for this\u2026<\/p>\n Then hit the shore, burn the boat, and take the beach.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I promise you this:<\/p>\n Everyone wants to be paid more.<\/p>\n Everyone wants a better job, a better life, and better abs.<\/p>\n Everyone wants to write a book, or sell a script, or become an entrepreneur.<\/p>\n Everybody wants<\/em>...but so few choose<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n When you consciously go beyond wanting<\/em> to choosing<\/em>, you've finally\u00a0hit the shore.<\/strong><\/p>\n When you commit<\/strong>, in the face of the enemy (negative self-talk <\/a>spitting out status quo propaganda), to pursue what you want, no matter the cost, you burn the boat.<\/strong><\/p>\n And when you start chipping away at the material, set deadlines for completion, and sit down every day to fill that empty page, you take the beach.<\/strong><\/p>\n For those too frightened of such commitment, well, you're kind of like this little kid (click the video below)\u2026<\/p>\n [video_embed]![\"-\"](\"https:\/\/tommorkes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/burn-the-boat.png\" "\\"burn")
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