In my freshman year of college, I took a communications class. I had written a persuasive paper and was sure I’d earned an A. When I got it back with a B, I stared at the grade and debated whether to ask the professor, “What gives with the B?” Eventually, I worked up the courage and asked, “Why did I get a B on this paper?” He said, “You gave too many choices.” That line has stuck with me ever since.

The phrase “burn the boats” is often traced back to Hernán Cortés in 1519. After landing in what is now Mexico, he ordered his ships destroyed so his men couldn’t sail back if things got difficult. By removing the option of retreating, he left them with only two outcomes: win or die. You can debate the history and the ethics, but the principle is clear—when you have too many escape hatches, your commitment gets soft.

Most of us don’t face life‑or‑death battles, but we do face decisions about what we will finish. Is there something you’d like to accomplish—or rather need to accomplish? A health goal, a key project, a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a business target. One of the most powerful things you can do is remove the extra choices that make quitting easy.

You already know what distracts you. Maybe it is a co‑worker who pulls you into drama, a friend or family member who doesn’t respect your time, a thought pattern you indulge, the show you always “just put on,” the mood you let dictate your effort, or the fear you keep feeding. Those are your boats. Those are your easy exits.

Instead, decide what “winning” looks like and make it non‑negotiable. Set small milestones so progress feels visible. Put real boundaries around distractions—mute the thread, block off the time, change the environment, say the uncomfortable “no.” When you do, your attention sharpens because the option to drift is gone.

We are in the middle of the Winter Olympics right now. Athletes train for years for a chance to win at one race, one routine, one run. They aren’t guaranteed to win, but they act as if the possibility of standing on that podium is worth every sacrifice. They burn a lot of boats most people keep.

You may not be chasing a gold medal, but you do have a podium of your own: the finished book, the debt paid off, the weight lost, the business launched, the relationship repaired. Decide what matters, remove the extra choices, and commit. Burn your boats—then go win your gold.

Verse for Reflection

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
– 1 Corinthians 9:24 NASB