Burn the Boats - by Matt Higgins (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

*A WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER!*

Read the book that has inspired thousands of people around the world to pursue their Plan A--making bold career moves, launching dream businesses, fleeing toxic relationships, and silencing the naysayers.

Feel like you're always settling for Plan B? Have big goals but something--or someone--is holding you back?

There is a counterintuitive but effective strategy used throughout recorded history to overcome impossible odds and achieve breakout success: Eliminate any thoughts of retreat.

In Burn the Boats, you'll learn:

How to break patterns that undermine total commitment (such as imposter syndrome, anxiety, and toxic leadership habits)How science proves that a perfectly crafted plan B saps motivation and diminishes successful outcomes How to achieve financial independence by leveraging the stream of data you consume in your daily life, known as 'proprietary insights'How to harness the personal power of your pain and shame to turn flaws into your superpowerHow dozens of the people you admire first burned their own boats before becoming household names

In this gripping rags-to-riches instant classic, Matt Higgins provides the blueprint he used to go from a desperate sixteen-year-old high school dropout caring for his sick mother in Queens, New York, to a shark on Shark Tank. Now a serial entrepreneur with a billion-dollar portfolio of some of America's most beloved brands, Higgins unpacks the burn-the-boats strategy with raw emotion and radical transparency.

Now translated into numerous languages worldwide, Burn the Boats is the definitive tome on the oldest life hack in history. From Sun Tzu to Tariq ibn Ziyad, the ancient Israelites to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky--when leaders want to motivate their troops for success, they self-sabotage their own retreat so all energy is directed on a singular objective. They burn their metaphorical boats that sow doubt; it's win or perish, and their unshakable resolve propels them to victory.

But the clarity of crisis decision-making can also be harnessed in our everyday lives. Higgins draws upon extensive research, historical precedent, and dozens of firsthand case studies--from actress-turned-entrepreneur Scarlett Johansson to NFL Coach Rex Ryan--that prove merely contemplating Plan B diminishes the probability of ever achieving Plan A.

Written in the reassuring tone of a mentor and drawing upon Higgins's experience as a teacher at Harvard Business School, Burn the Boats will carry you through any rough seas on the most exciting journey of your life.

Review Quotes

"I've always known that one of the best advantages is being disadvantaged. Life and business is all about how you can take those negatives and turn them into positives by thinking completely outside of the box. Matt and I both know that our scrappy roots growing up on the streets of Queens is what sparked a fire to achieve the impossible." - Daymond John, costar of Shark Tank and New York Times bestselling author

"So motivated and encouraged by Matt Higgins's perspective--currently reading Burn the Boats and the pages are soaked with highlighter ink." - Joanna Gaines, interior designer, television personality, author, and founder of Magnolia

"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 bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

"Some people are afraid to take that first step and start a business. Matt gives you a path to challenge yourself and accomplish what you may have been too afraid to start." - Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and Shark Tank Shark

"Instead of wondering what's next, I've found it's better, wherever you are in your career, to focus on what you can learn. Anybody who thinks through the questions Matt raises in Burn the Boats will form a clearer idea of where it is they want to go, and after reading his inspiring stories, they'll be ready to blaze their own trail." - David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs

"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 and expectations of you. This book will change you." - Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author Think Like a Monk

"I hate Plan B. I always tell people that to achieve big dreams, you have to ignore the naysayers, but the naysayers are external. Once you have a Plan B, you've become your own naysayer. Big dreams require relentless focus, and any time we spend planning for failure sets us up for failure. When Matt told me I inspired him, I was really touched. But the best part is, inspiration is contagious, and now Matt can inspire you with this book. Enjoy it, when you finish reading, I can't wait to hear about who you inspire." - Arnold Schwarzenegger

"If you're looking for the push to take the leap, Burn the Boats is it. Matt is among the most remarkable entrepreneurs and businessmen I've ever met. The circumstance of Matt's journey forced him to take enormous risks and build without hesitation, which resulted in compounding success in his career from high school dropout to Harvard lecturer. At Shopify, we are building the tools for people to reach for independence and become entrepreneurs; Burn the Boats gives you the push to take the leap and start." - Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify

"While most people found it difficult to believe, as founder I saw no way that ARK would fail. Matt Higgins understood. Now, in his book Burn the Boats, Matt shares the story not only of his own intrepid and incredibly successful entrepreneurial adventures, but also those of many other dogged entrepreneurs who saw no option other than success. His book is replete with lessons learned along with encouragement and guidance for those ready to take their own leaps of faith!" - Cathie Wood, founder, CEO, and CIO of Ark Invest