Burn the Boats : Hernan Cortés Inspiring story

In 1519, Hernan Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, was told about the treasures of Mexico and that no one had been able to conquer it for the last 600 years. Many kingdoms had tried, but none had succeeded. Cortés, however, was undeterred. He boldly declared, ‘We will conquer it,’ and immediately ordered preparations. He took 11 ships, 16 horses, and his 500 most skilled soldiers for this massive task.

Along the way, doubt began to creep into the soldiers’ minds. “How can we win against such a vast army? We don’t know what kind of guns or cannons they have,” they wondered. Cortés listened to all their concerns but remained silent.

As they reached the Mexican shore, he ordered the unloading of everything, and then, to the shock of the entire army, he gave a remarkable order: “Burn the boats.” One soldier asked, “Then how will we go back to our land?”

Cortés replied, “We will go by Mexican ships,” and then he ordered the ships to be set on fire.

Cortés then gave a powerful speech: “Soldiers, you see the boats have been burned. There is no way to go back. Our only option now is to Win Or Perish.

Victory is no longer an option; it is a necessity for our survival.” What followed was something that large armies had failed to achieve—Hernan Cortés won the battle with just 500 soldiers.

This formula was also tested by Mahatma Gandhi, known for his philosophy of non-violence, in 1942. He gave the powerful slogan “Do or die”, which uprooted the mighty British Empire and ended 200 years of slavery in India.

This is the power of a ‘do or die’ mindset—when you give everything to achieve a single goal, when you put all your willpower and courage into something, miracles can happen.

Humans have tremendous potential. Yet, in today’s world, many fall into the trap of hesitation, relying on safety nets that dilute their focus and determination.

One thing I can assure you is that your mind has all the knowledge and power required to achieve any goal. It works best when you focus all your mental energy on a single purpose. This is also the only way to keep your burning desire alive—the first golden principle we discussed. Now, it’s your decision whether you play it safe or pursue your goal wholeheartedly, depending on how much value that goal holds for you.”