A Radical Idea for Your Next Job: Burn the Boats ⛵️🔥
I was listening to an interview with actor Steven Yeun where he was talking about how he chooses his next role after he's been very successful in one kind of role.
His philosophy is he will only take different types of roles going forward, even though casting directors are banging down the door, trying to get him to take the kinds of roles he's already been successful in.
He calls this burning the boats, just like the Vikings did after they arrived somewhere new — they would burn the boats that brought them there so they had no option but to move forward.
The idea behind this, according to Steven, is that what brought you here to this level of success is not what's going to take you to the next level. You have to completely leave behind the things you came with in order to move forward.
So many of us, when we are trying to figure out what we want to do next in our careers, try to find out what logically flows from what we've been doing so far.
You try to stay in the same industry, the same function, or the same area of expertise.
You try to do what “people with your profile” would do.
Basically, you want to get into an interview and be able to explain what the heck you're doing here and why your experience is relevant.
And for some people, doing what logically flows from their current job makes them feel energized and motivated and ready to go. If you are one of those people, then you don't have to worry about anything I'm about to say.
But if you're thinking about what logically flows from what you're doing right now…
And the thought of it is making you feel stuck, and trapped, and bored and glum…
Then I want you to try burning the boats.
What if what you do next has NO requirement to be connected to what you've done so far?
In fact, what if I challenge you to come up with 3 options that have NO relationship to what you've already done — they're just things that you're excited about?
Because here's the thing about your industry and function and area of expertise. Those are not the things that got you here.
You are so much MORE than your “relevant experience” and “what logically comes next.”
The boat did not get you here. YOU got you here.
It wasn't the wooden planks and the mast and the sail that brought you across the ocean.
It was your sharp eyes, your skill with navigational tools, your courage in a storm, and your willingness to keep the night watch.
The boat was just the vessel of the moment. Without you, it wouldn't have gotten anywhere.
And the same thing goes for all the trappings of the path you’re currently on and all the specific things that you've so specifically done.
They were just the vessel.
You can take every single one of those things away and you would still have the most important thing of all — which is YOU.
The way that you operate in any given situation. Your skill, your determination, your perspective, your drive, your vision.
Those things come with you everywhere you go.
So if you're looking at that logical path in front of you and feeling totally uninspired…
But you're still telling yourself, “I have to keep going this way, it's the only thing that makes sense”…
Then I'm here to tell you: Let go of everything that brought you to this place. Set the boats on fire. And then see what's left.
Now, if you do this, you are going to get some questions — from your spouse, your coworkers, your interviewers, and from yourself.
They may say things like: “What the hell are you doing??”
So if you want some help getting total clarity on what comes next…
To not just burn the boat that brought you here, but to build the new vessel that will take you forward…
And then to explain it to everyone else with so much confidence and conviction that they get sold and they start asking you, “How do I get a ticket on this thing?”
Then you need to come and talk to me.
I have helped so many clients with this exact problem, and I can help you, too. Let’s get started.
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