Learn, Share, Grow – “No Way Out”

The Blue Courage team is dedicated to continual learning and growth.  We have adopted a concept from Simon Sinek’s Start With Why team called “Learn, Share, Grow”.  We are constantly finding great articles, videos, and readings that have so much learning.  As we learn new and great things, this new knowledge should be shared for everyone to then grow from.

Below is from Seth’s Godin’s blog. It derives from Blue Courage founder, Michael Nila’s favorite metaphor – “burn the boats” from Cortez invading Mexico. It’s a great reminder to never give up and fight through till the end; you will come out better.
sethgodin.com

No way out

That’s why we burn the boats when we land on the beach.

Because the only way out is through.

It’s pretty easy to bail out of a course (especially a free online course that no one even knows you signed up for). Easy to quit your job, fire a client or give up on a relationship.

In the moment, walking out is precisely the best short-term strategy. Sometimes this place is too hard, too unpleasant, too much…

The thing is, though, that the long-term strategy might be the opposite. The best long-term approach might be to learn something, to tough it out, to engage with the challenge. Because once you get through this, you’ll be different. Better.

We always have a choice, but often, it’s a good idea to act as if we don’t.

Blue Courage’s Key Learnings:
“The only way out is through…”  Such a powerful thought that when we are confronting a challenge, an obstacle, a fear —  the only way out is through it. So we burn the boats leaving us no escape, no retreat; we must follow-through and “cross the rubicon!” One of my favorite metaphors is “burn the boats” — Cortez set out to conquer Mexico but the Aztecs had not been conquered for hundreds of years. As his warriors set sail from Cuba, a short distance from Mexico, he could feel their fear and hesitation. Where once they were confident, as Mexico drew closer, the doubts and fears were palpable. Upon landing on the shores of Mexico, Cortez’s first order was: “Burn the boats!” Adding: “We will either die here or sail home on their ships.”  Wow — no option but to find a way through. To not look for a way out, but a way through. Love that!

How easy it is to quit, to believe we can’t do it, it’s too hard, I am not strong enough….but if we fight through, we will learn, grow and get better!

Think of the 300 Spartans facing the overwhelming odds against the Persians. When the Persians told the Spartans they were outnumbered and to drop their weapons the reply was “come and get them.” The Spartan wives last directive to their husbands as they sent them off to battle was: “Come back with your shield or on it!”

There is no way out but through!