Eliminate the Escape Routes to Increase Motivation

How important are your goals? Will you do everything possible to achieve them?

If your goals and dreams are truly important to you, then you should do what it takes for you to push, motivate and move closer to your goals. You will have to make a very serious commitment.

Perhaps one the most effective ways to make this commitment is to eliminate any escape routes that give you an opening to quit or go back.

By keeping those escape routes open, you are allowing yourself to say that it’s ok to turn back. And when it becomes difficult, as it does for any worthwhile goal, you will quit.

Eliminating the escape routes will ensure your success. Here are three popular metaphors that best describe this powerful philosophy:

1) Burn the ships:

Create a point of no return. The ships symbolize what brought you through the journey and to where you are now. At this moment you can choose go back or continue to pursue your goal. By “burning” the ships you are removing any chance you have possible to return. You now have no choice but to keep moving on.

2) Kick the Ladder behind you:

Move upward. Kicking the ladder behind you symbolizes that you are going to a higher and more difficult level in your life. At this level you will take on more responsibility and have more things to worry about. The ladder can be your savior when you face the most challenging times. By “kicking the ladder” you will remain at that level and will have to face your challenges and fears head on.

3) Put all your eggs in one basket

Take the biggest risk possible. You take everything you have put it into one thing and just go for it. Although there is a chance you can lose it all. Taking on the biggest risk will force you to be more aware and careful not to make any disastrous mistakes. It will force you to make the right decisions or lose everything. Failure is simply not an option.

Do you have what it takes?

You might say that “burning the ships” or “kicking the ladder behind you” is absolutely extreme and that no average person would do this.

Well then you are correct.

The average person will not eliminate their escape routes. Only the extraordinary person will. They will push forward and never look back as they move closer to success. Which escape routes do you still have open?