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  • Burn the Boats

  • Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential
  • By: Matt Higgins
  • Narrated by: Matt Higgins
  • Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)

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Burn the Boats

By: Matt Higgins
Narrated by: Matt Higgins
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Publisher's Summary

*A WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER!*

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 and the faculty of Harvard Business School. Told with raw emotion and radical transparency, Higgins writes the definitive tome on the oldest life hack in history: burn the boats.

From Sun Tzu to Julius Caesar, the ancient Israelites to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there’s a bold and highly effective tactic seen throughout history—when leaders want to motivate their troops for success, they destroy all opportunities for retreat, and fully commit to the mission. They burn their boats; it’s win or perish, and the clarity of sheer desperation propels them to victory.

But the conviction of crisis decision-making can also be harnessed in peacetime to achieve unfathomable success. 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. Now a self-made serial entrepreneur with a $1 billion consumer portfolio of some of America’s most iconic brands, Higgins explains how to burn the metaphorical boats that undermine total commitment, ranging from imposter syndrome to paralyzing anxiety to toxic leadership.

Burn the Boats is the manifesto for anyone looking to level up their life while navigating risk. Each chapter includes clear, actionable advice that listeners can immediately start applying to their own lives, along with inspiration drawn from dozens of real-life success stories.

This book will give you the courage to confidently go all in on your life’s true purpose.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Matthew Thomas Higgins (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Burn the Boats

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Simply Brilliant

If you are looking for a book to take away the excuses and help you to push forward to achieve everything you never thought you could, this book by Matt Higgins provides that. With great advice from personal experience this book is what you've been looking for to stop making excuses and to start executing. Thanks Matt!

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Amazing!

I love this philosophy so much and Matt shared his story beautifully. I’m a new fan. Gary sent me!

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Great book by Matt Higgins

I highly recommend this book. Great insight and learnings. Well read by Matt Higgins himself.

The book gives a good background into his career, while bringing in case studies from other companies.

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Great for business advice, better for life advice

I read, listen, pod, and research so many books to look for life or business hacks. It is very me to continually strive to do better at work and life in general, however, I was genuinely touched by the honesty of this book. Matt talks about his struggles and that vulnerability as he goes through the trenches and out the other side made this a joy to read. There are so many real-life examples of names of people he has worked with - some famous, others unfamiliar - but all of the stories had authenticity. There were so many takeaways, but I would say this is one of the best of its kind and totally underrated. If you are a student of life and searching for inspiration, and even more so - practical advice to haul ass, this is a book for you.

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Well worth the listen or read - Be all in!

Well, here is one to put on your list: Burn The Boats by Matt Higgins.
I thoroughly enjoyed it; it just made you think of things differently, and what I found interesting was that we are so used to having a plan "B", you know, the just-in-case we might need it, but I hadn't thought of it as a distraction to the real focus before but rather a just-in-case. So, the all-in or not-in approach encourages daring and boldness. It doesn't mean you don't do your research or homework. It means once you have, it's all in. I hope you enjoy it as well. 😊

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  • Ash
  • 18-07-2023

A must read!

This book “Burn the boats” is a must read/ listen to!
I’ve been following Matt Higgins for a while now and the way he has written this book is amazing, then on top of that, to hear him reading it. Man that was the cherry on the top!
Matt has already led an extraordinary life and accomplished so much, and he certainly doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
I’m looking forward to meeting him one day soon & shaking his hand!
A brilliant read & truly inspirational stuff!
Thank Matt.

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What a disappointment!!

Couldn't keep going. Halfway through this self indulgent book that could, no should, have been a reasonable length blog post. Do not waste your time. It's a pity because the odd nugget is drowned out by the drivel and second hand war stories.

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