Scuttle the Ships
Veracruz, 1519
Commit with no retreat. When the way forward is the only way, purpose becomes unstoppable.
In the spring of 1519, Hernán Cortez and his men landed on the shores of Veracruz. Ahead of them lay vast unknown lands, immense challenges, and a mission that demanded absolute resolve. Behind them, anchored in the harbor, floated the only link to safety: their fleet of ships.
As the days passed, unease spread among the men. The journey had been long and perilous, and whispers of retreat began to circulate. Cortez understood the danger — not from the terrain, nor the people they would encounter, but from hesitation itself. If retreat remained an option, doubt could corrode the courage they needed.
So, he made a radical decision. He ordered holes to be cut into the hulls of the ships, one by one, until the water swallowed them whole. The sight was staggering: the men’s only escape route disappeared beneath the waves. There was no going back.
In that moment, something shifted. With retreat off the table, the men realized that their only path was forward. Their energy, their focus, and their loyalty to the mission sharpened like never before.
Cortez’s act has echoed across history — not as a tale of conquest, but as a timeless lesson in commitment and conviction. When you remove the exit doors, you force yourself to step fully into the challenge ahead.
The message endures: extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary resolve. Only when we close the door to doubt do we unleash the power to move boldly forward.
