I walk on my treadmill a LOT– some of you might remember my posts on "workwalking." I also read my Kindle on my treadmill, and it's very productive time for me. The consequence is that my athletic shoes have long ago been trashed and I have been meaning to get new ones for some time now.
It's an errand that is easy to postpone– after all, the shoes still work, technically. But they developed holes in the top where my big toe rubbed on the mesh. Yes, that is pathetic, I agree.
So yesterday, I threw my shoes in the trash. I knew I would keep postponing my shoe-buying errand until there was no other option. And this morning, I was there bright and early at the sporting goods store buying my new pair. (It took me only 15 minutes– I don't know why I was so resistant to that! Isn't that how it goes?)
This reminded me of an old legend about the conquistador Cortes. The story goes that when he arrived at his destination, he and his men went to shore and he ordered the ships to be burned. He eliminated their options and gave them no choice but to be victorious!
This may only be a myth, but the point is loud and clear: What ships do you need to burn to force action in your life?
Here are some examples of modern-day ship-burning:
- Throwing your crappy shoes in the trash 🙂
- Quitting your job
- Putting your house on the market
- Sending out invitations to a party at your house
- Taking out that business loan
- Telling your kids you're going to Disneyland next summer
- Saying yes to something that scares you
- Listing the comfortable but terribly out-of-style sofa on Craigslist
- Making an appointment with a Professional Organizer
- Posting a "Public Declaration" like our members do in our private message board area, saying they are going to finally clean out that garage by a certain date!
Sometimes relying on motivation from within is just not enough–we have to take some kind of strong action to force us to be accountable. What ships could you burn today? How could that help you streamline your life? Share in the comments!
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Interesting article! I actually find myself doing this a lot with clothing. The problems arise when I forget that I’ve given everything away, and haven’t gone to the store to buy replacements.
This was my favorite tip, by the way: Making an appointment with a Professional Organizer
It’s so easy to cross the line from contentment to inertia, Lorie, so this is great advice!
My next boat burning? Donating all clothing in sizes larger than I currently wear! I recently (and unexpectedly) lost enough weight to wear smaller sizes. It was a health-related weight loss, so I joke that I “cheated”, since I didn’t exercise or change my diet to get here. To avoid subconsciously subverting my newfound figure, it’s time to let someone else be “blessed” by my too-large clothes.
Lorie: I always find your posts so inspirational! Thanks for the excellent advice.
Did you know you could have also shipped those same runners off to Nike (ironically your post is named Just Do It!)and they will turn those old shoes into rubber chips for things like playgrounds! I just read about that today on the Good Human:
http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2010/01/21/book-review-giveaway-how-to-be-an-everyday-philanthropist/comment-page-1/#comment-23096
Lorie, your blog is so down-to-earth inspirational. My “shipburning experience” is ordering the replacement windows for our home and then joining Clutter Diet one week ago so that the workmen can find a path to the windows plus some workspace. The help and support I am getting from CDT staff and members is invaluable. Thanks so much!
Great post and so true. The angst of holding on to the “to do” is far worse that the task at hand. My ship burning is to get rid of my dining room furniture! It will make room for the dining furniture (my fiancee’s) that is sittin in the garage.
Genny
http://www.connectionsforwomen.com
my ship burning is clearing my scrapbooking room this year.
I especially love the Disneyland one…can’t get out of that once you’ve announced it!
I’d like to hear from anyone whose ship burning was quitting their job.
Actually many years ago I did burn my bridges by quitting my job. I had a very high-powered, high-stress job as an advertising agency financial manager. I took a week’s vacation to Florida to see a friend, realized how much the stress was getting to me, returned to work and gave 2 months’ notice.
I lived off my 401k for about a year until I got my home-based business up & running.
Ironically, 5 months after I left the rat race, the company went belly-up!
I quit a volunteer job as President of a drop-in centre. I had been involved from the “ground up” so this was a very difficult thing to do. The stress of personality conflicts was getting to affect my health and I realized I had to take care of myself first.
I’m now involved in another project that I thoroughly enjoy. Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about losing a pay cheque when I left, but it was still a difficult decision at the time.
My “throw away my shoes” moment was when I announced to a room full of people in a group I attend that I was going to follow a childhood dream and pursue commercial print modeling…when I turn 55 in 3 months! Always wanted to do it but found a boatload of excuses my entire life. Now the kids are out of the house and I don’t NEED a steady paycheck coming in (although it would be nice). So, what the heck…no time like the present…and the attempt will be my birthday “present” to myself!
hmmm, doing taxes somehow came to mind…
Get rid of all my ugly, and useless furnitures
It’s not always that easy to choose…