Lessons from Burn the Boats (Matt Higgins)

Hey founders,

People often think that success is about having the perfect background, right education, or a clear path laid out in front of them.

Matt Higgins is proof that’s not true.

He grew up in poverty, dropped out of high school early to fast-track his education, and worked multiple jobs while going to college at night. 

He became the youngest press secretary in NYC history at 26, helped rebuild Lower Manhattan after 9/11, ran two NFL teams, invested in 100+ startups, and became a Shark on Shark Tank.

His book, Burn the Boats, is about going all in: fully committing to a vision without looking for a backup plan.

Earlier this month, we had the chance to talk with Matt himself, and he shared some incredible insights for founders. 

Here are some takeaways.

Burn the Boats (But Do It Right)

Please don’t misunderstand this phrase.

“Burn the Boats” does not mean blindly cutting off all options.

It’s about making a deep commitment to your goals while staying flexible on how you get there.

“Burn the boats for goals, not tactics.”

The mistake founders make is they lock themselves into a single approach. They refuse to pivot, even when the market tells them otherwise.

Burning the boats doesn’t mean being reckless. It means removing escape routes that allow self-doubt to creep in, while staying adaptable in execution.

Ask yourself: Are you fully committed to your vision, or are you hedging your bets?

The Power of Intuition

Matt believes intuition is one of the most valuable tools a founder has. But here’s the key: it must be based on real experience.

“Intuition gleaned in the present is always way more valid than intuition when I'm future-focused.”

A lot of founders get stuck in analysis paralysis. 

They try to predict the future, second-guess their gut, and overthink decisions. The best entrepreneurs make decisions based on lived experience and real-time insights.

Instead of overanalyzing what might happen, lean into what you already know. 

If you’ve put in the work, your instincts are sharper than you think.

Run Toward Opportunity, Not Away from Problems

Founders often make decisions from a place of fear. 

They take action just to escape a bad situation. But Matt urges entrepreneurs to be driven by opportunity, not desperation.

“You want to run towards opportunities rather than run away from problems.”

For example, quitting a job to escape a bad boss is very different from quitting because you see a massive opportunity. One is reactive. The other is intentional.

Founders who succeed don’t just look for exits. They chase the biggest upside.

Are you making a decision because you’re inspired or because you’re scared?

Don’t Get Over Things. Get Through Them

Every founder will face setbacks.

Failed launches, bad hires, moments of doubt. 

But how you process challenges determines whether you grow from them or let them define you.

“We don’t get over things, we get through them.”

Founders sometimes try to ignore, bury, or rush past adversity instead of confronting it head-on.

• Lost a big client? Analyze why it happened and improve.

• A product flopped? Adjust and relaunch smarter.

• Stuck in a rough patch? Recognize that discomfort is part of the process.

The founders who succeed aren’t the ones who avoid pain. They’re the ones who refuse to be stopped by it.

Your Circumstances ≠ Your Future

Matt Higgins’ story is proof that where you start doesn’t determine where you end up.

For founders, the real question is: Are you fully committing to your goals, trusting your instincts, and chasing real opportunity?

The biggest risks aren’t always about failure. Sometimes, the real risk is playing it safe.

—The TRIBE Team