Know Your Patch
We all have to walk point on our own patrol, but it’s easier when you have a tribe behind you. Thanks for being a part of our tribe! -JAD
Have you ever committed to making a major change in your life only to find that it isn’t the big enemy that you are fighting?
It’s the countless small ones that pop up to take a potshot at you and then disappear.
You don’t lose a decisive battle, but your plan dies the death of a thousand cuts.
This doesn’t mean that you aren’t fighting a war. But it’s not the pitched battle you prepared for.
It’s an insurgency.
And to win you need to understand how to counter it. You need to know who and what you are dealing with, anticipate how and when they will attack, and you need to prepare.
You need to ‘Know your patch.’
Dr. David Kilcullen wrote:
Know your patch. Know the people, the topography, economy, history, and culture. Know every village, road, field, population group, tribal leader, and ancient grievance. Your task is to become the world expert on your particular district…Neglect this knowledge and it will kill you.
Likewise, we need to know where the insurgents are likely to hide out and prepare for them.
Let’s say you want to change your diet. You throw out the bags of snacks and replace them with healthy fruits and vegetables. You meal prep and commit to tracking your macros. Great work.
That’s the big enemy and you have them on the ropes.
But then it's Marge’s birthday at work and someone brings in a cake and it would be rude to say no. Dave decides to buy pizza for everyone. Then a friend you haven’t seen since college stops by and wants to go grab beers.
I’m not saying that any of these things are bad, but I bet you weren’t prepared for them. They are insurgents. They add up.
One of the easiest ways to be defeated by an insurgency is to lose sight of your objective.
To stop fighting your war and start fighting theirs.
More on this next week.
If you know someone who should join the tribe, please share. Thanks!
Less than 5 weeks to preorder a copy of Tough Rugged Bastards.
See you next Thursday!
Every day, John. Every day.
I love this. Focusing on my objectives for the day and sticking to them is what helps me in the long run.