Inside My Canoehead

if you consider preparedness to be about disasters and readying to response to shocks, you're at the 20% point. Preparedness is about a lifestyle, adopting a lens through which you intent to protect your family, economic viability, health - physical / mental / financial, corporate sustainability and political independence. amongst others. We discuss the open door plan, the point at which your preparedness planning moves beyond the scope of disasters into a whole of life ideology - the loss of income. That is as impactful for a family as a house burning down, it moves the discussion from bug out bags to economic insurance plans, managing mental health in today's toxic life, building a future plan, a roadmap for familial success. Building a strategy, designing your life begins withe first accepting responsibility for your outcomes, then creating the structure to chase your dreams, all while wrapped in a  blanket of preparedness.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

EM has an ideological frame that it belongs in the public service or the not for profit field. There is a barrier to permitting the corporate world to enter the field, a fear of embracing the profit motive. Let's be clear, there is profit in the NGO / nonprofit world, in salaries, benefits and full cost pricing.To be an entrepreneur, you need to become and expert in a niche, not a generalist.  The discipline is rife with individuals who consult across the EM spectrum, from mitigation through the pillars to recovery. The EM field is similar to healthcare, in that is the sum of a number of roles, not one position. Healthcare needs doctors, nurses, Xray, EMS, laboratory staff etc - they are all part of the field but cannot execute the functions of others. EM is similar, an expert in preparedness can comment on response, but it is time prohibitive to be an expert in both. Success is in the niche - carve out your space. The strategy works for any field.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

The world is chaotic, fraught with danger and loss. Either political, economic, warfare, cultural or other forces of disagreement, there is no shortage of rage, frustration, sorrow and loss in today's headlines - how do you navigate this?There are different perspectives - micro, meso and macro. Each level having a different focus, representing different areas of your life, from family squabbles, to national government regulatory impositions on the free market.Each of these introduce risk; your challenge is to identify all the risk, categorize it in a logical format and the set to address those risks that considering your personal risk profile are unacceptable and need immediate intervention.It's your life, you designed it an the future is constructed from risks you accept. So find your pathway to rock an incredible life and chase your dreams.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Exhausted, overwhelmed, the world is overpressure, despite your best efforts, you dont see yourself getting ahead. Tired of all the motivation, discipline, morning routines etcetera that fester on the Internet?This is my story, of what I did when I hot that wall, the exhausted point. How I looked myself in the mirror, decided to change and then set about a slow, rather very slow at times, methodological process to fix me, before I fired my job.Are you living the life you want, are you swinging your legs out of bed in the morning and looking forward to the opportunities? Most are not, they're exhausted at the pace and stress of modern life.Listen, this is my story. Hopefully it resonates. Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Journalism in its purest form is a key to a free and democratic society, though you'd be hard pressed to find that in any nation today. With governments desperately funding traditional media in hopes of saving them, it reminds us all of protectionist cities saving the taxi industry abasing Uber / Lyft irrespective of the resident's wishes. With the challenge of finding trusted sources, where do you look to seek facts when events occur?X is the best platform for trusted sources, not the platform itself, but the ability to create a bespoke list of sources YOU trust, in one place, separate from the nightmare that exists in the "for you" column.Find trusted sources, that is your responsibility, make a preparedness plan, be ready to navigate shocks.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

The stoics nailed control, there is but one binary choice, you are wither in control of something, or you are not. Paraphrased, it means you are in control of very little and that is precisely enough. Political ideology has much of the world fired up, creating breaks in the fabric of society, causing many people to lose connections and generally has many groups fighting consistently online.Why do you allow the words and expressions of others, especially in political affairs, cause you emotional distress? An important question upon which to reflect.There are exogenous shocks in political, governments react certain ways, assume positions which you disagree with, enact new regulations you deem inappropriate and in some extreme cases, become rogue activist administrations - especially in the final months of tenure.Your insulation against this is to assume neutrality online, understand your personal and corporate exposure to threat and use that data to construct a preparedness plan for you and your business. Limiting your exposure to the downstream effects of political decisions is the single greatest step you can take.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

The world is chaotic, crazy even. The exogenous shocks are numerous, impactful and all beyond our control. So how do normal families, living normal lives in reasonably modern nations navigate these times? We do so with mitigation, the long term systemic changes to our lives that insulate us from external effects. We add preparedness, the pre-event decisions we make to be ready to navigate exogenous shocks. These intentional decisions create resilience as a by product, allowing us to absorb and if necessary, respond and recovery from an event.We discuss funnels, the flow of events from global to local, and offer a series of questions to determine whether this is something of concern. The answers to those provide the information to build mitigation and preparedness. A simple recipe.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Welcome to episode 251 and season 1o intro, where we discuss the upcoming seasonal focus on interviews with practitioners, discussion of news and impacts on individual preparedness and scenarios related to exogenous shocks.Whether it is a bridge collapse in the USA, war in Gaza or famine in Africa, preparedness sets us up for a greater probability of a positive outcome. Never a guarantee, but as the stoics famously say, paraphrased, is: "there is very little within our control and that is precisely enough".Events over the last few weeks have amplified the value of adopting prepared life, assuming responsibility for your outcomes and beginning the mastery of your physical, financial and mental health. Those are within your control. Set yourself up for future success. Preparedness, it's free - only costs time and effort.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Thank you, this has been a journey, I am privileged to be in your lives and deeply thankful for your patronage over the years. This milestone episode is about the journey, how we got here, the reasons to start the podcast and the parent company, as well as the ideas championed on the episodes.Our goal here is to be your source of accurate, evidence based information for preparedness, to provide the educational strategy to create your roadmap to adopting a prepared life, to accepting responsibility for your outcomes, to wrap your family in a blanket of preparedness.To rock an incredible life, despite the challenges of the world.You are in control of exceptionally little, and that is precisely enough.Thank you for being on this journey with me, it has been an honour.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

You want to chase your dreams, to rock an incredible life, to be all that you want - but the world continues to throw exogenous shocks at you, to seemingly be working to counter your best efforts, to limit your successes. The reality is that you are in control of very little and that is precisely all you need.The 2020s are a chaotic decade for very real and expected reasons and is likely to be this way to 2030-2032. This is a cyclical human experience dating back to the 1400s, humanity is jockeying for position to settle the relationships for the next generation. There are natural, political, economic and family disasters that will influence your life, the choice you have is to either ride the wave or carve a path of your choosing, chasing your dreams and rocking an incredible life. We believe you can in this chaotic world, it just takes a few mindset alterations and assuming personal responsibility.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

The chaotic world extends locally, there are nefarious individuals in the world, who would take an opportunity to relieve you of your possessions and wealth. While we wished that was not the case, it is incumbent upon us to learn how to mitigate the effects of others, to enact that which is within our control. As the stocks say, very little is within our control and that is precisely enough.Within the animalistic requirements of safety and security, your considerations include firefighting, insurance, information sources, security systems, situational awareness and unarmed combat. These are areas where you cannot control the behaviours of others, but you can influence their decisions and become prepared to navigate these situations when they occur.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Very little is within your control, that's precisely all you need.The stoics understood that by championing your own physical, mental and financial health, you were independent of the world and could navigate whatever exogenous shock sent your way. You cannot assume responsibility for family and friends if you are in need yourself and you most certainly cannot assume a leadership role within your community if you are not in personal robust form.Invest in you, assess and take command of your physical, mental and financial health, make a strategic plan for the coming year and become a robust warrior ready to carry your family through the next event - economic, political, spiritual, conflict or disaster. Take care of yourself first, then you family and community. Any other order is a recipe for failure.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

No one is coming to help, whether you're a fan of classical novels from the 1900s like Dale Carnegie or Stephen Covey, or modern motivational series from then likes of David Goggins, Mark Manson, Mel Robbins or others. Simply put, in the positive world, the actual one you live in, it is your responsibility to ensure that you, as a human, are best prepared to navigate future exogenous shocks.Adopting a victim mentality is common in today's society, individuals who believe they are oppressed or prevented from becoming what they desire serves as an excuse not to work, a rationale to not invest in themselves - well, because what's the point.None of us know what the next event will be, but we do know it is not the government's responsibility to rescue you, pay your bills or feed / water and house you.So invest in yourself, that which is within your control, prepare your human shell and mind for the future and you'll not be a liability to your future self. Those whom you love and for whom you're responsible are counting on you.We think you and your family are worth it.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

We live in a modern, technologically enabled society that requires the ownership of physical goods to operate. The reasons we choose to acquire goods are generally within four categories - the item exists for a defined purpose (golf clubs), just in case (fire extinguisher), sentimental (Dad's picture) or we were persuaded by a version of the modern day influencer (latest gadget, fashion trends). In preparedness there is a plethora of sources advocating for you to acquire a series of kits, bug out bags, evacuation kits, emergency kits, car kits, etc.. all with a view to separate you from your money or to reinforce the author's personal beliefs. We recommend that any item you choose to acquire within the genre of preparedness is the result of an identified gap in the family preparedness plan you created, for your family, to meet your own expectations of readiness. Evidence means that there is a historical record of an activity contributing to a prescribed outcome, correlation or causation. Make sure that what you buy has a purpose, the possession is based upon evidence and not opinion. Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Preparedness planning is free, only an investment of time and energy. Beginning with personal responsibility, defining family, building a shelter in place strategy and creating the trifecta of preparedness plans. The Internet is saturated with YouTube and online personalities that present a list of things to stockpile - the top 10 for the new prepper, or the 15 things that will be unavailable after the collapse or my favourite, the 5 things for barter in SHTF.We believe in evidence based planning and that the best source of determining whether you need to acquire a piece of equipment is to first conduct the planning evolution above and you will likely find a gap, where you need to be able to execute a task but lack a piece of equipment.Determining a need based upon your family's requirements is a far more judicious use of your time and resources than believing an opinion online. What we recommend is evidence based, grounded in research. If you determine there is a need to purchase an item, then you'll acquire the exact item you need to support your family within your plan. Invest in planning time, we believe your family is worth it, for when the bad day comes, you'd rather follow a plan you created than a list of items an influencer recommended. Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

We know they're are a number of influential variables when emergencies occur. We know that a well understood and rehearsed preparedness plan will permit your family to execute their roles without needing instructions, that confusion cell calls or texts in the middle of chaos ar not required. Your family will be doing, while others are thinking. However, there are times when communication will be required, when you'll need to change the plan - then you'll need to know: text one word instructions, not calls; have both your shelter in place and evacuation plan well understood. If the cell networks fail, have a robust contingency idea. That may require alternate communications - a HAM or CB radio, satellite communications through Starlink or Garmin. Remember, those are not the norm, but for those whose circumstances require an additional system. Plan, think through. The time invested in a well understood preparedness plan will inform any issues that may require additional investment. If there is an economic barrier, then you can consider alternative ideas to collectively mitigating the threat through community groups, lobbying donations and a host of other methodologies.Preparedness communications is free, it only requires an investment of time and energy.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

EDC, Bug out bags, get home bags - we've heard it all. What are the practical considerations for preparedness when we are away from our home, when accessing our shelter in place plan is not immediate. We being with a review of the first half of the ten weeks of practical preparedness, reviewing the trifecta of preparedness plans and the involvement of critical infrastructure.We then examine considerations for local, inter-state and international travel. How will you provide for the animalistic requirements of those for whom you're responsible in locations other than your home. How will you get home if your planned means of travel is no longer available? Logical discussion on the thought process for your travel - go, rock an incredible life, but invest in the time and effort to ensure that you are going to be able to adapt to disruptions away from home. No money required.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Your risk profile informs your life, it influences the decisions you make and the outcomes from those choices. Whether you're risk adverse and skeptical of society or you're an all-in individual who rolls with the punches, risk informs. We discuss how risk tolerance informs you preparedness timeline, your shelter in place plan and preparedness mobility. It is a root cause of your current physical, mental and financial health - whether you believe you are ready for chaos, whether you're happy skydiving or you drive in the slow lane with two hands gripping the wheel. Finally, risk informs your strategic plan. The single greatest leverage you have over society around you is strategic planning. Everyone is generally navigating chaos, trying to find the easiest or best pathway, while those with a strategic plan is following their process that translates dreams to reality.Risk informs everything - understand it and you're ahead of the world, literarily.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Risk is everywhere, there is no methodology that permits risk to be lowered to zero. No personal, no business or lifestyle choices come risk free. So how to we understand the risks we face in this chaotic decade? How do we build a profile that informs our choices and aids in identifying the the risks we're exposed to? First, understanding that risk is individual and a function of personal choice, comfort with uncertainty, self confidence, self-efficacy and personal bias. In the end, the very same set of circumstances will create a wide range of risks for a groups pf individuals - from catastrophic to nominal, all from the same event.Building a personal risk register is the function of understanding what risks exist from both your choices and the exogenous world - to inform your next steps. Understand risk before you make changes, that's how you win the day.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca

Preparedness is the totality of efforts undertaken in times of peace and calm that increase your readiness and ability to navigate through exogenous shocks. The intent is to have better post events, that is to have a far less impact from the disruption and to resume normal operations at the earliest opportunity. Your goal is to be prepared so that when something occurs beyond your control there is little to no impact on you chasing your dreams. Leveraging the exercise of understanding your exposure to and dependancy on critical infrastructure allows you to build a self-reflecting personal risk profile, designed by you considering your self efficacy, confidence and tolerance for uncertainty. Ten families in the same neighbourhood will have vastly different risk profiles to the same loss of access to critical infrastructure.In addition, there are four responses to every event. The community driven help your neighbour and care for each other - based upon 1000s of years of experience, the nonprofit response to continue supportive operations to the vulnerable sectors, the private sector to resume operations as rapid as possible and provide immediate sector specific assistance to the community response and the traditional public sector. Understand these, use them in your planning to either support the execution of your plan or to understand how they might interfere with how you execute your responsibilties.Support the Show.www.insidemycanoehead.ca