Leader of the pack?

[matthopkins]

Those of you thinking of a group prep this will be a good read, dealing with group organisation and dealing with your own admin when the SHTF.

Shackelton's Way

by Margot Morrell & Stephanie Capparell

ISBN no; 1-85788-211-3


Anyone who knows a little about Sir Earnest Shackleton will know about how, along with his 27 crewmen from his ship The Endurance; survived for almost two years upon the Antarctic ice flow. The book takes extracts from his journals he wrote during this time and deals with the skills needed to manage a team trying to survive under extreme conditions.
It deals with important issues of team-work such as making sure both strengths and weaknesses are realised. It deals with camp order, control and what is needed on a personal level to keep pushing forward for the greater good of the team.

This book is seen as one of the great modern works used in case studies within the teaching of business in universities around the world. It was whilst studying business law and business structure a few years ago i first read this book and found it a very interesting read. Although not directly linked to survival technique or prepping, those of you interested in team structure and how to get the best from these members; this is the read for you.

Even if your not a team player and more of a lone-wolf, this book goes a long way in showing you what human spirit and a will to survive is all about.

[Quercus-robur]

Thanks for the recommendation. I have added it to my wish list. I have to say, Leadership and group dynamics is something I have overlooked in a SHTF scenario so any book on the subject will be useful to read.

Qr

[lonewolf]

I'm not a team player and groups are not for me, also the people on this expedition were for the most part professional explorers, not ordinary people trying (or not) to survive an event, I believe the 2 groups are totally different and would not act the same .

[matthopkins]

I'm not a team player and groups are not for me, also the people on this expedition were for the most part professional explorers, not ordinary people trying (or not) to survive an event, I believe the 2 groups are totally different and would not act the same .

Fair comment but dont dismiss this book as dealing only with groups.

Even though some were explorers, 12 of the 27 were seaman not explorers, 2 were surgeons, 1 a meterologist, 1 a geologist, 1 nothing more than a photographer and 3 were engineers.

Forgetting for a moment their trades we cant escape the fact they were nothing more than human beings like you and I. All would have had their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and doubts. Regardless of experience in exploring they would all have suffered from hunger and such like. Even in a group they would have all had their own worries as an individual im sure.

You say your a loner, nothing wrong in that but im sure you will realise that in being on your own this will lead to its own problems. This book goes a long way in dealing with being on your own, as Shackleton often found himself alone; this coming from his position as experdition leader. For me he summed his lonely position up in this following excerpt from his journal.


Sir Earnest Shackleton's journal
Day 32.
Endurance held solid in pack ice, listing to starboard side by 10degrees. Beams creaking and moaning under the extreme pressure of the ice.
" Leadership is a fine thing, but it has its penalties. And the greatest penalty is loneliness"

Maybe the two groups, explorers and a group of preppers are different, who knows?
By taking a good look at Shackletons reasons for doing what he did, with his methods being viewed by many experts as the major reason why all men survived nearly two years.; everyone of us will take something from this.
Ok, we can all sit in the comfort of our armchair, the woodburner warming our feet and say this is a great book or no its not for me. But the one thing we cannot dispute is the fact that what is written has been written from experience.
With myself included in this I can ask honestly, how many of us on here have survived living in the Antarctic for nearly 2years, rowed a small boat for days in life threatening seas to then walk over never before crossed mountains. To not only do this but to return and rescue the rest of his men that were left behind?
If there were ever a SHTF situation i think this would qualify.

[lonewolf]

sorry I don't agree, this was a professional group, yes they weren't all explorers but they were the best in their fields, and going into the Antartic isn't going to be top of any preppers wish list, I really don't think this has any bearing on a SHTF event, sure there are going to be people out there who think they ought to be the ones in charge,dosent mean they are the right ones for the job, and these are the sorts of people I will do my best to avoid!!

[matthopkins]

sorry I don't agree, this was a professional group, yes they weren't all explorers but they were the best in their fields, and going into the Antartic isn't going to be top of any preppers wish list, I really don't think this has any bearing on a SHTF event, sure there are going to be people out there who think they ought to be the ones in charge,dosent mean they are the right ones for the job, and these are the sorts of people I will do my best to avoid!!

Please dont take what im about to say as digging you out or saying your wrong and im right, i just think your missing a chance to gain possible helpful info with your future preps or game plans

You say this book has no bearing on a shtf situation, how do you know if you havnt read it? you may find that alot of what he says is in fact aimed at inderviduals, single people making the most of their skills and using others skills to build on our own. Isnt that what you as a prepper will be doing by coming on a site like this? Building your knowledge/ skill set from others?

A big part of his ethos was to teach others to take control of their own destiny by using what they have in skills whilst learning from others. He took loners and put them in charge of work groups, again dealing with those who sort control and giving it to those who wanted to be lead. In doing this each member of the team learnt to listen and follow others ideas whilst at the same time feeling like a valued part of this team.

He took two of his team who fought each other and gave them the most loathed of jobs. In doing this they had to work as a team in turn each sharing the others hatred of the job, forgetting the hatred for one and other. This in turn had a great effect on the rest of the crew, none having to deal with fights and blow ups.

Dont get me wrong, it is your choice as to what you read, how you prep and what you deem as right for you. In saying this you have the right to your opinion of this type of situation being of no use to modern day preppers. And like you i have the right to say the oppisit. The book itself deals more with getting the best out of your situation, both as a single person or a group. Ok, like you said how many of us will find ourselves stuck on a floating ice field at -30 ?

As a loner you will face other problems a group wont and visa-versa. As the leader he found loneliness where others didnt and reading his personal thoughts on this were a real eye opener, something i feel those going it alone may benefit from. This book is more about mind-set rather than coping with being in the Antarctic.

Like ive said, im not wanting or trying to dig you out or have a go, far from it. I respect your right to do it your way and as such wish you all the best in your prepps.

[lonewolf]

As a loner you will face other problems a group wont and visa-versa. As the leader he found loneliness where others didnt and reading his personal thoughts on this were a real eye opener, something i feel those going it alone may benefit from. This book is more about mind-set rather than coping with being in the Antarctic.

Like ive said, im not wanting or trying to dig you out or have a go, far from it. I respect your right to do it your way and as such wish you all the best in your prepps.

thank you for your kind comments, i have many books in my prepping library which i feel stand me in better stead for a UK SHTF event than this particular book. as for loneliness this does not feature in my vocabulary, being alone is not always the same as being lonely, some can do it-others cant.

[preppingsu]

As a loner you will face other problems a group wont and visa-versa. As the leader he found loneliness where others didnt and reading his personal thoughts on this were a real eye opener, something i feel those going it alone may benefit from. This book is more about mind-set rather than coping with being in the Antarctic.

Like ive said, im not wanting or trying to dig you out or have a go, far from it. I respect your right to do it your way and as such wish you all the best in your prepps.

thank you for your kind comments, i have many books in my prepping library which i feel stand me in better stead for a UK SHTF event than this particular book. as for loneliness this does not feature in my vocabulary, being alone is not always the same as being lonely, some can do it-others cant.

If such a loner (and I can understand why! ) why spend so much time on a community forum?

[lonewolf]

an online forum does not a community make!

[itsybitsy]

an online forum does not a community make!

Really? So why do you keep coming back? Having been banned several times in the past, been allowed back while trying to masquerade under different usernames, you *still* have the audacity to speak to our forum members in this way.

Paul, you are ONLY here because we are currently allowing you to be.