What is an expert?

What do we consider an expert in the field of prepping?  You know it is funny sometimes, how many people will call me and ask me the most random questions that have to do with preparedness or food storage.  I certainly don't mind, as it kind of makes me feel like I am an expert in that field. Do I know everything there is to know?  Nope, but I try, and if I don't know an answer, I know where to go to look it up and find out that answer.

I have written a book, which I think is pretty good.  This book walks a person through their preparedness

Personal Preparedness Portfolio

categories step by step and offers suggestions and helps to get you prepared for each different area of preparedness that you could need in your home.  It also teaches some self reliance principles of food storage and finding the skills necessary to not have to rely on people if something happens, but to be able to rely on yourself.  All in all it teaches emergency preparedness, short term self reliance (3 months), and long term self reliance - one year.  I have added checklists for many things, and turned it into a workbook of sorts.  I put years worth of studying and learning into this book, so I guess that makes me an expert in this area.  You can click on the picture and it will take  you to my Amazon page if you are interested in ordering it.

Not only have I written this book, but I have taught many, many classes on this subject, so there has been many many hours of research that has gone into teaching classes.  That also makes me the expert.

Even though these things can make someone an expert in their field, there are always people who know more, do more, and have more knowledge.  I personally don't consider myself an expert in any particular area.  I still do research almost daily in the area of preparedness and food storage.  I still rely on knowledge from others to keep me informed on various happenings in the world.  I still often come across something that I don't know the answer to, and then I go to the computer to figure it out.

I think that is the key right there.  Find the answer and solve the problem.  I think that is what makes someone expert in any field.  If you know where to look up the answers, and really take time to learn the answers, then you are on your way to being an expert in that area.  If you can teach a class on the subject, then you will  be considered an expert in the area.  And definitely, if you can write a book sharing your knowledge, you will be considered an expert in the area, as the time that goes into writing a book is huge.

All of my books so far!

If you want to be an expert in any particular area, regardless of what it is, write down a list of questions that are most important to that area.  The questions should cover any problem or question that someone might want to know about in that subject.  Then go ahead to find the answers to solve the problems.  Write about them - perhaps on a blog, or a book, or even just keep your own notebook.  Teach them to someone - that's where keeping a blog would come in handy, since on your blog you can share what you are learning.  Teaching really is the best way to learn yourself.  Lastly, be willing to teach a class, answer questions, make a video, or write a book.  People will then consider you an expert in your field.  It will come naturally as you learn more information.

I am still learning.  I don't believe it ever ends.  I have several areas of knowledge in my life that I would love to be an expert in, but it takes a lot of work and time.  I love working with herbs.  I would love to be an expert that people could count on when it comes to herbal medicine or herbal therapies.  I still have a long way to go because the field is so extensive.  I am loving the journey, and I believe that is what is most important, LOVE what you are doing.  The knowledge will come if you don't quit!

Here is a teaser for you as well.  It is the workbook portion of the Personal Preparedness Portfolio.  If you would like the information that goes along with this, you will have to follow the link and purchase the book.  But I feel strongly enough about people getting prepared, that I want to offer this for free.  Hopefully you will make use of it to help your family.  Just click on the link above and get your free pdf workbook that goes along with the Personal Preparedness Portfolio.

What is Your Biggest Threat?

Sometimes it is really hard for our family, friends and / or neighbors to buy into the fact that it is important to always be prepared.  I have had my fair share of people who think I like to cry doom and gloom.  I don't take it personally, because I know that I am at peace with what I have done and am doing, and I know that my family is prepared for most possibilities where I live.  So perhaps we cry doom and gloom, but at least we are not the ostrich with our heads in the sand.  I am afraid the ostrich's are going to get their butts kicked really hard one of these times, when they are not looking.

So how in the world can we get these kind of people to understand the importance of preparedness?  Some never will, so you can just walk away from those ones.  They will just drain your energies and try to bring you down.  For those that you might be able to persuade, you need your facts and reasons, so that you can show them why.  Start with your biggest threat to your area.  What is that?  What is the biggest natural or man made threat that you can think of, that could affect where you live?

For example: Where I live, flooding is a pretty major thing every year, but only in parts of the city.  I live up on a hill, so I don't worry about that, other than if the water treatment plant, down by the river gets flooded,

Personal Preparedness Portfolio

 

then perhaps we may be without clean water for a time.  It has happened before.  This is a big threat, but not sure if it is at the top of the list.  Another threat, which is pretty realistic right now, wildfires.  We currently have wildfires burning through out the province, none that are too close to us, but that can change very quickly.  It is not uncommon for prairie fires to catch hold in the extreme hot weather, and for areas to be evacuated because of these fires.  So another threat, but not a huge one.  Sever weather in the winter or summer months are not uncommon here.  In the summer months, we have seen severe hail and even tornadoes, and in the winter, harsh winter storms happen often.

We have a very real threat very close to us, which is an army base.  It is run by the British, but it is a real threat for us.  They do some chemical testing and war games and stuff out there.  Not unrealistic to think that they could attract some unwanted attention if war were to get close to home.  We also have some chemical plants in our city that actively teach the city, schools and businesses to shelter in place in case of chemical spills or explosions.  Not too fun there.

So all of these things are very real threats, to us as a whole.  Trucker strikes, food shortages, etc, all are a part of it as well.  But lets think a little closer to home, what about our homes?  What if you or your spouse were to fall ill, or worse die?  What kind of situation would that leave you or your kids in?  What if your employment were to end?  What if your house flooded, or a fire destroyed it?  What if you got robbed?  I know some of these things sound a bit unrealistic and we often think it won't happen to us, but I can assure you, that I have seen every one of these things happen to people I personally know.  Some were prepared and weathered the storm not too bad, and others being unprepared, were devastated from their storms, whatever they may have been.

I think the way to help people see what they should be prepared for, is to get them to think of what their biggest threat is, and then in the process, they will also see all of the other threats that often go unseen, until they surface.  Start that conversation and see where it goes.  Don't try to overwhelm them with too many details or thoughts at one time.  Take it slow.  Start with the biggest threats and how would you prepare for them, and then go from there.

I think with all of the things that I listed, our biggest threat, is power outages due to severe weather storms.  I have seen people right here go pretty crazy when the power was out for less than 24 hours.  What if something wild happened that took out power for a week, or two or three weeks?  It isn't uncommon these days.  It could happen.  How would you cook?  How would you run your technology?  How would you bathe, flush, clean, phone, or function.  It would turn our world upside down, and we are prepared for such a scenario.  What about you?

I have written a book titled Your Personal Preparedness Portfolio, which will actually walk you through step by step of different scenarios, to help you get prepared, perhaps even for things which you may not have thought of.  It is a great workbook, to create a great plan for your family.