Can/Can’t, Will/Won’t People, by Vagabond

Time feels very, very short, meaning the Fan draws closer every minute of every day.
This simple matrix has been useful in many things, but it can be adapted  to who we deal with in a prep context.
The ‘can/can’t’ refers to abilities. The ‘will/won’t’ to motivation. It’s a basic  system basically to see who is worth making connections to or working with.
1. Can and Will. SOLD! They have abilities generally, and specific abilities you find valuable and need. And they have the motivation and resilience to ‘work’ them, and work them over time at that. If ya’ll are on the same page as to needs, objectives, aims – Done Deal.
2. Can’t but Will. They have the heart, the fire, the desire, but must have patience and frustration tolerance. They are the teachable and coachable. If you invest the time and effort, they will repay in ability and effectiveness. The limitation may be their time investment, e.g. can they get up to speed fast enough to suit your time investment?
And here is the most interesting group depending on your definition of ‘can/can’t.’ Lots of old guys live here; they can’t run and gun, but they know radio, or herbs, or mechanics, or they are ‘people who know people.’  This category has been sold short more than once, and that’s a mistake because there is an auxiliary place for these skills.
3. Can but Won’t. They need motivation, whether positive and reinforcing, or negative and based on fear of a greater pain. The most complicated and potentially heart-breaking of the four. One man  may need confidence and encouragement. One may need a solid kick in the butt, and another one after that. One may need to see a vision of what is possible – he has all the tools mentally and in character, but just hasn’t latched onto a personalized Vision that motivates him.
Then there are those who just will not sustain motivation for whatever reason, and they become energy suckers. They just don’t have it in them to catch fire and self-motivate. They may eventually get there, but YOU may not have the time and emotional resources to invest enough to get to them where they need to be; it’s a cost-benefit analysis.
4. Can’t/Won’t. Avoid contact. They will whine you to death; best not to even waste a second of the time we have left.
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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

8 Comments

  1. Mike April 9, 2021 at 10:21

    5

  2. Anonymous April 9, 2021 at 11:13

    3.5

  3. Umbra April 9, 2021 at 12:05

    In category 2. “And here is the most interesting group depending on your definition of ‘can/can’t.’ Lots of old guys live here; they can’t run and gun, but they know radio, or herbs, or mechanics, or they are ‘people who know people.’ This category has been sold short more than once, and that’s a mistake because there is an auxiliary place for these skills.”
    I spent my entire working life in a very rough demanding trade, my choice and requiries extremely tough skin. We have a lot to offer. Thanks for the recognition.

    • Dana Henry April 9, 2021 at 18:19

      I have been thinking the exact same thing. Kind of useless vis vis skill sets and age. I believe it was Clay Martin’s second book that put this topic into my mind. He brought up using older people and different skill sets. I had wished lately this subject would be broached. I’m glad it has. I too spent my life in rough environs. I was held up but never successfully robbed. I’m not uncomfortable with that environment. I been wondering after I divest myself of worldly possessions if I should return there. Thanks for bringing this up y’al..

  4. Ray April 10, 2021 at 09:48

    This is great and is spot on. It reminds me of the 3% rule. If you are dealing with even one other person, the 3% rule goes into effect. It just is. I have personally tested it across domains and disciplines, and it is constant.
    Why is this important to you? Because in a disaster, you must network and interact with people unless you are the last person alive on the planet. Your life and the lives of your family and those you care about will be on the line. If you do not understand this principle, you will have false expectations of which people will be available to help and which will not. Again, failure to understand this will cost lives.
    3% of people will do something consistently
    7% of people will do something once or twice.
    90% of people will do nothing even if they and their loved ones will die.
    Tyranny, which are free and fair elections, is nothing but a charade. Outcomes are predetermined, fraud is rampant, and there is no recourse.

  5. Anonymous April 10, 2021 at 13:34

    5

  6. RB in GA April 10, 2021 at 13:51

    Cat 2 definately- too old, too creaky, but still willing. Spent a lot of years medical, and before that teaching- so I know that what you’re saying is spot on. No running and gunning here, but an aid station? Yeah, I could do that.

  7. Badlands Rifleman April 11, 2021 at 01:30

    Interesting way to look at people, I wish I would have realized some of these lessons sooner in life. It’s also a good way to examine yourself and make sure you’re being who you’re needed to be too.

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