How to Learn Lessons From Failures: Skill 16
Lessons Learned from the Failures of Others
In the military, we run After Action Reviews (AARs) after every mission.
We ask:
What was supposed to happen?
What actually happened?
What went well?
What needs improvement?
Then we train again—better.
Apply AARs to Survival
You can use the same method to:
Learn from history
Adapt from recent disasters
Prepare for future threats
Key Lesson: Movement = Survival
Most disasters are geographic—famine, war, flood, fire.
Survivors move.
Jewish communities: survived by relocating over centuries
Irish famine: survivors left Ireland
Jasper, BC fires: people drove out
West Virginia floods: families grabbed RVs and bugged out
Don’t hesitate. Move early.
Modern Takeaways
From real-world reports:
Always carry a power source for your devices
Pack protein, not just carbs—you’ll need long-lasting energy
Simple insights—but only if you're paying attention.
Bottom Line
Study failures. Copy success.
Use AAR thinking to prep smarter, move faster, and stay alive longer.
A lesson i learned is you need to keep yourself dry…
This does that for me (Grab yours above)
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Failure reveals weak points quickly.
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Yes, small errors often expose bigger issues.
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Ignoring why it happened.
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Repetition builds confidence.
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Calmly and honestly.
