Why preparation matters- 3 Key Examples

Key Caveat: You cannot predict the future but with proper planning you can mitigate the effects of any uncertain outcomes that come your way. Also remember history tends to repeat itself. Human beings have faced these same cycles endless times. 

South Pole British Antarctic Expedition/Terra Nova Expedition Challenge 1913
In the early 20^th Century there was a race to reach the South Pole. Two teams set out to conquer this challenge. It led to two different outcomes – One team had great success and the other team had a great tragedy. The final outcome was determined by the level of preparation and decisions made prior to both expeditions.

Robert Falcon Scott led the ill-fated team while the victorious expedition was led by the Norwegian Roald Amusden. The two teams had a different approach to preparation and planning that led to different outcomes.

The mode of transportation of relief supplies was the ultimate factor that decided the fates of the crews. Amusden relied on dogs while Scott relied on a mixed transportation system which had dogs, motorized transport and ponies.

The Norwegians had prior experience in arctic conditions and knew what mode of transportation would work effectively. This factor sealed the fate and outcome of the South Pole expedition.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s March to conquer Russia
Between 1799 and 1806 Napoleon Bonaparte, the great French General had subdued continental Europe in a conquest that had seen him gain vast territory. He had set his sights to conquer the United Kingdom as well and had imposed a trading embargo which also affected his ally Russia.

Russia decided to break the trading embargo as it was affecting its economy and resumed trade with the United Kingdom. This angered Napoleon and he set out to conquer Russia as well. He launched an attack in 1812 and made rapid advances in Russian territory.

This initial victory was turned to a defeat by two major factors the Russian Winter set in and his logistics supply chain failed. Russia is a vast continent with one of the most inhospitable climates in the world. The sheer distance to supply his advancing forces was the key factor behind his defeat.

The Russians also employed scorched earth tactics and burnt all food supplies as they retreated. Once winter had set in the Russians attacked Napoleon’s flanks and destroyed his supply line.

He failed to plan well for the Russian winter and the supply chain factor which led to his eventual defeat that also cost him his rule over the next 3 years.

Hitler’s Second War attack on Russia
A repeat of Napoleon’s Russian debacle was played out once more. Hitler the German dictator who started the 2^nd World war in 1939 had made great advances in continental Europe and had also advanced into Russian territory in 1941.

In this conquest he had made a vital mistake in advancing forward without the necessary capacity to sustain a war on many multiple fronts. The logistics and supply factor came back to haunt the Germans The United States with its superior economic and supply capability joined the war and armed it’s allies Russia and Britain.

The decisive battle in this war was fought in St. Petersburg (Stalingrad) in 1943. The Germans failed to break the Russian resistance and the Russian winter and logistics failure destroyed the German Army. The Germans failed to adequately plan for these outcomes as Napoleon did before.

This marked the beginning of the end of the German’s war in World War 2. German morale was devastated and the war finally ended 2 years later with a complete rout and defeat of Hitler’s forces.

Key Lesson Summary
There will always be great calamities that will occur. We have been lucky to live through a period of relative peace and calm.  Those that survive are those who prepare physically and mentally for all scenarios.

The key is to train your mind to ask this question what will I do if this scenario unfolds or comes true. In essence make hay while the sun shines.