Fr. Z's Blog

A reader shared with me some Rules to live by.   It reminded me of a moment in the newest James Bond movie (lots of action in Rome this time).  This film’s “Bond Girl” asks 007 why he chose to be an assassin.  He replies, “Well, it was either that or the priesthood.”

Yes, it’s a dilemma, this life.

And, no, I can’t talk about the SVVAS. And, no, I don’t have a Walther PPK… yet.

Many of you vets, on this Veteran’s Day, might recognize some of the principles involved.

So, perhaps, will seminarians.  Rules for Seminary Survival.

Rule 0: Always double-tap
Rule 1: Always have an escape plan. (see the 3 Plans at the end)
Rule 2: Be aware of your surroundings.
Rule 3: Assumption is the mother of all eff-ups.
Rule 4: Always have a backup plan.
Rule 5: Never get caught.
Rule 6: Keep your mouth shut.
Rule 7: KISS: Keep it simple, stupid.
Rule 8: 7 Ps: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Rule 9: A simple plan with a flexible blueprint will survive real world contact far better than a complex and rule-bound plan.
Rule 10: Plan, execute and vanish.
Rule 11: You don’t have to like it-you just have to do it.
Rule 12: Always invest in good quality stuff.
Rule 13: Trust your gut.
Rule 14: Always carry a knife.
Rule 15: Do one thing at a time.
Rule 16: Pick your battles…
Rule 17: Simple and light equals freedom, agility and mobility.
Rule 18: Target dictates the weapon and the weapon dictates the movement. (“Mack” Machowicz)
Rule 19: Use ACTE: assess the situation; create a simple plan; take action and evaluate your progress. (“Mack” Machowicz)
Rule 20: Understand. Anticipate. Adapt. (Red Team Journal)
Rule 21: Don’t believe what you’re told. Double check.
Rule 22: Hide in plain sight. Blend in.
Rule 23: Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.
Rule 24: Find a way to succeed.
Rule 25: Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. (Patton)
Rule 26: A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week. (Patton)
Rule 27: Swift, Silent, Deadly. The only way to go about doing your business.
Rule 28: The more sophisticated the technology the more vulnerable it is to primitive attacks. People often overlook the obvious.
Rule 29: If you’re happy with your security, so are the bad guys.
Rule 30: If you have a secret, the best thing is to keep it to yourself. The second-best is to tell one other person if you must. There is no third best.
Rule 31: “Bad guys attack, and good guys react” is not a viable security strategy.
Rule 32: An adversary is most vulnerable to detection and disruption just prior to an attack.
Rule 33: Low-tech attacks work (even against high-tech devices and systems).
Rule 34: Never mess with a man’s coffee if you want to live.
Rule 35: When overwhelmed divide the tasks in smaller subtasks, simplify.
Rule 36: Always be ready to go at any moment’s notice. Learn to be light and move fast.
Rule 37: Don’t spend time trying to move your opponent, just move yourself.
Rule 38: The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead! (Patton)
Rule 39: The quality of your friends always matters more than the quantity.
Rule 40: Always be surrounded by the right people.
Rule 41: Always provide correction in private and praise in public.
Rule 42: He who angers you conquers you.
Rule 43: Do nothing which is of no use. (Miyamoto Musashi)
Rule 44: Be content with what you have.
Rule 45: Opening the door for a lady is not optional.
Rule 46: Sensible defaults can reduce friction and provide simplicity anywhere one can think to apply them. (Patrick Rhone)
Rule 47: There’s nothing wrong with staying small. You can do big things with a small team.
Rule 48: Personal notes should always be handwritten, however be prepare to destroy them at a moment’s notice.
Rule 49: Diplomas and certifications are OK, but trust experience over a diploma any time.
Rule 50: The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy life.
Rule 51: Find something you are willing to die for.
Rule 52: Don’t go into debt.
Rule 53: The only kind of marketing you need is an amazing product. (Leo Babauta)
Rule 54: Do not publish your life online, keep your life private. [No, I can’t talk about the SVVAS.]
Rule 55: Disconnect completely once in a while.
Rule 56: Live simply.
Rule 57: The GORUCK Rule – Under promise and over deliver.
Rule 58: When in doubt, C4. (Jamie Hyneman, Mythbusters) [It works.  Trust me.]
Rule 59: Progress comes to those who train and train; reliance on secret techniques will get you nowhere. (Morihei Ueshiba)
Rule 60: Courage is a special kind of knowledge: the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared. (David Ben-Gurion)
Rule 61: Don’t ever write a check with your mouth you can’t cash with your ass. (Wiseman). See Rule 6.
Rule 62: Some people just need a high-five. In the face. With a chair. (Carrie Adams)
Rule 63: You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain. (Miyamoto Musashi)
Rule 64: To know ten thousand things, know one well. (Musashi)
Rule 65: You are what you do when it counts.
Rule 66: If you think it was too easy, it was a trap. Look for jumping guards coming from the sides. [NB!]
Rule 67: The bad guys don’t obey our security policies.
Rule 68: Situational Awareness – Determine actions prior. Act decisions out at first sign of crisis. Decreased Exposure = Increased Survivability. MOVE! (Escape the Wolf)
Rule 69: If there’s a question about if it’s necessary, remove it. Less is more and more is lazy. (Jason McCarthy, GORUCK founder)
Rule 70: Never count on anything except surprise and unpredictability and danger. (Jack Reacher Rules)
Rule 71: Once is an accident. Twice is coincidence. Three times is an enemy action. [“Topicality is always suspect.” – George Smiley.  Thanks DW.]
Rule 72: Never do the same thing twice.
Rule 73: Confusion and unpredictability are what you should expect. (Jack Reacher Rules)
Rule 74: First you check, then you double-check. Finally you commit.
Rule 75: Always take care of your and your teams’ food and sleeping arragements. Create a schedule, however eat every time you can and sleep every time you can.
Rule 76: Notice every possible exit. Select one as your main exfil and another one as a backup.
Rule 77: Check the crowd: who is staring at you, who is all the sudden silent when you enter. [More important than you might think.]
Rule 78: Always sit with your back to the wall, even when there are mirrors you can use.
Rule 79: Think about everything you’ve seen, heard or felt. Work the clues, make connections. However, be wary of false positives.
Rule 80: Never take the elevator.
Rule 81: It is more complicated than you think.
Rule 82: The solution is in the problem.
Rule 83: Fail to Red Team and everything will go according to plan—right up to the point it doesn’t. (Red Team Journal)
Rule 84: If it’s stupid but works, it isn’t stupid.
Rule 85: Don’t play by the rules.
Rule 86: Beware the wrath of a patient adversary. (John C. Calhoun) [Something my opponents should consider.]
Rule 87: Don’t become predictable.

Addition:

Rule 88: Say the Black – Do the Red.

These seem to be a massive expansion on The Rules at Red Team.

And don’t forget The Fat Man’s Laws of the House of God.

UPDATE:

Perhaps a bit more practical.

THE ORIGINAL 12 RULES

• Rule 1: Always have an escape plan
• Rule 2: Be aware of your surroundings.
• Rule 3: Assumption is the mother of all eff-ups.
• Rule 4: Always have a backup plan.
• Rule 5: Never get caught.
• Rule 6: Keep your mouth shut.
• Rule 7: KISS: Keep it simple, stupid.
• Rule 8: Simple and light equals freedom, agility and mobility.
• Rule 9: Plan, execute and vanish.
• Rule 10: You don’t have to like it-you just have to do it.
• Rule 11: Always invest in good quality stuff.
• Rule 12: Trust your gut.

And don’t forget the Evil Overlord List.  I want all readers of the Fishwrap to know that I will use these Rules when my Legions of Terror (aka my readership, Zed-Heads, whatever) are finally victorious and shut down the NSR!