Saying “shit happens” indicates events are random, have no meaning and there

is no accountability or responsibility.

It indicates such events could just as easily happen

again and there’s

nothing we can do about them.

Bullshit.

This book is about catastrophes and how to avoid them, mitigate their effects and learn from them as seen from the perspective of

the Masters of Chaos: United States Army Special Forces (Green

Berets).

Taking the attitude shit happens is negative

and can be fatal.

"There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and

nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers."

Phillip Franklin, White Star Line vice-president, 1912

Titanic: Systematic Failure

Passenger on British Midland Flight 92 reflecting on hearing the pilot

announce he was shutting down the right engine: “We were thinking: ‘Why

is he doing that?’ because we saw flame coming out of the left engine.

But I was only a bread man. What did I know?”

Kegworth Plane Crash: The Danger of Deferring to Authority and Experts

"There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh

Cavalry."George Armstrong Custer

Little Big Horn: Leadership Failure

“I did nothing in my studies nor in my life to prepare me for a story of the

magnitude of that New London tragedy, nor has any story since that

awful day equaled it.” Walter Cronkite

New London Schoolhouse Explosion: Lack of Focus

“I wish I could cry, but I cannot. If I could forget the tragedy, perhaps I

would know how to cry again.” Mary Graves. Survivor, the ‘Donner Party’

The Donner Party: Social Disintegration

“We never thought it would happen to us.” Many who lost their houses when the housing bubble

burst.

From Tulips to the Housing Bubble: Greed Overwhelms Reality

“From this day forward, Flight Control will be known by two words: 'Tough' and 'Competent.' Tough means we are forever

accountable for what we do or what we fail to do. We will never again compromise our responsibilities. Every time we walk into

Mission Control we will know what we stand for. Competent means we will never take anything for granted. We will never be found short in our knowledge and in our skills. Mission Control

will be perfect. When you leave this meeting today you will go to your office and the first thing you will do there is to write 'Tough

and Competent' on your blackboards. It will never be erased. Each day when you enter the room these words will remind you of the price paid by Grissom, White, and Chaffee. These words

are the price of admission to the ranks of Mission Control." Gene Kranz; the Monday morning after the Apollo 1 disaster;

flight director for Apollo 13.

Apollo 13: Success Snatched from the Jaws of Catastrophe

The bottom line is we can predict

and prevent most

catastrophes because every

one has at least one man made factor, of the 7 cascade events,

involved.

In other words, we have control over whether shit happens.

But it means changing a

complacent mindset, getting rid of

delusional thinking, and viewing the

world around us in a Green Beret Way.

Because shit doesn’t just happen.

Meet Bob Mayer

Bob Mayer is a West Point Graduate,

former Green Beret and NY Times

Bestselling author of Factual Fiction.

www.bobmayer.orgwww.coolgus.com

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