P.T.M.E.

What is P.T.M.E.?

It’s been said that “Hope is not a plan.” It’s also a fact that, in order to survive a given chaotic situation, you have to have the right mindset aside from the skills or said equipment to endure a chaotic event.

PLAN / TRAIN / MODIFY / EXECUTE is an acronym, its the conceptualization and mantra that the team at Black Arrow Society uses for overcoming the chaos of life. Used to explain a simple cyclical planning/action strategy to adapt to any unforeseen variables.

It’s a 4 step process that should be repeated as needed for fluid and ever changing enviorments.

1. PLAN

There are several variations of the 7Ps.

This one is on point.

Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Which ever one you like, you should understand that having an actual plan for when eventual chaotic events happen, and they will, a plan is key to surviving them.

Here’s a simpilar concept… “Failing To Plan Is Planning To Fail”.

So… rule number one is PLAN… to have a plan.

2. TRAIN

Training using the knowledge, skills, and gear to enact any plan is an important factor.

Training and execution of goals in various disciplines. The concept is a detailed process to create a flexible, adaptable, and evolving model, no matter what life throws at you. 

Human beings don’t “rise to the occasion”, we fall back on our training.

We train to identify and establish the strengths and weaknesses in our mindset, knowledge, skills, and gear.

A rule we like to live by is… “Train for certainty, educate for uncertainty.”

Certainties are the known outcomes, problems we could potentially face. Uncertainty are the things we don’t see happening. This is where knowledge comes into play so we can adapt.

Which brings us to the next level.

3. MODIFY

We train based on our planned/intended/expected outcomes and we should be educated enough to be able to MODIFY or “adapt” if/when the plan fails.

BECAUSE IT WILL.

Modification is the same as “adaptation”. Essentially a form or structure that can be modified to fit or accommodate a changed environment. It could also be an unconscious modification of individual understandings based on current social activities or cultural surroundings.

It’s being able to think on the fly. Remember in order to think outside the box you have to fully understand the concept of the original box. The most elite units in the military are masters of the basics. They must understand and fully be capable of the basics in order to be capable of thinking outside the box and accomplishing the most complicated tasks and missions, in the midst of chaos.

Modification is just this simple.

No matter what, the obstacle is the path or

“What stands in the way, becomes the way, is the way.” -Marcus Aurelius

EXECUTE

Lastly we come to the execution phase.

By definition, the action of execution is to carry out; accomplish; or executing a plan or mission objective. Based on the prior phases, Planning, Training and Modifying. You arrive at the final action of executing.

P.T.M.E. is a reciprocal process.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” -Leonardo Da Vinci

After I’ve explained in detail the P.T.M.E. Process, let’s simplify.

1. PLAN: Develop a course of action to obtain specific performance objectives that are specific and measurable.

2. TRAIN: Develop real world skill sets to increase performance with discipline, proficiency, and adaptability.

3. MODIFY: No matter what measures we train under, plans succumb to the inevitability, therefore.. achievement of objectives may require creativity, modification and adaptability. Know your environment, know your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

4. EXECUTE:  Perform the best course of action and accomplishing the objective according to the plan. Remembering to follow through, reset, and replan.