What we do and why you (may) want to subscribe
Our Bottom Line Up Front
The CP Journal is an online publication dedicated to helping organizations and individuals get left of bang.
Here’s the reality: the future is uncertain. That’s not fear-mongering—it’s just a fact. While we can’t predict everything that will happen with absolute certainty, we can prepare for it. And when we do, we shift the odds in our favor.
That’s what getting left of bang is about—taking action before an incident occurs, so you don’t just survive, you grow when disasters, disruptions, or acts of violence occur.
Left of bang means two things: recognizing danger early and being ready to act when it matters most.
Recognizing the warning signs—pre-event indicators of threats, risks, and hazards—before incidents begin or escalate.
Taking decisive action. Readiness isn’t just awareness. It’s about preventing, proactively responding to, and recovering from disruptions effectively.
These principles are at the heart of our book, Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life. The book tells the story of an innovative program designed to give Marines, soldiers, and sailors the upper hand against adversaries.
By developing skills through intentional practice and analytical processes, we build the intuition and gut instincts we need—for when we need them most. Because it’s not about how much time you have left of bang. It’s about what you do with it.
What started as a blog in 2011 has grown into a full-fledged resource for preparedness, offering training, consulting, and in-depth analysis.
Free subscribers receive one emails in their inbox each week about getting left of bang:
Our "Profiles in Preparedness" newsletter comes out on Sundays and shares articles and other resources about preparing for an uncertain future.
Paying subscribers get even more, including:
Access to The CP Journal Academy, including our flagship Tactical Analysis Course and our growing library of Playbooks, covering topics such as operational readiness, project management, and capability development.
Leadership Essays are published twice per month, focused on leadership, preparedness, and decision-making in uncertain and rapidly changing environments.
Beyond writing, we help businesses and government organizations develop these capabilities through projects. What we learn alongside our clients through each of these projects feeds back into The CP Journal, to share the lessons with a larger audience. Whether online or in person, it all comes back to getting left of bang.
Explore some of our foundational articles:
Fortune Favors the Prepared: The Moment Success Becomes Possible
The Organization You Want Can Be the One You Have: Capabilities Required for Resilient and Adaptable Organizations
The Evolution of Left of Bang: Choosing To Be Prepared for What You Can, and Can’t, Prevent From Happening
Here is what some of our readers have said:
Patrick’s newsletter isn’t just another email...it’s fuel. I work in healthcare, not emergency response, but his writing cuts through all the noise and hits where it matters.
It's clear, grounded, and sparks the kind of ideas that actually change how I teach, lead, and build.
And when he links to an article? I read it. Every time. Because if Patrick says it’s worth your time, it probably is. This newsletter doesn’t just inspire, it challenges you to step up your game.
—Cagney M.
I absolutely loved “Left of Bang” — I couldn’t stop reading it. With my new job in law enforcement, I feel that I owe it to the community to keep developing my skills in this field.
—Lane L.