Quick Wins for Awareness

In this installment of the AmCon Daily Brief, Thom Rigsby shares five quick wins that can sharpen your situational awareness without expensive gear or complex training. From scanning new spaces to teaching kids simple awareness habits, these small steps stack up into confidence and calm under pressure. Plus, take today’s challenge to practice one tip and pass it on—because awareness grows stronger when it’s shared.

Episode Transcript

(03:33):
It's the end of the week and the Johnson family gathers to recap what they've been practicing.
From mapping their risks to noticing exits in public places,
they've learned that awareness doesn't require fancy gear. It just requires attention.
Daniel points out that he feels less anxious when he's paying attention on purpose.
Emily noted that the kids have turned it into a game, spotting exits or pointing

(03:57):
out things that seem unusual. what started as homework for preparedness has
already become part of their daily rhythm.
At Amcon, we remind members that awareness is built in layers.
You don't have to overhaul your whole life in one week.
You just have to start stacking small, repeatable habits that sharpen your perception

(04:19):
and strengthen your confidence.
Here are five quick wins that anyone can implement today, including you.
Number one, know your top three threats. Don't try to prepare for everything. You can't do that.
Focus on the few risks that are most likely to affect your family.

(04:40):
That's where awareness begins.
Number two, practice your scan. In every new space, look for exits,
hazards, and unusual behavior in the first 30 seconds.
It becomes a reflex with repetition.
Number three, stay left of the bang.
The military uses this term to mean spotting trouble before it bangs.

(05:01):
Awareness gives you time to respond before a crisis starts.
Number four, teach your kids one awareness habit. Make it a family exercise
or even a family game, like always identifying the nearest exit or noticing
when something has changed in the neighborhood.
Number five, share awareness with others.

(05:24):
Whether it's a friend, a neighbor, or a co-worker, passing along one tip reinforces
the habit for you and strengthens the community around you.
If you don't know what to share, consider sharing this podcast.
The power of these small actions is cumulative.
One awareness habit doesn't seem like much, but five, practiced every day,

(05:48):
starts to rewire how you see the world.
And that mindset shift is what keeps families calm, confident,
and prepared when others are caught off guard.
Today, I want you to choose one awareness tip from this list and put it into practice.
Then, before the day is over, share it with at least one other person.

(06:11):
The act of teaching locks in the habit for you and helps someone else build
capability at the same time.
Tomorrow on the Amcon Daily Brief, we'll put awareness into action with a real-world
scenario, how to spot distraction tactics in public before they become a threat.
Because awareness isn't just about noticing, it's about recognizing intent.

(06:36):
Thanks as always for listening to the Amcon Daily Brief. If you're already a
member, we appreciate it.
Make sure you check out today's resources on the members-only platform,
in your phone app or in the asset app.
And if you're not a member yet, you can become one. It's super simple.
Just visit AmericanContingency.com and join the network to start building real resilience today.

(06:59):
My name is Tom Rigsby. Stay alert, stay ready, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.