But who’s gonna rule?

Preparing to “rule” in a post-apocalyptic world may seem a bit dramatic, but a little strategic thinking could make a huge difference. Here’s a guide to putting yourself in the best position possible if the world goes haywire.

Build Essential Skills • Leadership and Negotiation: Being able to lead, mediate, and negotiate is invaluable when resources are scarce, and people are looking for someone to trust. Strong leaders quickly gain followers and control.
• Survival Skills: Basic survival knowledge—fire-starting, navigation, water purification, shelter building, and first aid—gains respect and makes you self-sufficient.
• Agriculture and Animal Husbandry: Food becomes a top commodity. Knowing how to grow crops, manage livestock, and understand foraging gives you a serious edge. A person who controls food controls power.
• Hunting and Fishing: Being able to hunt or fish provides access to protein in remote or rural settings, making you more valuable.
• Mechanical and Repair Skills: Knowing how to fix things—vehicles, generators, tools—will make you indispensable. Stockpiling repair kits, nuts, bolts, screws, and lubricants could set you up as the local “fixer.”
Stockpile Strategic Resources • Food and Water: While everyone’s stockpiling canned goods, stockpile seeds, water purification tools, and shelf-stable food in larger quantities. Growing food is key to a sustainable kingdom.
• Medical Supplies: In a world without hospitals, basic medical supplies are pure gold. Gather first aid kits, antibiotics, painkillers, and wound care items.
• Fuel and Power Sources: Store gas, kerosene, batteries, and solar panels. Those who can power things will be in high demand.
• Alcohol and Tobacco: In a barter-based society, vices hold high value. These items are often great for trading and keeping peace within groups.
• Skills Books: Collect books on agriculture, medicine, mechanics, and engineering. Books hold long-term knowledge and are invaluable if the internet’s gone.
Establish a Trade Network • Barter with Valuable Items: Stockpile items like soap, salt, coffee, and other small luxuries. In hard times, simple comforts are in high demand.
• Create a Hub for Trade and Information: Establish yourself as the person people come to for supplies, information, or trading. Even in chaos, an organized center becomes valuable.
• Security Services: If you can organize people who are skilled in defense or self-defense, offer security in exchange for goods or services. This creates an income stream and a strong local presence.
Build Strong Alliances and Lead a Community • Form Alliances with Skilled People: Surround yourself with those who have complementary skills—builders, hunters, medics, and mechanics. Offer them a place in your “kingdom” in exchange for their loyalty and skills.
• Organize a Protection Force: Assemble and arm a trusted group who can enforce order and protect resources. In unstable times, this group’s loyalty can secure your position.
• Provide Shelter and Protection: When people know they can turn to you for safety, they’ll support your leadership. Offer a communal shelter for loyal followers and earn loyalty through reliability.
Create a Sustainable Resource Base • Set Up a Long-Term Food Supply: A self-sufficient farm, community garden, or aquaponics system will make you a key figure if food supplies dwindle.
• Harness Renewable Energy: Invest in solar, wind, or hydro generators. These will give you a power base that doesn’t rely on quickly dwindling fuel reserves.
• Build a Water Purification System: Water is essential, and being able to purify and distribute it makes you invaluable. Water filtration systems, rainwater collection, and even basic wells add to your power.
Learn and Enforce Practical “Laws” • Establish Rules and Fairness: People look for order in chaos. By enforcing clear and fair rules, you can create a stable micro-society. The fairer and more respected you are, the more people will support your “rule.”
• Reward Loyalty and Hard Work: Maintain morale by rewarding those who contribute and remain loyal. This could be extra food, better shelter, or positions of responsibility.
Focus on Knowledge, Not Just Goods • Master Critical Knowledge: Survival skills, agricultural practices, medical knowledge, and mechanical engineering are invaluable. Knowledge can’t be stolen or used up, making it one of your most sustainable resources.
• Train Your Followers: The more skills your community members gain, the stronger and more self-sufficient they become. This also reinforces your leadership as someone who offers valuable training.

The goal in an apocalyptic world isn’t to accumulate riches but to create stability, trust, and influence. The true “currency” will be resources, skills, and loyalty. By building a self-sufficient, well-defended community, you’ll be well-positioned to thrive, command respect, and lead effectively, even if the world around you falls apart.