Circuit Magazine

For Security & Protection Specialists

Keeping Your Edge – Flowers For the Living

If you’re one of the many that have a chance to work around me operationally over the years you know one thing, I can be pretty intense and leave very little margin for error and excuses when it’s, “GO Time.”

Yet as a counterpoint to that, I think those same people will also attest that I frequently give praise and recognition to those I see excelling in the craft.  This is not just limited to whether you work for me or have attended one of my training programs. If I see something good, I say it; if I see someone excelling, I recognize the accomplishment. 

Keeping Your Edge – Develop A Niche

Celebrity protection is in some ways a unique market, however, in marketing, the more specific you can be, the more successful you will be in finding customers. This means that it’s helpful, sometimes necessary, to research, develop, and define a niche, carving out a select piece of a bigger industry to specialize in.

Keeping Your Edge – I Finished Training, Now What?

It’s the final wrap up of the last day of your Close Protection training course.  It’s been a long, and at times grueling, process but ultimately rewarding on multiple levels. 

Along the way you’ve met some people you have really gelled with (and a couple that you have no plans on staying in contact with once class ends.)  Overall, you enjoyed the experience, feel like you have gotten your moneys worth, and can say that you have some new, “tools for the toolbox.”

Keeping Your Edge – Don’t Get Comfortable

That is the brass ring in our business, AKA the sacred cow, however, on the road to eating Filet Mignon, there are bound to be several Big Mac’s along the route.

So, as we proceed on this journey to success, we have to make sure we navigate the potholes, namely, doing the job as required without becoming too comfortable in our role, leading to potentially disastrous results.

Does Fitness Matter Anymore?

Are we as protectors, just giving lip service to the physical nature of the craft? Yes, this is a thinking man’s game and the best muscle to work out is the mind, however, are we really preparing for that “Moment of Truth,” the one we hope never happens on our watch, but that we nonetheless have to plan for?

Keeping Your Edge, Politics as Un-usual

I’ve always tried to make sure I ask and answer that question before I write about personal experiences in public settings. In light of that, I must admit I thought about this one a bit longer than most, but felt it was worthy to share because one of the purposes of The Circuit Magazine is to inform and educate while offering unique perspectives within the Close Protection community.

So, You Want To Be A Celebrity Protection Agent?

“Elijah, I’m glad you choose me for the assignment, just so you know I have to be home on the 15th as my son has his little league try-outs.”  I’ll have to be honest and say, if the assignment extends past the 15th, I’m likely going to use someone else from the outset.  Why?  Because VIP clients appreciate familiarity but the rotation of celebrity protection agents does not project stability, instead, it implies just the opposite.

Armchair Quarterbacks

My take is that in the Close Protection industry, our Armchair Quarterbacks are oftentimes doing the business on multiple levels to varying degrees of success, but instead of enjoying that success and motivating and inspiring others, they spend a noticeable degree of time criticizing every play someone else makes.