Someone wrote “your network is your net worth,” and yet, are you really investing your time in this tool? Time spent in entering personal contacts, updating contact information and maintaining relationships is time well spent.
According to Susan RoAne, the author of the book How to Work a Room, “As an entrepreneur, if you don’t have a network, you will keep reinventing the wheel.”
In the Internet age, networking has taken on a whole new meaning. Keeping up with the competition means staying in front of your peers, on top of the latest news and keeping in touch. Keeping in touch means not only sending an occasional email but spending time on the phone and face-to-face.
Many networking sites are free–and more are on the way. All help you stay connected to people you know and spark relationships with those you don’t–including customers, suppliers, partners and advisers. There are also software applications that help to update and maintain your networks. If you aren’t using these services already, sign up!
Here are some of the top Networking Sites:

• Linked In
• APSense.com
• Plaxo and Pulse
• Anagram (getanagram.com)
• Twitter
• Facebook & MySpace

Here’s a specific plan to really make the most of your network: Choose one day of the week (not a Monday) for the next four weeks in which you will randomly select three individuals from whatever database you use. Devote 15 minutes on the telephone chatting and catching up. Agree to do something with at least one of the three you call; plan a lunch or breakfast; or even a time to just meet in person for coffee. A month of “maintaining” your network will only take approximately four hours or so of your time, and has the potential of yielding results.

In January this year, London’s Princess Beatrice had her I Series BMW stolen from the West End area of the city.

The Princess, who is 20, went into a shop for a sandwich and unknowingly left her keys in the ignition and the doors of her luxury vehicle unlocked. Her bodyguard failed to notice the mistake, much to his chagrin.

The car was not recovered and no arrests were made, although the bodyguard is facing disciplinary action for his costly mistake.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BGC: This is a perfect example of how we can become complacent in our duties, if we’re not careful! (SEE BGC STORY: “KEEPING YOUR EDGE“) A few thoughts on watching the young, rich, famous and busy-they can often be extremely preoccupied-and so it is particularly important to be on the watch for these kinds of oversights. Also, it is a good idea for a Bodyguard to have on his person copies of his client’s car keys, as well as residence keys. . . that way, if the client misplaces them or locks them in a car, you have a back-up set.

The Solution

In classes, we often hear, “Hey, I want to go to Iraq and run details for $1,500.00 a day…will your training help me?”

First, let me say that there aren’t many details paying that much any more (I know of one and you have to know the detail leader to get hired). Second, my answer is always, “This training certainly won’t hurt you, but you should find out who holds the contract for that particular assignment, and go take their course!” This will enable you to learn their systems while allowing them the opportunity to grow comfortable with you .

You should seek out training from competent instructors, but almost as importantly, from professionals who make their living in the environment that you want to join.  As I mentioned previously, some of the skill-sets are transferable, but you have to admit that there is a world of difference between club-hopping with a rap artist and working a speaking event with the King of Spain and the Chair of the Federal Reserve.

In our methodological review and revolution we put training into a business process and determined first and foremost, “Know the elements of the job you want”; and train accordingly.  Once you know where you want to be, it will be easier to identify the skill-sets that you will need to be successful.  In our programs, we like to work that out with the students in advance of the course, so that as we cover the material, we are playing into their hand. The academic portion of the course focuses on an explanation of protection (historically and operationally) so that attendees have a realistic understanding of and appreciation for the components that they’ll be learning about for the next 40 to 80 hours.

By breaking the aforementioned core elements into modular lessons, we are able to expand or condense them consistent with the needs of the student and/or client. In short, these topics can be one-hour survey courses or two-day advanced training components. This also made it easier to format their delivery to meet military drill periods, college academic semesters or organizational time and budget slots.

We integrate hard-skills throughout the course so that students are not sedated by incessant lecture.  This also allows us to cover the wide range of defensive tactics over an extended period rather than saturating students physically and intellectually by throwing six to eight hours of DT at them in one setting.

Our goal is to provide a firm foundation of academic and practical exercises in the first forty hours so that a student can begin to build experientially as soon as they hit the streets (Table 3).  Then, after the specialist has an opportunity to gain practical experience, they are better positioned to return for the advanced (OPOTA  Level II) course.  Subjects to which they were introduced in the Level I program, such as Threat Assessment, are studied in more detail in the advanced program.  Even critics can see that listening to a clinical forensic psychologist explain the effects of personality disorders in an assessment of an individual’s potential for violence…without the assessor having met any crazy people yet…is often wasted training.

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Sexton Executive Security will hold their residential Personal
Protection Specialist Training course in Northern Virginia from the
22nd to the 28th of March. Hotel accommodation, meals, transport,
classroom materials will be provided. Graduates will be awarded
certificates for Terrorism Awareness, Personal Protection and will be
certified in CPR/AED through the Red Cross.

Following the Personal/Close Protection training, there will be a
three day advanced/tactical firearms course which is being taught by
a former S.W.A.T. Commander. Both courses are certified by the
Department of Criminal Justice Services and instructors will assist
attendees with getting registered as Personal Protection Specialists
and PPS advanced Handgun Endorsement.

The course fee includes one year membership in our exclusive
networking association where job opportunities – domestic and
International, are posted as they arise. Graduates are also able to
attend yearly networking and educational conferences. The 2010
conference will be held in Spain. More information may be found on
the “Training” page of our website and registration forms can be
requested by sending an e-mail to; training@sextonsecurity.com.

Thank you.

John Sexton, CII, PPS, CST
Director of Training
Sexton Executive Security
www.sextonsecurity.com

We are fortunate in the executive protection field; crime doesn’t stop when the economy is in recession. Unfortunately, crime can actually increase. Jobs in the security field such as international security experts, police officers, private security guards, theft prevention specialists and even detectives are in high demand.

If you are a job-seeker, this time can be somewhat challenging, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience or training. Here are some tips to help Job Seekers during these trying times.

1. The Job Search is Your Job

Establish some sort of a routine for your search; start at a certain time every day to begin your work and have a game plan. Set a specific number of places to send materials every day or every week and plan on spending a specific amount of time every day devoted to the search. Plan to spend at least the amount of time you would spend working a part-time job at the task of finding employment (4 hours).

2.  Success is in the Details

Treat every single job opening you apply for as a unique circumstance. Don’t use a template cover letter. Write your own or have a professional assist you. Each letter should have one paragraph that addresses the specific position and skills the company is seeking. Make sure materials are clean, neat, and free from typos or grammatical errors. Nothing will eliminate you from the talent pool faster than a poorly written cover letter. Revamp your materials during these difficult times so you can be competitive. Use good paper. Send thank you notes after interviews and always, always be nice to the receptionist at the front desk!

3. Keep Accurate Records

Keep records of every resume you send, to whom, and the date. This will serve as your guide later to follow up with employers. You’d be surprised how many people just send out resumes all over the place and never follow up. Take note of the job title, specific skills or experience they’ve asked for, the H.R. person to whom you’ve sent your materials, and the date that you’ve sent it. Follow up within 3-5 days with a brief letter or e-mail or telephone call confirming that your materials have been received. Also, keep those notes handy, so that if you receive a call (or make a follow-up call) you can refer to your notes to better discuss the job, the company, and other important details. That phone call is important; it is an easy opportunity for the H.R. person to pre-screen so they make good use of their time when scheduling interviews.

4. Communicate With Colleagues & Your Network

A lot of individuals get depressed when they cannot find work, and tend to pull away from friends and even become isolated. Don’t let your pride get in the way-tell your colleagues in the business that you’re looking for work-and need their help. Just getting out and socializing is good for your morale, and you will be able to hear about potential opportunities. Ask if your colleagues could arrange for an informational interview with their employer. This is an interview where you’re not being considered for a specific job; you just would like to learn more about the company and more about what job skills you need in order to be considered for future employment.

5.  Educate Yourself

Just because you’re not working doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for you to advance in your career. Maybe this is the perfect time for you to take a temp job or part-time job working undercover surveillance at a department store or working the guardhouse for a gated community, while also doing coursework to enhance your EPS skills. Be sure to do your homework as to reputable training programs. If it looks to good to be true; it probably is.

Above all, stay positive and motivated, with your eye on the prize. Remember, these hard times are not going to last forever.