By Douglas Belton

Several years ago I was on a layover at Midway Airport when I noticed a professionally dressed woman looking in my direction wearing an expression that I quickly recognized as one of familiarity.  You know the look that someone gives you right before the index finger begins to wag and that age old line rolls off the tongue, “Hey, don’t I know you from someplace?”

The interesting thing was that she wasn’t so much looking at me as she was looking at my black portfolio with the bright red embossed emblem which read, “SPI” for, Southern Police Institute.  That black portfolio and the Kentucky Colonel plaque that hangs in my office are the membership cards that tie me into an elite group of law enforcement professionals with whom I share a common experience and a common set of credentials.

In law enforcement circles there are only a few command schools that really matter, The FBI Academy, Northwestern Command School, and the Southern Police Institute.  If you have attended one of those three schools you have met the first several key requirements for any command level police chief job you might be pursuing.

Much talk has been made of two essential ingredients for success in the professional world these days.  The two new buzz words are “Branding” and “Networking.”  If you want to get the job or the contract its all about your brand and your network, few other things matter as much.  As it is in the world of law enforcement, there are certain executive protection schools that will set you apart from the competition and effectively “Brand” you as a serious contender for desirable work and that will expand your “Network” so that you are not alone in marketing yourself.

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By Douglas Belton

It has been almost two years since the Mubai terrorist attacks which claimed the lives of 173 people.  Two of the attack sites, the Taj Mahol, and the The Oberoi Trident, were hotels used by international business travelers.  There were six explosions alone recorded at the Taj Mahol.

Terrorists never stop thinking of ways to make a memorable impact on people’s lives and to disrupt the normal rhythm of daily business.  That is the nature of terrorism and it is our business to plan counter strategies so the ones we protect do not fall victim to the terrorist agenda.
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By Doug Belton

She stands tall, trim, and confident.  She is tastefully adorned in practical attire that is both attractive and functional.  Her pants allow her ample room to move and stretch.  Her shoes, while stylish, are comfortable, and able to support her through a grueling crucible of physical exercise that could come at a moments notice. 

She is all beautiful and all business, her attractiveness is beyond aesthetics, and her business acumen takes her around the world, rubbing shoulders with the business, entertainment, sports, and political elite.  She is part of a growing breed of female bodyguards.

As a new cop back in the early 90’s I learned an important lesson.  There were two ways to get through a night shift.  A cop can either fight their way through one incident after another, chasing bad guys through dark alleys and buildings. 

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By Doug Belton

There are no elaborate schemes or formulas for earning more in executive protection; it really comes down to a single thing.  Never cut your rates.  As simple as this one thing sounds, anyone who has been in business at all will know there always seem to be compelling reasons to cut your rates but when you do so, you create a landslide of obstacles barring access to increased future earnings.

We have all experienced the disappointment of purchasing an item or service at full price only to find the same item from the same provider days later for substantially less money.  When this happens it doesn’t take much to figure out that the seller was offering the item far above market value in the first place. 

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By Doug Belton

Like so many things, searching for a job has taken on a new look.  Several people have found themselves out of work and displaced from the profession that provided their living for years.  In the old days a person could simply open up the help wanted section of the local news paper and see what was available.  These days the game has changed significantly and the job goes to the one who is employs the most effective tips for job hunting during a recession.

The problem for job seekers during a recession is that there is a flood of qualified applicants for every job that opens up.  In a phrase, we have an employers market as opposed to an employees market.  Employers will advertize for an opening via various websites or printed publications and receive hundreds, even thousands of applications for each job.  The key is not necessarily to be qualified; the key is to get your resume noticed by a hiring authority.

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