By Doc Rogers

All bodyguards dream of obtaining high-profile clients, the following are some basic tips on how to position yourself to successfully retain these types of clients.

Do your research, check public records, newspapers and magazines about big name potential clients in your area or those who visit your area on a regular basis. Be in the right place at the right time by choice; position yourself in upscale restaurants and affluent bars where the wealthy and high-profile socialize. Cigar bars are popular spots for wealthy and high-profile individuals. Take mental notes, be quiet, look upscale and  confident in your appearance. Conduct detailed observation and analysis of:

1) How did the individual arrived at the restaurant, bar, cigar bar, etc.?

A) Taxi
B) Self driven
C) Chauffeur
D) Accompanied by bodyguard

If the individual took a taxi (answer A), than you know there are particular risks involved with taxis; threat of assault, robbery or even murder. If you observed that the individual had driven him or her self to the location (answer B) you know that individual has a higher risk for kidnapping or carjacking. It is doubtful that the person has anti-kidnapping driving skills or that the vehicle is armored. If the individual has been chauffeur driven (answer C), observe an analyze the chauffeur’s security skills in dropping off and picking up the individual. If the individual is accompanied by a bodyguard (answer D), take note on how you could assist the bodyguard in his duties for better protection of his client.   (more…)

By Bodyguard Careers Staff

Executive Close Protection also known as bodyguard services, or close personal protection refers to the security measures taken to protect high profile individuals from adversaries wish to cause them physical harm or mental distress.

The list of people with high profiles includes, but is not limited to, politicians, celebrities, wealthy business executives, etc. Robert Oatman in his book, The Art of Executive Protection outlines the range of threats an individual and his family may face: “assassination, kidnapping, street (workplace) violence, attacks by insane persons or zealots, embarrassment, injury, illness or medical emergencies, and that which is least expected.”

Oatman also explains the philosophy behind executive protection and the 6 principles associated with this philosophy: “1) Shape destiny, 2) Anybody can protect anybody, 3) If you have to stop and think about it, it’s too late, 4) Executive protection specialists get their clients out of trouble and keep them out of trouble, 5) For the executive, security and convenience are usually at opposite ends of a continuum, and 6) The greatest tool in executive protection is the Executive Protection specialist’s mind; technology is of limited use.”

Executive protection for high profile individuals is highly recommended prior to danger knocking on the door. It is imperative to take measures to prevent an attack from happening rather than trying to remedy a dangerous situation. Prevention and anticipation is the recipe of success for all executive protection specialists and the mantra to live by would be: “leave nothing to chance!”

Formal and advanced training are synonyms of success for all executive protection specialists. Click the link below for more details:

www.executiveprotectionschools.com

It’s no secret that the economy’s still struggling and with the slowdown of bodyguard assignments more and more bodyguards are feeling the pinch. Now is the time to start promoting your bodyguard services, seek external contact with potential clients and employers, get involved and engaged in your service promotion or job efforts. Focus your EP assignment or job search, be interested in people and various companies that have an executive protection unit (EPU) and have a strategy firmly in place to get the interview, the assignment or the job.

Look at various industries that have an EPU (most large corporations have established EPUs).  During your service promotion or job search efforts seek out unfamiliar organizations. You need to maintain a sustained effort to find a company that will hire your EP services or hire you as an in-house EP employee.  Great strategies in trying times include:

•    Spend lots of time actively networking with other EP professionals in the industry.

•    Follow up on all potential EP assignment or employment leads despite how unlikely they may seem.

•    Post your corporate resume or personal resume on Internet job boards and answer ads and Internet postings on a regular basis.

•    Put a structure in place and have a daily plan with goals and objectives (send out resumes, network, follow up on leads, etc).

•    Attend bodyguard networking opportunities to increase your knowledge and surround yourself with knowledgeable people in the business.

•    Your objective (EP assignment or EP job) should be achieved by any means necessary. Do the things that failures don’t do.

•    Up your credentials, additional EP training and accreditation in recessionary times can sometimes mean the difference between tough times survival and road-kill in the EP industry.

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By Doc Rogers

The following article provides strategies that should help you retain your present clients, as well as attract more business even in these recessionary times.

In today’s economic climate, present and prospective clients are expecting more for their money when hiring protection. This means we must add more value and better service while doing our core bodyguard duties of keeping the client safe and secure at all times.

We need to be looking for ways to make the client’s life easier; providing them with anything they may want (legally) while doing our job with professional efficiency. As professionals we must pay attention to details, no matter how small.

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