By Doc Rogers
As we enter the later years of our bodyguard careers we must be conscious of what we put into our bodies. We need to eat for health and not for taste. We need to keep our body strong through hard exercise and smart nutrition; as bodyguards no matter their age are expected to live healthy lifestyles.
Bodyguards need to keep very fit, avoid smoking, drinking alcohol in excess and late nights. As bodyguards, especially in the later years, our eating habits should be balanced to include meat, vegetables, fruit and carbohydrates. Yes, meat should be eaten, as it’s superior to plant protein for building muscle and keeping testosterone levels high, so we don’t turn soft in our mature age. Drop all bad habits: cigarettes, colas, ice cream, cake, candy; garbage in, garbage out. This holds true for the youngest to the oldest in our bodyguard clan.
We need to up our strength and cardio training; this should include long sessions on the weight pile to achieve superior strength as well as long session skipping rope, stationary biking or brisk running for high endurance.
On the job front we must be willing and able to tolerate discomfort more than the younger fallas on the bodyguard team. As elder statesmen in the bodyguard industry we have developed the mental toughness to travel 200 days a year and be locked, loaded and ready for work after 3-4 hours of sleep. Bodyguard assignments have no time for cry babies, whiners or complainers. Sure sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on the older body and reflexes, but that’s the part of the job everyone has to deal with. While on the job be here now; don’t have a “back in the day” attitude. Trade-in your old model for a new one.
While on bodyguard assignments don’t be a lone wolf, BG requires a combination of ability and the willingness to communicate with teammates. Learn from the new school; let the younger members of our bodyguard clan teach the old dogs new tricks, the high-tech and modern advances in the bodyguard field.
As old dogs we should lead by example and show the younger fallas some old school methods of BG from the “golden era.” As older bodyguards we should still be growing stronger, learning everyday and become smarter; if we become sluggish, our shelf-life in the industry will expire. Keep safe and God speed.
http://www.trafford.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=182707
http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Executive-Protection-Inspiring-Bodyguards/dp/1425135927
http://international-corporate-executive-protection.com/order.asp
Hi JD: Thanks very much. Your comment means a lot to me. Keep safe and God speed.
Dear Chuck: You have very great insight, and a breadth of understanding in this arena. Your comments are really motivational. Hope we can meet up some time over an adult beverage to discuss this subject further. Until then keep safe.
On the lighter, but just as important side, current wardrobe and haircuts. Most clients only know what they SEE. You could be the most qualified member of the team, but if you dont look like it, confidence goes down in your abilities. We older ones, have to show we are keeping up with ALL things current.
Great post Thanks Doc Rogers !
Doc,
By striving to teach those newer to the industry, we hone ourselves. I am fortunate (as you know) to work with one of the finest teams (both embedded and within our contract pool) and, as a result, I’m fortunate to always have a constant set of “new eyes” on many issues. They also benefit by having a set of “tried that” eyes on a problem.
Physically, having so many people (at least 10 years) younger than myself helps keep me motivated to maintain a decent level of personal fitness. They, in turn, see us older guys hitting it on a regular basis and find motivation in our progress and diligence. On a mental front, we altered our training and added in an element of strategic thinking in the terms of course of action development. This has produced many excellent “discussions” when the question of “what are your other courses of actions?”
Of course, we have had many…many…many discussions as to the “renascence man” factor in being a modern retainer.
Good post, Doc. Keep up the fight and keep your head down.
Alonzo and Shamuel: great comments, thanks for the support. Your comments and friendship means a lot to me!
Thanks, Doc: I had no idea about the link between meat and testosterone, and this entry made me look at a couple of personal issues I need to work on ( the “lone wolf” and “back in the day” things).
And Shamuel’s comments are inspiring – I wish I had that energy!
I fully agree with this story. In addition to the health and food intake. I also encourage investment into adult learning, to keep you brain flexible.
I agree with the physical issues, but time is against us inevitably.
here is what i did and maybe some of you may get an idea or inspiration. Firstly i went outside my comfort zone. I took on the rubix cube of brain workout..IT security.
As you can see in my profile, I took classes and certifications from our university and distance learning in:
Networking CCNA course 1-4
Network security CCNA
Data security
information security
All these course took about 1 year to complete, or about 25 university credits.
They are security related, so I said, well one way i can also compete with the younger guys is the physical side. But what about the technological side? So, no we can compete in both the techno and physical security sides.
I love top outplay the youngsters on the mat, and love to take them on and out shoot them in the firing range, now i LOVE TO SIT WITH THEM AND KEEP UP ON THE TECHY TALK.
So as I love to self invest, i feel pretty rounded on my security portfolio. I have 3 employees that work on our network and IT security. And I just love to be able to sit and chat re. network security issues and anti hacking and penetration testing subjects as it relates to our clients…YES, our clients.
Body guarding in the physical is one thing, but if your not up on the networking issues, your clients may look at you as an OLD dinosaur of a has been era.
I encourage all of you and self invest for you future employment and credibility.
Mental flexibility is as important if not more important then your physical.
For me, a person that works out like a DOG, I must also keep my mind as open and as flexible as a professional.
And I tell ya, its nice to look onto the faces of our younger clients, when i ask them, lets talk social and online networking and online threats… 🙂
Thanks Chris for your kind comment. Keep safe and God speed.
Nice post Doc.Keep them coming