By Hucky Austin
There are no magic pills that you need to take to become successful in the Executive Protection Industry. To put it simply, it’s just hard work nothing more nothing less. Have you heard of the saying, “Work hard now and play later?” This phrase holds great meaning. So many individuals are unwilling to put forth the effort needed to succeed in this field.
Let me explain. In order to succeed in this EP industry or any industry for that matter, you must have the desire and hunger to achieve your goal. And by the way, your goal is to obtain continuous employment in this field. One of the biggest reasons individuals are not successful in this industry is Laziness.
I speak with at least 10 individuals a week, who expect me or someone like me to not only take them to the water, but they also expect me to drink it for them as well. In other words, they count on me to hand over all of my secrets to them so they don’t have to put in any hard work. This is a simply, without doubt, called laziness. Laziness is not a characteristic that will lead to successfulness by any means. Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about.
A few months ago I received a call from someone. He said, “Harlan I’m frustrated because I am having a tough time finding work.” Now I remember giving him a list of 10 things to do to find work. So I start to ask him questions from the list, and to be discrete, let’s call him Carl for the purpose of this article. I asked him, “Carl, did you start on your contact list?” His answer was no. I then asked him, “Carl, did you plan out your week for contacting potential clients?” He again said no. I said, “Did you get your business cards made?” As the above answers, he said no. So I stopped and asked him, “Did you do anything on the recommendation list I provided to you?” His responded by explaining that he was planning on doing it but things continuously came up that prevented him from completing the items on the list. It quickly became obvious to me that Carl’s problem was just pure laziness. So I said to him, “You know what your problem is?” He goes on to ask me what is his problem. I said, “Well first, I have some news for you, Good News and Bad News. Now the bad news is you’re lazy.” As you might imagine, he didn’t take that very well. So he goes on to ask me what is the good news. I simply told him, “There is a cure for laziness, its called tenacity.”
“Tenacity” is described as one who is persistent, one who continues to move forward and does not give up, which is the resolute determination to succession within this field. For example, you sent out a resume on a hot job prospect. Assuming you are indeed qualified and follow directions well, the most important thing to understand in this industry of executive protection, as in any industry you must be unwavering in your pursuit to find lucrative employment. A lot of people want to do this kind of work, but most give up too easily. You hear stories all the time about people who submit manuscripts and are rejected. A good example is one from Jack Canfield, motivational speaker and creator of the “Chicken Soup For the Soul” series, who says he received 144 rejections before a publisher believed in him and his idea. (By the way, the way book publishing works is you can only send out your manuscript to one publisher at a time and then you wait as long as 6 weeks for a response! (Now THAT’S tenacity!) He is now a millionaire!
Without putting forth the necessary hard work, you will not experience Financial Growth.
After reading this Hucky, I am totally convinced you are able to read my mind! I could not agree more. It really pains me to know that out of every EP training class we put on, only a very few, will do what it takes to succeed. To those who insist on blaming the economy – it is that way for everybody – in all walks of life, just about. Everytime we advertise a training class I have dozens upon dozens who will contact us and ask if they are guaranteed a job after training. I think you’re right – that’s just laziness. It’s the old “80/20” rule folks – 20% will be very successful and the other 80% will be standing around waiting for someone to hand them a job.
They say there are three types of individuals – those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who ask; “what just happened”?
As usual Hucky, outstanding article and very sound advice.
I agree 100 percent! I graduated from a BODYGUARD ACADEMY with many guys. I never waited for a newspaper to advertise for a close protection job. I created opportunities for me to serve and give of my skills. I WENT TO TALK TO THE BIG GUYS MYSELF! Its been two years since. Many of the guys i graduated with are still waiting for jobs to come. They are getting frustrated coz none is knocking on their days! I approached a promiment guy and told him of what i can do for him. Though he was hesitant first. So far he has liked my services and am glad to say that i am that person’s security advisor and close protection operative.
TENACITY!!
This article is great, but remember you guys are the guru’s for us new generation. its like my sifu says you must come in with an empty cup, now that my cup is empty i need someone who knows how to fill it up to fill it up. give me the list of ten and watch me run it to the end zone.
ok i understand what you are saying to me.yes i want to know more about been a bodyguard and i will work hard at do it too. if gaving a change to do it. thank you William Smith
After reading the tenacity…. article I have a better understanding on being persistent in this career. I noticed that you gave the individual in the article 10 things to do daily in order to gain employment. I am interested in knowing what these 10 things are and how do I go by getting a list of potential clients in my area?
Good afternoon, after reading the article on tenacity equals financial growth I have more insight on the executive protection career. I am a new at this career and I am finding that it is difficult to find work or even to find individuals that are already in the field to assist me in getting started. In the Atlanta area, most of the established bodyguards do not want to take the time out to help others get into the business. I have experienced that if they are already established they do not want to bring anybody else in. I guess they feel this will cut into their employment. I noticed that you provided the individual in the article 10 things to do in order to assist in gaining employment. I am interested to know what these 10 things are and how can I gain access to potential clients in my area?
Sir,
I agree with your philosophy, but I find there are other factors involved! As the owner of my company, I would like if you could provide me with the list of things to do!
I have knocked on doors, going to place to place providing handouts. I have an executive as well as a security company. Any additiona information you can impart to me concerning advertizing would be greatly appreciated.
Robert L. Baity
Owner/Manager
Baity’s Executive Protection Agency
Excellent article – given our current global economic situation and the number of highly qualified military veterans returning from forward area deployments, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find work in many public and private sector fields; including security. Many companies are trimming back their work forces and this includes protective details as the POTUS and Congress continue to highlight and criticize corporate spending.
This forces candidates to build their training, education and experience portfolios at the same time they are reaching out to improve networking and explore mentoring opportunities. During this process, it is easy to grow frustrated and distracted, but a winner has to push on. Baby steps; build yourself a set of goals that you can check off daily. Smaller goals are eaiser to reach and leave you with a sense of accomplishment. Having one large goal such as “getting to the moon before the end of the decade”, is a little lofty and only allows you the opportunity for complete success or complete failure, because getting only halfway to the moon leaves you lost in space.
Keep working on finding small assignments that lead to bigger ones. Identify who the key security players are in your area. Join networks that allow you the opportunity to know what jobs are opening up (securityjobs.net and LinkedIn are two examples). Research the web and find out who is offering relevant training in your area. Watch your local publications to see who is hiring. Contact your state’s film commission and see if anyone is making a movie in your state; and if so, get hired on the set as a security officer. Find a mentor, but remember that they serve as a teacher/counselor…they are not a free ticket to the top.
There was a fellow from Henryville, Indiana who opened a gas station in Corbin Kentucky and started serving food out of his private quarters. A series of events (including the construction of I-75) began to adversely affect his business and at the age of 65, he considered himself a failure…even contemplating suicide. It was then that the idea to open a chain of fast-food restaurants featuring his special chicken recipe catapaulted him into a global success. Even though he died in 1980, Colonel Harland Sanders and his KFC legacy is one of the most widely recognized brands on the planet. Hang in there no matter what!
I couldn’t agree more with this post! It reminded me of something I try to keep in mind all the time and it is that “The biggest obstacle one must overcome is oneself” perhaps because of laziness or lack of confidence due to the fact that one does not feel qualified for certain detail, etc.
As a solution, I offer this, continue networking and also continue taking additional training, during training you will get additioanl skills as well as the opportunity to network with other individual EPS and companies, and do have your business cards made to hand them out to potential clients and to network.
Just by doing what I have stated above, I have been able to get security detail/jobs ranging from taking a housewife on shopping trips to escorting teenage girls on dates and other high risk details! Some might say, “that’s not I am looking for” well one must start somewhere! Need I say more!