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By Doc Rogers
Like any profession being a bodyguard has its ups and downs. It is a fun, exciting and profitable career but don’t be fooled, it takes genuine work, street and book smarts, as well as common sense. Below are some of the best and worst things about being a bodyguard.
The Best Things
• A great way of life, offering lots of worldwide travel.
• Can work anywhere in the world you desire.
• Vast bodyguard opportunities everywhere to advance your career endeavors.
• You can truly make a difference in a clients’ life in terms of safety, security and logistical comfort.
• It’s rewarding to help others achieve their business and leisure activities by providing a noble service.
• There are several different areas that you can specialize in; executive, celebrity or political protection.
The Worst Things
• Sometimes feeling that a suitcase is your only home and room service is your only friend.
• Being looked upon as all brawn and no brains by the average citizen.
• Personal sacrifices such as missed holidays, anniversaries and family reunions.
• The notion that all we do is follow around the rich and prominent who offer us stacks of money with little effort on our behalf.
• When Joe Q. Public looks upon the bodyguard profession as an “easy job” and “anyone can do it.”
• When former members of law enforcement, military and government agencies believe that they do not need additional and specific BG training because of past experience in their former occupation (slinging hot lead and handcuffing people has little to do with the BG profession).
• The lack of a cohesive structure within the clients’ inner circle that often does not always put the clients’ security and safety first.
The bodyguard business requires a serious effort and a considerable investment in training. On each assignment you will find yourself thinking as a terrorist might think; probing your clients’ vulnerabilities and plugging the gaps. Every passing year you will find yourself along the road to abnormally; traveling across the world, living out of a suitcase for months at a time. You’ll experience a lot of ups and downs, but will have a lot of fun in the industry, going through tough times and good times. 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
Thank you for the information, I have interest in being one but keep thinking what is it really going to be like. Reading this give me more information and encouragement. Thank you.
very well written. Thank you
Alonzo: Yes, I know how you feel. We can’t change the attitude of the individuals on the team, or how the client may look at us. However, (as you well know) all we can do is our very best and keep professional at all times. In this business backstabbers don’t last; professional EP agents do. Keep safe and all the best.
Great article Doc. Hope all is well with you.
Just want to add that I also ran into a lot of backstabbing and politicking from fellow agents, which I didn’t expect, because the higher up you go, the rarer and better paid the jobs are. And never mind the public, it can be hard to be looked at as dead weight or “the help” by the very people we work hard to protect.
It otherwise IS usually a rewarding profession in may ways, no doubt. Love the pic of the bodyguard/baggage handler!