So Are you obsessed? I hope so because I am. I have a calling. Actually I am in luck as I have two. The first is self protection which I have been involved in since 1978 and the second is close protection which I have been involved in since 1992. Although I am writing this as it relates to close protection, the concepts hold true for other aspects of your life be they the form of employment you have chosen, or your hobbies and past-times.
Pick your most boring subject, something that you are not interested in, engineering, gardening, painting for example, whatever it is you just do not like and I can guarantee one thing. If it is someones passion, their calling, and they are talking about it you will listen, why? Because they make it interesting, they love everything about their subject, let me reiterate IT IS THEIR CALLING! Look at these people. watch them on TV or YouTube and tell me they do not make what they are talking about interesting. Alan Titchmarsh (Gardener), Mark Williams (Actor) talking about engineering, Kevin McCloud (Designer) on Grand Designs or Jamie Oliver (Chef).
Could you do the same, could you talk to a bunch of people about close protection and enthral everyone?
So where does all of this fit in with the title? OK let me ask you this, as soon as your shift or rotation is finished do you just switch off as soon as you walk out of the door until you start work again? If you do then you are not following your calling. Fot the average person, that is exactly what happens. "Hey 5pm, let's go to the pub". Think about the top fashion designers as they leave the office. Building shapes, colours, tree shapes, distorted reflections, anything can inspire creativity when you are working but more importantly when you are not working.
I watched "Olympus Has Fallen". Gerard Butler in the kitchen with his wife who was trying to have a conversation with him. He on the other hand is watching the news about the North and South Korean military developments. Nothing to do with him, he is not even on the Presidential Detail meeting the South Korean delegation but he is still part of the Secret Service. He is taking more interest in the news because of who he is and what he does. Even though it gets him in the shit with his wife he is still working while not at work doing the job he longs to get back into, sound familiar?
Let me ask you this very important question? If you are not working when you are off the clock, how do you run your personal security procedures? They don't exactly run by themselves you know.
PERSEC, OPSEC, INFOSEC are becoming punchlines all too often on social media groups and forums.
Do you have an ideas book? I do, I keep it in my day-sack. Sitting on the train or an idea will come to me or I will see something that pertains to SP or CP and write it down before I forget it. Remenber, working while not working. What do you do, sit there and enjoy the ride? Multi-tasking is something we all need to be able to do.
There is an article on Fred Leland's Law Enforcement and Security Consulting website entitled - "The 10% Of Mind-Set". It relates to the 10% of law enforcement professionals who constantly strive to develop themselves and their professionalism both physically and mentally. It also talks about those who are "Retired On Duty", both we can relate to in our professions, which one are you?
Pick your most boring subject, something that you are not interested in, engineering, gardening, painting for example, whatever it is you just do not like and I can guarantee one thing. If it is someones passion, their calling, and they are talking about it you will listen, why? Because they make it interesting, they love everything about their subject, let me reiterate IT IS THEIR CALLING! Look at these people. watch them on TV or YouTube and tell me they do not make what they are talking about interesting. Alan Titchmarsh (Gardener), Mark Williams (Actor) talking about engineering, Kevin McCloud (Designer) on Grand Designs or Jamie Oliver (Chef).
Could you do the same, could you talk to a bunch of people about close protection and enthral everyone?
So where does all of this fit in with the title? OK let me ask you this, as soon as your shift or rotation is finished do you just switch off as soon as you walk out of the door until you start work again? If you do then you are not following your calling. Fot the average person, that is exactly what happens. "Hey 5pm, let's go to the pub". Think about the top fashion designers as they leave the office. Building shapes, colours, tree shapes, distorted reflections, anything can inspire creativity when you are working but more importantly when you are not working.
I watched "Olympus Has Fallen". Gerard Butler in the kitchen with his wife who was trying to have a conversation with him. He on the other hand is watching the news about the North and South Korean military developments. Nothing to do with him, he is not even on the Presidential Detail meeting the South Korean delegation but he is still part of the Secret Service. He is taking more interest in the news because of who he is and what he does. Even though it gets him in the shit with his wife he is still working while not at work doing the job he longs to get back into, sound familiar?
Let me ask you this very important question? If you are not working when you are off the clock, how do you run your personal security procedures? They don't exactly run by themselves you know.
PERSEC, OPSEC, INFOSEC are becoming punchlines all too often on social media groups and forums.
Do you have an ideas book? I do, I keep it in my day-sack. Sitting on the train or an idea will come to me or I will see something that pertains to SP or CP and write it down before I forget it. Remenber, working while not working. What do you do, sit there and enjoy the ride? Multi-tasking is something we all need to be able to do.
There is an article on Fred Leland's Law Enforcement and Security Consulting website entitled - "The 10% Of Mind-Set". It relates to the 10% of law enforcement professionals who constantly strive to develop themselves and their professionalism both physically and mentally. It also talks about those who are "Retired On Duty", both we can relate to in our professions, which one are you?
STILL CONFUSED
If you are looking to come into the CP industry; the ceiling (Some) CPOs work at is far higher than you think, both mentally and physically. I am not degrading your current employment whatever that may be, just realise that one thing that you will not be told on your CP course is that:
IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE PEOPLE OR YOU MAY DIE, ON OR OFF THE JOB!
For those already working in the industry and also for those looking to come into the industry here is a little reminder.
The business we are in; protecting lives is a serious business and not one to be taken lightly, so for those that are still confused let me try and make it a little simpler for you:
If you are doing this to impress your mates or girls down the pub - Find another job.
If you look at this profession as just another job - Find another job.
If you want to mingle with the stars & be photographed with the stars - Find another job.
If you cannot attain the ceiling required for our profession (And its not the SIA Ceiling) - Find another job.
If this is not your calling - find another job.
If you are not of the 10% mindset - Find another job.
If you are not at work and still not working - Then seriously find another job
Final reminder - We are working in a confrontational or possibly confrontational employment arena where on the job and off the job, this shit can get you killed.
So are you following your calling?
Stay Dangerous
Rock
IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE PEOPLE OR YOU MAY DIE, ON OR OFF THE JOB!
For those already working in the industry and also for those looking to come into the industry here is a little reminder.
The business we are in; protecting lives is a serious business and not one to be taken lightly, so for those that are still confused let me try and make it a little simpler for you:
If you are doing this to impress your mates or girls down the pub - Find another job.
If you look at this profession as just another job - Find another job.
If you want to mingle with the stars & be photographed with the stars - Find another job.
If you cannot attain the ceiling required for our profession (And its not the SIA Ceiling) - Find another job.
If this is not your calling - find another job.
If you are not of the 10% mindset - Find another job.
If you are not at work and still not working - Then seriously find another job
Final reminder - We are working in a confrontational or possibly confrontational employment arena where on the job and off the job, this shit can get you killed.
So are you following your calling?
Stay Dangerous
Rock
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