During my corporate days and now owning my private company, I’ve had the opportunity to recruit and operate in both of these settings ranging from small boutique details to top-tier corporations. After hundreds of phone conversations and conferences with executive protection professionals, I tend to get a lot of the same questions and statements from guys and gals seeking career advice.

A couple of statements or questions I  hear more and more are...

1. I want to transition to the corporate sector, I’m tired of contracting.
2. I am tired of the corporate world and want to transition contracting.

It always makes me think of the old adage “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”.   But is it or is it all the same grass?

Most people reach a place in their career where they are interested (or forced into) doing something different, and this is an important topic for those of us in the EP/Close Protection world. So let's break it...

When you are talking about visiting Africa, Kenya is most certainly top of mind. While this gorgeous nation makes headlines for both the right and wrong reasons, there's no doubt it is on many people's bucket list to visit. In this Global Ops Podcast, we cover why Kenya is still one of the best and most popular travel locations in Africa.

Kenya travel is not to be taken lightly and requires some planning & homework as it is indeed a hotbed for terrorism and crime. However, Kenya remains one of the main hubs in Africa, & knowing how to navigate it is a must. Listen and learn how high-net worth clients utilize professional services to navigate Kenya safely, by utilizing Nairobi and Mombasa as hubs to the surrounding areas and parks like Maasai Mara Reserve, known for the great wildebeest migrations and the Amboseli National Park. My guest Nick Bay & I talk about how to mitigate risk, & experience all the attractions of Kenya and the surrounding areas of Tanzania...

As we close out the final hours of 2018, I thought it'd be fun to end the year featuring a really incredible city, one that inspires celebration and one-of-a kind adventure. In the latest episode of The Global Ops Podcast, we head to the canals and festivals of Venice, Italy. My guest in this episode is not just an expert on secure travel to locations like Venice, but he’s a good friend who’s supported me on trips around the world. Dave Atkinson is an experienced Close Protection contractor whose law enforcement and counter-terrorism background (Special Branch) gives him a unique perspective into the world of protecting high net worth and high-profile individuals and companies. Dave and I have worked together/supporting clients on trips ranging from Wimbledon and numerous Olympics, as well as many film festivals in Venice and Cannes. Lots of stories to tell!

Venice is an amazing city, and in this podcast Dave and I share stories and insights that will help any...

What country has one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the top 2 grandest rivers, dense jungles and a long beautiful coastline to boot? That would be Peru!

With the capital city of Lima and 18 million people, join experienced executive protection operators Ricardo Cruz and host Steve Albritton as they discuss security and traveling to Peru.  This includes their personal stories and security advice for both business and personal travelers.

Executive Protection and security personnel have a unique perspective when supporting clients all over the world.   Their perspective and tactics are not just for the wealthy and high-profile people.  To the contrary, every traveler can utilize this information to ensure a safe and successful trip, no matter who you are.   

This podcast discusses specific information about Peru and the surrounding areas and highlights the main key points when planning a visit. 

We can’t cover all of our support tactics, but...

For many of us in the Corporate world, travel is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. In the security world, particularly in Executive/Close Protection, the ability to safely and smoothly navigate locations both exotic and domestic is a baseline expectation.

However, even the most seasoned world traveler can tell you horror stories of what can and sometimes does go wrong when you are traveling for work or for play. Some of my most valuable lessons in preparation and planning have come to me, not through my security, law enforcement or military training, but rather through the real-world situations I’ve found myself in as I’ve traveled the globe in support of my clients. You can’t replace local knowledge, and you certainly can’t buy experience!

That being said, as I’ve consulted with business looking to expand their footprint into new countries, individuals planning trips either for work-related events, or even for their own families, there remains a...

Join Steve at #GSX18 in Las Vegas, as he presents on Executive Protection Client Support at Professional Sporting events! Wednesday, September 26th.

The world revolves around money. No doubt. It's logical then to assume that managing money is a critical skill. One that can make or break any career.

And yet, basic money management is a glaring gap in the skill-sets of most EP operators and managers. Whether we are talking about the decision-making around daily expenditures, the tracking and reporting of receipts, or the higher level program budgeting, the need for good judgement and practice around money is critical.

For better or worse, it is a basic assumption that an EP operator understands money. When you are hired for a job, you may have an orientation to your company's culture and policies where you'll likely receive a pdf copy of the 10 page expense SOP's that govern the 'do's and don'ts, which you will sign your acknowledgement of and never look at again.  Beyond that (unless you've been blessed w/ a thoughtful manager or leader), you likely won't hear a whole lot of in terms of guidance about your reporting and...

We've all heard the phrase, "He's/She's is Over-Qualified" for the job. I personally had never really given it a lot of thought, until recently when I entered a discussion forum where the topic arose. Then, I really started to contemplate what the phrase really meant or is intended to mean, and how it is applied to many EP professionals.

A number of really experienced EP folks were complaining that they had been passed over for opportunities, and had been told that they were 'overqualified'. This is understandably frustrating feedback for someone who has worked hard to be 'qualified', and then put that knowledge to good use in the field. For most of us, you would imagine that a given client would want THE most qualified person possible for their protective duties.

So, what's going on, when a qualified person is told they are 'over-qualified'? Well, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it relates to a few possible things, and it may not be what you think.

Before I talk...

With it being the first month of 2018 and most of us are just getting settled-in, and back to the daily grind, I thought it would be fitting to address a topic that affects 'most of us, some of the time', and for sure 'some of us, ALL of the time'. 

That topic is NEGATIVITY.

I can attest, I've certainly struggled with it.  I'd like to say that negativity only affects me 'some of the time', but I've learned that I have to make a very conscious effort to stay focused on the positive. In fact this is something that I have prioritized in recent years, as I see how important it is, both for myself as an individual, but also in terms of how my mindset and attitude impact my work and my business.

Now, I'm not a self-help guy, or a guru of any sort. However, maintaining a positive attitude is something I try to stress in managing my teams, in engaging with business partners, and in working to develop new talent in the industry.

Never underestimate the power of a good attitude.

And...