Woody Allen said, “80 percent of success is just showing up.” I think that tends to be very true in the executive protection and security industries. You will get opportunities, but will you show up?
Look at every opportunity like it’s a big opportunity.
I was 15 when I got my first job as a bagger at a local grocery store. A bagger the lowest position you can start in a grocery store. When I went to work, it wasn’t in sneakers, jeans, and a t-shirt; I showed up on time; I was wearing dress pants, shoes, and a white collared shirt with a tie ( in the mid-’80s that would be a leather skinny tie). I familiarized myself with every inch of that store, I knew where the Q-tips were, and soap, soda, and cereal were. I knew that store better than the owners. I went and talked to the store managers; I watched and listened to the customers. My ears were wide open, and my mouth was shut. This was an opportunity – and I showed up. Pretty soon, I got moved to the produce department which was the crème de la crème of the store. A few years later I became one of the managers of the store.
Invest in Yourself
You’ve got to invest in yourself – mentally and physically. Ask questions, make phone calls, Be prepared – do your homework. Take classes, courses, online seminars, and webinars, and read! Why? So that when you are given an opportunity, however small of a role it is, you can exceed expectations. I’ve built my business by soaking up the knowledge that is contained in books – books on business management, business plans, the web, for social media and then applying what I’ve learned. Put 120% into every opportunity. You never know what a small opportunity can do to make big changes in your life.
When my wife was interviewing for a job in New York City, if she got the job, we would move to New York, and I’d file to take the NYPD exam, so we came to New York for the day I think it was, and rather than staying in the office building where she was being interviewed. I took a bit of a stroll around Manhattan – thinking to myself if I got on the force, I’d have to know a good chunk of Manhattan, so why not start now? So starting in Liberty St. in lower Manhattan, I walked across along the bottom of Manhattan, then just started walking north. Got on to Second Ave, walked all the up to the UN building, walked all the way across Manhattan to the west side, and back down to Liberty Street. Took about 3 hours or so, with a few stops along the way, but my point here is I didn’t remain idle, I took the opportunity to get to know Manhattan only on if my wife were to get the job and if I were to get on the NYPD. Be prepared.
Don’t say no to opportunities.
If you’re asked to write on a particular subject – and you’re not a writer, figure out a way to make that opportunity happen. Record yourself talking about that subject, translate the audio file into text by using a service called “speaker text,” and voila! You’ve now become a writer. You’ve been asked to speak or present at a conference. And you hate speaking or you’re self-conscious and think you’ll make a fool out of yourself, invest in yourself and take a course on presenting.
You make opportunities by sacrificing your time, money, and energy, but when it’s game time, you say no. You’re making a name for yourself, and if you keep saying no all the time, guess what – the phone calls and text messages will stop asking you to show up.
Have I said no to opportunities? I sure have for simply selfish reasons – fear of the unknown – the what-ifs that creep into your mind when you weigh the pros and cons of an opportunity, the risk of getting out of your comfort zone – and the “buts” – it’s a great opportunity but…it’s too far to travel, but it’s low pay, but it’s not what I’m looking to do, but! These days I still have those pesky little devils in my head, but I’ve learned to check them.
For example, my biggest fear is public speaking, as it is I’m sure, for a lot of you. The first time I gave a speech was when I was a senior in high school, and we each had to give a speech on what we’ve learned in the last 4 years. I was a nervous wreck – I got through it but I was the last one to go! During college, I had to take speech classes and presentations in business management classes and criminal justice classes – this wasn’t so bad. I’m starting to get the hang of this – But when I got to the corporate world -I had to speak someone else’s words in the corporate language, I had to say the right thing, watch my timing, keep it short, etc all these outside pressures put me right back to high school – I choked, I froze, I shook like a leaf, and it showed – I never got the opportunity again. When I started my business I made it a goal that I would teach and or share my knowledge verbally. Every opportunity that has come my way to speak in front of an audience – large or small – I’ve taken.
Follow directions
I can’t tell how many times I’ve seen this on social media – a post on Facebook – I need 3 people for detail in x state or country – please direct message me for details, email and what usually happens is you’ll get people responding by posting a comment, saying pick me, pick me – 2, 4 6 hours later.
Final Thoughts
Show up, and when you do – exceed expectations in every opportunity – put in 120 percent. I can guarantee that you will get noticed.
