Clint Eastwood was right... Report

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual firepower for security professionals

Clint Eastwood was right... Report

I have always been a big Clint Eastwood fan.  From the Western movies early in his career, to the Dirty Harry series, and now into his later years as a director (which I feel is his finest work), the man is a Hollywood icon.

However, one of my favorite takeaways from Mr. Eastwood is his self-advice from the movie Magnum Force: "A man's gotta know his limitations."  In other words, stick to what you know best.  This simple statement represents the cornerstone for any businessperson.  As an entrepreneur, you must be brave to strike out on your own.  But you also must be honest with yourself and recognize clearly what you can do and cannot do, particularly in terms of performing international security work.  

Similarly, in his best-selling book, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell describes Law #1: The Law of the Lid.  According to Maxwell, the Law of the Lid states that leadership ability is the lid that determines a person's level of effectiveness.  The lower an individual's ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential.  The higher an individual's ability to lead, the higher the lid on his potential.  To give you an example, if your leadership rates an 8, then your effectiveness can never be greater than 7.  If your leadership is only a 4, then your effectiveness will be no higher than a 3.  Your leadership ability - for better of for worse - always determines your effectiveness and the potential impact of your organization.  

To know your limitations means being honest with yourself.  Many business people choose to fake it until they make it.  That might work for a time with those who don't know you well enough, but the worst person you can try to fool is the person in the mirror.  And whether you choose to listen to John Maxwell or Dirty Harry, knowing what you can and cannot do provides the intellectual scaffolding for building your business.  

To learn more about the subject of building the best global security business you possibly can, click here for my 18-video training course: The Global Security Consultant Video Series:

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Knowing thyself is the first step to prosperity.

Stay safe and vigilant!

Luke

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