Happy Labor Day/Why We Work
Monday Security Memo
Intellectual firepower for security professionals
Happy Labor Day/Why We Work
Today is Labor Day in the United States. For our international readers, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the achievements of American workers. It was founded during the Industrial Revolution, a time when the average American worked 12-hours per day, seven days per week, in an effort to eke out a basic living. During those days there were minimal (if any) labor laws, factories were comprised of immigrants, and children as young as six years old often toiled beside grown men under dangerous working conditions.
Things have obviously improved since the 1800s however, we still - most of us at least - appreciate the value of hard work.
But what does it mean to actually work these days? Why do we do it? Why do we trade our services for remuneration?
The most obvious answer would be survival. To put food on the table for our families. It might also be for personal fulfillm...
5-Step Process for Highly-Successful Security Consultants
Monday Security Memo
Intellectual firepower for security professionals
5-Step Process for Highly Successful Security Consultants
Rarely does a day go by that a fellow security professional does not reach out to me with a question about global security consulting. Most of these inquiries come via email or social media. They typically involve topics such as: how to start a security company, how to win clients, if SMI is hiring at the moment, or whether I would like to invest or partner up on a project. I never mind these questions and - despite eating up a good hour or so of my time - I make an effort to respond to every one of them, within reason. I do this because I never forget the days when I was just starting out with my own company.
As a young entrepreneur, I would reach out to industry leaders for advice, in the hopes of gaining some golden nugget of wisdom. Most people never responded back to me, some verbally slammed the door in my face, while the occasional few respond...
Reflections on an African Coup d'etat
Monday Security Memo
Intellectual firepower for security professionals
Reflections on an African Coup d'etat
This past week, the world watched as yet another coup d'etat unfolded in Africa. This time in the country of Mali. A previous coup occurred in Mali back in 2012, leading to an influx of Al-Qaeda fighters flooding the region. It is yet unknown as to what effects the overthrow (and arrest) of former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita means for the troubled nation.
For clarification, a coup d'etat is defined as the removal of an existing government from power, usually through violence. The word itself is French and translates to "blow of state." Overall, there have been roughly 200 coup attempts on the continent since the 1950s (with a 50/50 success rate).
During my twenty years of international security consulting/contracting, I have had the opportunity to experience two African coup d'etats. I had a front row seat to both of them, although I admittedly slept through th...
SMD - Subs Must Deliver!
Monday Security Memo
Intellectual firepower for security professionals
SMD - Subs Must Deliver!
Years ago, before I opened up my own consulting firm, I worked as a subcontractor to train a group of Fortune 500 executives who were about to travel to a war zone. The client had paid nearly US $40,000 to receive one day of instruction from me and a highly-decorated former intelligence official.
Because of the audience - and the money involved - I prepared and rehearsed my training modules weeks in advance. I opened the morning session by laying out the threats that the executives would likely be facing. I acted, essentially, as the warm-up act for the Big Gun instructor, so I tried to be entertaining and informative.
I spoke for three hours, including breaks, and I used a lot of recent statistics, visual aids, relevant stories, and even some humor. The students seemed engaged, and the first part of the day got off to a fine start. Now it was time to introduce the expert wit
...Seizing Undefined Opportunities
Monday Security Memo
Intellectual firepower for security professionals
Seizing Undefined Opportunities
When I was just starting out my career within the Intelligence Community, I was fortunate to have several experienced CIA mentors provide me with direction. The tragic events of September 11th had just occurred and the world was in a state of disarray and paranoia. It was not dissimilar from the uncertainty we see today - but, at least back then, the United States was completely "united" (at least for a little while).
During these early days, I had an old CIA bomb tech for an office mate. "Mikey" was a great guy, with a wicked sense of humor, who had been around the world and back. Whether it was an African coup, a terrorist attack in the Middle East, or a revolution in Latin America, he had been there, done that, and had gotten the t-shirt.
One day while recanting a funny war story in the office, Mikey gave me a piece of advice that I never forgot. It's a slice of
...Security Consultants vs. Security Contractors
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In over 20 years of working within the Intelligence Community, as well as the private security industry, I have come across many misconceptions about my profession. On the intelligence side of the house, there is an obvious misconception that spies drink martinis, travel to exotic locations, and engage in adventures similar to that of James Bond. When in reality, the majority of intelligence officers (myself included) prefer a smooth scotch, travel to some real "armpits" of the world, and honestly spend more time typing reports than Miss Moneypenny.
When I transitioned into the private security world, I also found a major discrepancy... knowing the difference between being a security consultant and a security contractor. Unfortunately, the terms seem to be
...Reflections on a Decade in the Security Consulting Business
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Exactly ten years ago today, July 20th 2010, my company, Security Management International, LLC was officially formed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the time, I was a naïve 37-year old guy, who thought that I could take on the world. I vividly remember standing on the balcony of my one-bedroom apartment in the city of Rosslyn that day, overlooking the Potomac River and the shiny white monuments of the Washington DC National Mall, and imagining what I could accomplish by the year 2020. It’s amazing what a decade can do.
Today, as I write this issue of the “Monday Security Memo,” I am sitting on the back porch of my waterfront home on the island of Siesta Key, Florida. I’ve graduated from the rat race of city living to a more tranquil
...Security Industry Stereotypes: Kooks, Cowboys & Conmen
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How to Be a Business Judo-Master
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Two Words That Keep Me Going
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Author
Luke Bencie
For the past 20 years, Luke Bencie has traveled to over 140 countries as a global security consultant. The author of five books, Luke is also a popular international speaker - giving lectures on counter-espionage for the Pentagon, several prestigious universities, over a dozen Fortune 500 countries, and a major Hollywood movie studio. He built his firm, Security Management International, from his one-bedroom apartment a decade ago, into a multi-million dollar company that regularly operates on six-continents annually. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Luke served in the U.S. Intelligence Community.
