Protective not Defensive Mindset

Mindset, it is 90% of everything that I have learned throughout my career and life come to think of it. It determines what you think of, how you think of it, whether you are positive or negative, proactive or complacent.  Whatever the topic, mindset is something that most people go through life without really understanding how much a part of foundation principle it is, oddly enough. 

At Lion’s Gate LS (LGLS), we have two sides of the house when it comes to our services. On the LGLS Training Center side of the house, mindset comes into play in two main areas, Dedication / Positiveness to teach/train clients where deliverables matter and in the wanting to learn and improve on skillsets on the part of the client.  On the LGLS Consulting/Private Security Services side of the house, it is in Positive Problem Solving that encompasses the mindset.

For the client, they have threats, concerns, liability and reputation that may or may not be driving their need for security consulting and/or security services.  We have proven to be active insurance of sorts.  Today I’ll talk about the mindset we bring with our heart for service.  You see this in the training programs as well, but for security programs, it is especially unique.  I have found that there has always an inherent flaw in the defensive mindset.  

Approaching the issue of securing a site from threats, operations from unknown security concerns or an executive from security concerns for example, requires a proactive mindset. Meaning if one comes to the problem-solving phase of any operation from a defensive mindset, you are placing yourself in an endless reactionary state of mind.  “If they do this, we will then do that.” And that exercise seldom allows you to prepare.  We prepare and train for what is possible, not just probable and that is proactive advance work.  We look to shore up weaknesses and exposure to a client’s needs and interests.  If we only “observed and reported” we wouldn’t be able to mitigate anything because it’s purely reactionary or worse, we would simply be unprepared window dressing.

Effective security practices are 100% advanced work.  The assessment, development of SOPs & EAPs, the investment in personnel, equipment and even the placement of cameras is advanced of any issue or threat.  We know that the world is only getting more and more violent and dangerous.  The liberal continually striving to lower society’s moral standards, including congressmen and senators, are calling for violence have made our country undeniably more dangerous.  They don’t seem to care one bit that everything is recorded. Perhaps because there doesn’t seem to ever be any real repercussions. 

So that leaves us with the need to be proactive and PROTECTIVE of what is of value to us, be it Schools, Churches, Businesses, Families and Neighborhoods.  The most vulnerable being private gated communities as an example.  The HOAs do very little with respect to security. They seem to operate with a “check the box” approach to security issues. Gates and signs are for “law abiding, rule following people”.  The criminal comes hunting the areas, bypassing the gate, ignoring the signs and could care less about cameras.  

We have found that practically all of the security measures at private gated communities are “window dressing” at best.  The criminals come in through the back sides, the hills etc. In the cities of Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda hills in California for example, Crews from long Beach and Los Angeles raid at will apparently. They understand that it is impractical for police to cover all areas at all times.  Calls for service simple overwhelm any effort to cover an area effectively.  Whereas the criminal gangs act like hunters and fishermen.  Basically, hunting and fishing where the sense of security is high but actual preparation is low, making them good hunting grounds. This isn’t by any means limited to these areas.  This is common place in many states.

Most people in gated communities don’t even know their neighbors and the privacy factor can and often is utilized against them.  Home Invasions are more and more commonplace, and the privacy of the home is used to control an entire family without anyone bothering the criminals basically. 

So how do you prepare?  Protective awareness, preparedness (through training and/or private security services) and actual capability by way of a customized plan for everything.  Family security planning is a service LGLS provides and makes the family more self-sufficient, then just utilizing LGLS for training or basic security services when needed. Family planning covers family SOP and EAP, Social Media Management, Travel Planning, Home Contractor Vetting etc.  Most home invasions come by way of either a family member being tracked unaware or intelligence from within the home getting out into criminal hands. “Loose lips sink ships.” It is extremely rare that a crew picks a home at random.   In fact, I’ve never heard of it. Protective mindset is problem solving with care and can simply secure a lifestyle.  A defensive mindset can be fear based, tiresome and stifling in your lifestyle.

So have a protective mindset and look to avoid complacency.  Deserve has nothing to do with anything.  Bad things happen to the unaware and the unprepared and lives can be destroyed in the wake of the threat cutting into your life. “We never thought it would happen to us, or here” is the most common phrase I hear with victims as they struggle to get passed the horrific events they endured.  America is the land of opportunity, and it is a magnificent country, but we have a horrible habit of complacency as a habit.  Don’t be like that. Don’t trust with what you aren’t willing to lose and protect your lives, livelihoods and loved ones as the gift that they are. Protective not defensive….

We wish you the best and may God continue to bless America. The greatest country in the world.