Executive's Guide to Personal Security, 2nd Edition

INTRODUCTION

THERE IS A FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE that applies to any serious discussion of security and it is this: Unless you are committed to developing a security mind‐set, you will not be able to make use of most of the information that is provided in this book. The security mind‐set is far more valuable than any technology or security procedure or protocol we can put in place; the human factor is by far the most critical element when it comes to addressing security and life safety concerns.

As you read this book, each chapter stresses a different aspect of security that is designed to greatly enhance overall safety, whether you are at work, at home, or traveling abroad. Each of the recommendations provided has been proven over the years to be effective in improving your overall security posture. However, unless you learn how to pay attention to your surroundings and identify threats before they materialize, very little of the information contained herein will be of use to you. The following is a short synopsis to what we are going to cover in this book.

Chapter 1: Developing a Security Mind‐set. Your brain is your most valuable tool with respect to personal security and overall life safety so we begin by discussing how to develop the same mental skills that well‐trained security professionals have. This chapter makes the case that developing proper observational skills and learning to draw the right conclusions from those observations is the single most important thing anyone ...