Technology, products and services are vital to the security market, but so are the people behind them. This year, SourceSecurity.com has been highlighting some of the key characters who make up the security market. Along the way, we’ve discovered a broad spectrum of experiences and viewpoints that make up the industry. Many of the most insightful responses were to the question: What is the best professional advice you have received (and from whom)?
| Don’t underestimate yourself, says Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association |
Scott Brothers, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, Oncam
Listen, listen and listen some more. Which continues to take real training because of my passion over spilling into a “need to be heard” when really, I should be listening. It’s a trait I continually work on and seek feedback on. Listening for me equals learning and the best ideas sometimes come from the unexpected voice in the room. The open environment we cultivate at Oncam really promotes this kind of interaction at all levels.
Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association
Don’t underestimate yourself. John Stroia who is a former chairman of SIA and presently the president of Hamilton was literally the first person who encouraged me to apply for the CEO role at SIA. I was perfectly content handling government relations at the time the position opened. I also hadn’t aspired to the role. John actively encouraged me to go for it despite my reservations about whether I was ready for it.
Liam McShane, Sales Director at Perfect Display Technology
Take whatever chances come along. It’s much better to regret something you did than something you didn’t do! (From a mentor at my first financial services company)
| Return all calls as soon as possible and no later than the end of each day, advises Scott Schafer |
Eddie Reynolds, President & CEO of Iluminar
Many of my childhood friends' parents would always say to me, “If no one wants to give you an opportunity, create your own.”
Scott Schafer, Chairman-elect of the Security Industry Association
My father was in the major appliance industry and showed by example the importance of outworking your competitor. He also made sure to return all calls as soon as possible and no later than the end of each day.
Kim Loy, Director of Marketing at Vanderbilt Industries
The best advice I have received is that we are only in competition with ourselves. If we strive to always improve our knowledge and performance, success will follow. That there are no boundaries, we are all capable of doing anything we strive to do as long as we don’t set limits for ourselves. This advice is something that I heard from a very young age and grew up completely believing – it came from my dad, Chuck Robinson.
Thomas J. Langer, President of ASIS International
From my father and totally by accident. He was 60 and learning computer aided design which was making his drafting table obsolete. I asked him why, at 60, do that now? His response was that he doesn’t get to choose where advancements take his profession. I have never forgotten that and therefore never settled for the status quo. Change and advancement are a constant in everything.
| You have to have a work life balance and be resilient in order to manage the ups and downs of business and your career |
Thomas Cook, Vice President of Sales at Hanwha Techwin America
My first manager, Marty Meyer, told me when to keep emotion out of everything you do at work; especially when you are negotiating and presenting your side or case.
Fredrik Nilsson, Vice President of the Americas at Axis Communications
My manager, Bodil Sonesson, VP of Global Sales at Axis has given me great advice over the years. She says that your career “is a marathon not a sprint,” meaning, in order to be successful long-term you have to have a work life balance and be resilient in order to manage the ups and downs of business and your career.
Kenneth Hune Petersen, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Milestone Systems
Flemming Tamstorf, CEO of my former company, showed me by example that you should never tell anyone “See, I told you so.” He never did it himself. If you play to the limit, there is a risk that you will fail. If you’re taking a risk, things can go wrong. And he never said “I told you so.”