In this episode, Ryan Williams interviews Derrich Phillips, the president and founder of Aspire Cyber. Derrich shares his cybersecurity origin story, including his military background and transition to the private sector. He discusses the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way. Derrich also explains the mission and vision of Aspire Cyber, which focuses on making cybersecurity compliance easy for small businesses. He emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date with regulations and shares his strategies for creating content and building a brand. Derrich concludes by discussing upcoming initiatives and the importance of finding balance and unwinding. In this conversation, Derrich Phillips discusses the importance of balancing work and family time, being intentional with one's time, and avoiding the regrets of working too much. He emphasizes the need to avoid comparison and stay focused on delivering value. Derrich also highlights the importance of prioritizing health and loved ones, finding equilibrium in work-life balance, and practicing self-care through meditation. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the need for diversity in the cybersecurity space and the importance of creating content and building a presence.

Takeaways

Transitioning from the military to the private sector can be challenging, but having a background in cybersecurity can make the transition easier.

Small businesses often struggle with cybersecurity compliance and need assistance in navigating the requirements.

Specializing in specific areas of cybersecurity, such as compliance, can help provide focused and effective services to clients.

Creating valuable and authentic content is key to building a brand and establishing trust with clients and customers.

Finding balance and taking time to unwind is important for entrepreneurs to avoid burnout and maintain overall well-being. Balancing work and family time is crucial for overall well-being and happiness.

Being intentional with one's time is essential for success in both business and personal life.

Avoiding the regrets of working too much and prioritizing loved ones is important for long-term fulfillment.

Comparing oneself to others can be counterproductive and discouraging; staying focused on delivering value is key.

Prioritizing health, finding equilibrium, and practicing self-care are vital for sustainable success.

The cybersecurity space needs more diversity in terms of thought, culture, and representation.

Creating content and building a presence can have a significant impact on the cybersecurity community.

DERRICH PHILLIPS BIO

I am the President and Founder of Aspire Cyber, a cybersecurity consulting firm that rapidly delivers cybersecurity compliance solutions to help small and medium-sized businesses satisfy their legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements. Aspire Cyber was founded on the core belief that every business should have access to world-class cybersecurity talent, regardless of budget or security needs.

I have over 20 years ​of experience managing information security projects and implementing strategic cybersecurity controls for the United States Army, Bank of America, and numerous Fortune 100 companies.

DERRICH’S LINKS

www.aspirecyber.com

CMMC Proof Podcast- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiBfNXvDyKOqWV5f2SmW81-J64lLM2_bK

Techpreneur Shorts: https://youtube.com/shorts/KjEW2ajBiEg?feature=share

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrichphillips/

CMMC Course: https://codered.eccouncil.org/course/practical-guidance-for-cmmc-compliance?logged=false

The Other Side of the Firewall Socials:

Website - https://www.heroesmediagroup.com/shows/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/

Audio - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/id1542479181

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXZgdDvlcQ8bP_V4dEF02Yw

Ryan on Twitter, LinkedIn, Clubhouse, and Threads - @ryrysecurityguy 

#cybersecurity #veteran #entrepreneur