As the days get shorter and the day-to-day business tasks get a little slower, it's important to take the time to reflect on the year that was and do some planning for the year that is to come.

Today we get into some of the methods each of us have for looking back on the past year and setting ourselves up for success in the year to come so we can "finish strong and start stronger."

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Today we cover some of the most important questions you need to answer on every job walk you go on.  No matter what company you represent - installer, manufacturer, distributor, etc. when you're on a job walk, these are some of the ESSENTIAL questions you need answers to in order to be successful in your quote and deployment.  There are others dependent on what your systems are - fire, alarms, DAS, VMS, access control, 2-way communications, etc. - but these core questions transcend all systems and solutions.

5 Things That Make A Good Salesperson in Security

Know Thy Competition

Today we dive into the concepts in "The Comfort Crisis" by Michael Easter.

In our day-to-day lives we regularly seek out comfort - the AC, comfortable shoes, mattress, even the difficult conversations - because discomfort is ...well... uncomfortable.

You've heard the phrase, "No pain, no gain", right?

It's because our growth as people and professionals takes place when we push past our comfort zones and expand our capabilities.

Join us today as we explore this book and principles we've taken away from the concepts presented by the author.

2:59 - How "The Comfort Crisis" came to us

Links:

Joe Rogan on "Meat Eater" - 1st Trip, 2nd Trip

Today we share some stories from our time and life out there on the road.

Time flies and jobs can sometimes be stressful. 

With today's episode we're hoping that you're stirred you to do something a little different (try a new restaurant, go see something cool, enjoy nature), have some fun, and make some memories out there. ...even better if you make those memories with an industry friend or co-worker!

Enjoy the show!

Today we jump in to cover some of the personal responsibilities that come along with deploying security systems.  What our friend Baer Halvorson describes as "Security as a Mindset".

Whether you're a manufacturer, installer, or end user, we all play a part in making sure our security solutions actually help make and keep people and property safe and secure - here are some ways to do just that.

Enjoy the show!

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2:00 - The "Why of Security

Links

Today we dig into the concept and strategies surrounding work-life balance (…a phrase that one of us isn’t the biggest fan of 😉).

This is something that everyone who is employed likely faces and often struggles with

However, the realization that it is a constantly moving target and that both “life” AND work have seasons that might require an ebb & flow of time, attention, and dedication. 

Enjoy the show!

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The Culturestone – Blog from PDK’s Tanner Bengtzen

Today we discuss the importance of knowing your competition.

There are things that we can learn from our competition that may even help to better understand ourselves and our offerings, IF you're paying attention and listening to what others out there in the marketplace are doing and what the market is saying.

- Identify who your competitors are

But ultimately... you have a job to do, so don't get too fixated on what others are doing that it distracts you from your primary pursuits.

Enjoy the show!

Today we explore the wonderfully complicated mindsets of the security sales person.

In sales, it's important not to get too high or get too low.  So we dive into some tips for continuing through whether you're seeing success or you're facing a challenging time.

For those in sales, hopefully this is helpful and encouraging.  

2:05 - The challenge of mindset in sales

We have a doozy for you all today!

We've all seen the headlines and topics covering the need for more skilled labor and I'm sure many of you have heard the inquiries of companies searching for skilled technicians in our field.  We dig into some of the ideas that might help to shape and strengthen our industry for the future.

Baer's 3 Points To Appealing To The "Next Generation": 

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2:30 - Intro & Our Connection

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Links referenced:

- Foley Belshaw Online Locksmithing Course - link here

- National Locksmith Guide to Manipulation - the thing that got Baer interested in locksmithing - link here

- Italian Job scene I think of with this ;) 

- McKinsey & Co Article on Future of Skilled Trades - link here

- Wall Street Journal Article - link here

Eddie Dacius - Instructor at North Bennet Street School link here

Today we have our 1st outside guest and we dig into the topic of business ownership in security.

We support and hold in high esteem those who take the courageous step into the realm of starting or running their own company - there's a lot that goes into it and a lot of pressure that comes along with it as well.

Today we interview Pete Urueta from Safety Centric, a security company out of Southern California, and discuss his journey into business ownership in the security industry and some lessons learned along the way.

Thank you to all the business owners out there - you are the bedrock of our industry and of our our country, and we definitely value you.

Hope you enjoy the show!

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2:56 - Pete's Background