The Path to a Sustainable Career in Executive Protection

Welcome to this week’s On the Circuit.

This week, we’re drawing on the experience and insights of industry leader and Circuit Editor Elijah Shaw, as we break down five critical steps that every protection professional needs to master—whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your edge.

Each of these key lessons is drawn from articles written by Elijah and published in Circuit Magazine. If you want to go deeper into his insights on career progression, industry positioning, and staying sharp in a competitive field, we encourage you to read the full articles and subscribe to the magazine to continue learning from one of the best in the business.

Let’s get into it.

Building a career in executive protection isn't about checking boxes or merely completing a training course—it's about mindset, adaptability, and knowing how to position yourself in an ever-evolving industry. Drawing from the experience and insights of industry veteran Elijah Shaw, we’re cutting through the noise to lay out what it really takes to thrive in this field.

If you’re serious about this career, understand one thing: the work doesn’t stop once you get your first assignment. It doesn’t stop once you’ve been in the game for a decade, either. The professionals who succeed are the ones who remain sharp, continuously evolve, and refuse to get comfortable.

Step One: Training Is Just the Beginning

You’ve completed your close protection course—great. Now what?

The harsh reality is that finishing training doesn’t mean you’re ready, and it definitely doesn’t mean the industry is waiting for you with open arms. The best protectors don’t just have technical skills; they understand business, branding, and positioning.

Ask yourself:

• What makes me different from the next agent?

• What specific value can I bring to a team or client?

• How do I communicate that value effectively?

Building a career in this industry is about understanding your strengths and then making sure the right people know what you bring to the table. If you can’t answer those questions, you’ve still got work to do.

Step Two: Develop a Niche

Let’s be real—this is a competitive industry. If you want to stand out, you need a niche.

Maybe you speak a second language fluently. Maybe you have extensive experience operating in hostile environments. Maybe your background in logistics allows you to see protective details from a perspective most others don’t.

Leverage that.

A Spanish-speaking agent who understands the culture and terrain of Latin America is instantly more valuable to a client with business in the region. A former paramedic with executive protection training is an asset to a client who frequently travels to remote areas.

The bottom line: if you don’t define what sets you apart, you’re just another name in the pile.

Step Three: The Right Fit Matters

Not all protection work is the same. Corporate security, entertainment industry protection, high-net-worth family details—each requires a different approach.

A protector who’s spent their career working in corporate boardrooms might struggle at a high-profile celebrity event where the threats are unpredictable and the environment chaotic. Likewise, an agent accustomed to fast-paced, high-energy assignments might not have the patience for a lower-tempo corporate gig.

The best professionals recognize their strengths and align themselves with the right assignments. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be adaptable—it means you need to be self-aware enough to know where you’ll excel.

Step Four: Relationships Matter More Than You Think

Here’s the truth—this industry is built on relationships.

You never know who you’ll cross paths with again or who will have a say in your next job. Every interaction matters, and how you treat people along the way will define your reputation.

A few rules to live by:

• Respect everyone, regardless of their role. Today’s assistant might be tomorrow’s principal.

• Support your peers. A rising tide lifts all boats.

• Always be professional. This industry is smaller than you think, and word travels fast.

“You don’t get far in this business by burning bridges. Treat people well, and the opportunities will come.”

Step Five: Never Get Comfortable

Getting comfortable is the fastest way to kill your career.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in the industry for five years or twenty—complacency will get you replaced. Every detail, every assignment, every client is a chance to prove why you belong at the top of your game.

Elijah puts it best when he says: “The moment you think you’ve ‘made it’ is the moment you’re vulnerable. Someone hungrier, sharper, and more disciplined is waiting to take your spot.”

Keep training. Keep learning. Keep refining your skills. Because in this business, there’s always someone watching—and they’re deciding whether they’d trust you with the job.

Final Thoughts

A career in executive protection is about more than just showing up. It’s about constant growth, strategic positioning, and an unshakable work ethic.

If you want longevity in this field, remember:

• Training is just the beginning.

• Find and develop your niche.

• Understand where you fit best.

• Build and protect your reputation.

• Never, ever get comfortable.

The protectors who last are the ones who stay sharp, adaptable, and always ready for the next challenge. Are you one of them?

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Trusting the Process with Michael Brown

Many people want to present the perfect image of themselves, but what about the scars and bruises? Today's guest embodies trust in 'the process' and advocates for taking control of one's EP career and priorities.

On this episode, we are joined by Michael Brown, who has worked for some of the highest-profile names in the industry while advocating for mentorship, educating yourself by serving multiple roles on the team, and leading by example.

Join us as we talk to Michael to discuss:

• How can you develop the mindset of 'trusting the process' and not skipping steps?

• What can protectors learn about prioritization from the quote "stop saying you don't have time for something, just say you don't care"?

• Can protectors keep and develop their relationship with a single client over decades without developing themselves as well?

• How do you convert a verbal body blow to become positive energy?

• How can you leverage others' mistakes through mentorship?

What do you think about Apple's decision to remove end-to-end encryption for UK users?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A. This is a huge privacy risk. (55%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ B. Necessary for security. (0%)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ C. It won't affect me. (25%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ D. I'm getting off Apple Devices. (20%)

Your thoughts:

MM: "Tbh, I'd been looking for a reason to switch over to Android and this has nailed it!”

JM: "I think the government is overstepping the mark and putting ordinary citizens at risk. And why have they only targeted Apple products?"