Cancer Can't Stop Security!
“Running a successful business is challenging under the best of circumstances,” says Leumas Security Services Founder Samuel Griffin III. “Now I know how much those challenges increase when you are receiving chemotherapy and dealing with its side effects. Maybe you, or someone you know, has had a major health problem while running a business or working. I don’t have enough words to describe how hard it is.
“I can, however, share what I know about feeling secure while surviving this incredibly challenging time,” says Griffin. “First of all, be grateful for those who support you. I thank God every day for my wife and daughter. My wife helps me get through my darkest days, and my daughter is the joy of my very existence.
“The second thing for business owners, is to have a good set of standard operating procedures (SOP),” he says. “With these in place, the business can run more smoothly even if you are out of position for a while.
“Third, you must have a Plan B. I talk about this all the time, whether you are a business owner or not. Having a backup plan in place is a way of keeping yourself secure if something goes wrong, because things go wrong all the time. Like they did for me a few days ago.
"I have often been in New York City over the past four months for colon cancer treatment, and have been reminded of the line from the old song about if you can make it here you can make it anywhere. I am staying with family, but I often go out alone and figure things out as I go. While rushing to my doctor’s appointment I hit a pothole that had to be the size of a small child’s swimming pool. Bam! Seconds later, I felt the wobble. I had to get over to the shoulder during morning rush hour to handle the flat tire. Fortunately, I have a service that helps me handle these types of emergencies. I was not happy, but I did not have to single-handedly manage my vehicle situation and my health challenge.
“In Rent-A-Cop Reboot, I talk about the importance of vehicle maintenance, having a Plan B for situations like this, and generally changing your thinking about security. The book is definitely for security professionals, but it’s filled with easy to digest information for anyone who wants to keep themselves and those they care about safe, as well as career-switchers.
“Cancer is not going to keep me from speaking with as many people as possible about security for everyday life. My purpose is to reboot your thought process so that you are empowered to keep yourself and your loved ones safe,” Griffin says.
Here are some of Griffin’s best practices that his pothole experience brought to mind:
- Maintain your vehicle. This means filling the gas tank and so much more. Check out this extensive list of practices that can keep your vehicle in operation, and make time to go through the owner’s manual.
- Have a roadside assistance service. Even a vehicle in top condition can be taken out of service by a pothole, or an accident. A vehicle breakdown can compromise your safety in several ways. You want to limit the amount of time you spend dealing with a vehicle that is not functioning, especially if you are alone at night in an unfamiliar location. If you don’t have a service, dial 911 and be prepared to pay for a towing company.
- Pull over properly. Once you know you have to get off the road, immediately put on the appropriate blinker or your flashers. Carefully pull into an area where you can park, or to the shoulder. When using the shoulder, pull as far as possible away from the nearest traffic lane. Position your vehicle so that you (and any passengers) can safely exit, if necessary.
- Have more than one route home. Have at least three different ways to get home from anywhere you usually travel. That may be work, school, or the grocery store. This will make it safer and easier for you to get home in case an accident, weather, or other situation blocks your usual route. In addition, changing your route may help you determine if you’re being followed. Stalking can happen to anyone for any number of reasons.
- Light things up. Make sure your home has a well lit entryway, which includes the garage if you have one. If you regularly use a back or side entrance, make sure it is well lit. If you do not want every entrance constantly lit, consider installing motion sensing security lights. Don’t forget to inspect indoor areas for lighting needs, such as stairs and hallways. More people may be living in intergenerational households because of the pandemic. Keep in mind that additional lighting may help people who are unfamiliar with your home, especially elders and young children, stay safe.