In my personal security awareness training, I begin with a fundamental question: "What is your Reality?" Answering this question forms the foundation of self-awareness, which is essential for developing effective situational awareness.
I am not a fan of ignoring harsh truths. People harm other people. Theft happens. Violence occurs in our schools. Rather than wishful thinking, I advocate facing these facts head-on to build meaningful personal security plans.
For far too long in the US, people have sub-contracted their own security to the police. While calling emergency services remains appropriate, personal security requires more comprehensive planning. You cannot rely solely on a response that is minutes away when your problem will be resolved in seconds.
I also reject one-size-fits-all approaches like "Run, Hide, Fight." Not everyone can run. Some people navigate stairs with difficulty. Effective training must account for each person's unique circumstances and limitations. What works for a 25-year-old athlete is not going to work for a 70-year-old with a bad knee.
When I ask audiences to identify genuine concerns in their environments, the answers are always real and personal. People have shared concerns about living in areas experiencing random violence, police departments unable to respond to certain calls, threatening neighbors or coworkers, and unsafe public transportation routes.
Threats come from ordinary people, not monsters. All humans possess the capacity for violence, which makes preparedness essential rather than paranoid. Being prepared is not the same as being paranoid – it is simply being honest about the world we live in.
I encourage audiences to honestly evaluate their physical abilities. Can you move quickly? Can you climb stairs independently? Can you defend yourself if necessary? While violence can occur suddenly without time for physical preparation, many threats can be avoided entirely through awareness.
My practical advice is simple: put the damn phone away. Awareness requires full attention to your surroundings. You cannot be situationally aware with your face buried in a screen.
Live with courage -