The last two months, we ran through your career transition and transmission by exploring the Park and Reverse modes. Now, let’s drive your career forward into 2026 and beyond.
You have now objectively analyzed where your career has been and looked at new avenues available in our abundance of different security industry opportunities. If you are in the early stages of your career evaluation or a military veteran looking for a more team and mission-orientated industry, try our physical/cybersecurity industry! Here are some reasons for this consideration.
You can choose from operations, technical design, engineering, customer field support, remote management of programming, pre- and post-sales support, outside sales, inside sales, customer training, marketing, service and maintenance and management.
If you are new to our security and safety industry, I guarantee it will be challenging. Security is never boring. It’s meaningful/purposeful work to protect and save lives. Different industry segments include career opportunities in product/software production, enhanced distribution networks, system integration, security dealers, end users and consultants.
Shifting Into First and Second Gear
If you are looking for an unbounded career path, check us out! A great industry source for career and talent opportunities is www.securityindustry.org. Let us now shift into first gear.
When you are driving your security career, you start by learning the industry from the ground up. There are many moving parts that are cogs in a bigger machine to protect people from bad events. You start out slowly to gain knowledge and traction.
Once you have a grasp on the bigger picture by asking good questions, you will begin to see opportunities to gain experience in your career. Like a manual transmission, if you try and go from a dead stop to moving forward in fourth gear, you will experience unrealistic expectations and quickly stall your career.
Career progress, experience, knowledge, earning power and respect are never given; they are earned. I learned this lesson in the Marines and this has guided my career. What about second gear?
You are committed and gaining knowledge and experiences. It’s time to pick up more career traction. You can accomplish this by slipping the clutch and asking for or volunteering (better) to take on new responsibilities.
If you have the right attitude, are willing to take some calculated risks to grow your career AND, most importantly, are a quick study/active learner, you will get noticed. Be confident in your ability to adapt and learn to solve problems.
I dislike the term “fake it ’til you make it.” This translates to fooling unsuspecting people while taking their money as you do on-the-job training. Hard to gain real respect this way. Being honest that you may not have the experience but are confidently committed to solving the challenge will earn respect. You will also gain valuable mentors along the way who want to see you win when using this approach.
Hard work, taking risks, and being an active learner is the primary lesson! The secondary lesson, when driving downhill on a curvy mountain road remember to shift down to second gear to maintain career control!
Moving Into Third Gear
What about third gear?
You have experience, knowledge, self-confidence and have learned valuable lessons. If you learn, you should teach. The fundamental element of leadership (if that is something you desire) is developing the people you work with to their full potential.
Lead by example and people will listen and follow your lead. Developing your leadership style also includes a crucial skill set: the ability to communicate effectively uphill (senior management), horizontally (peer group) and downhill (those you are responsible to lead/develop).
Communicating effectively so others “hear” you is the #1 career skill you must develop to gain career traction, regardless of your position. Those who can communicate by writing and speaking get ahead faster in the world of business.
Develop your skill to communicate at all levels, all the time to shift your career into overdrive in 2026!
I will be happy to share insights on communication skill-building if you simply send me an email and reference this Business Fitness column.
Happy holidays!
