The latest entry in our Best Advice Q&A series comes from Chuck Robinson, regional vice president of Integrated Protection Services. He shares the best advice he’s ever gotten, how he tries to boost young security industry professionals and whose words carry the most weight for him.
Security Sales & Integration: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Chuck Robinson: For me, this one is twofold. The first piece was from a mentor early in my career: dress for the job you want, not the one you have. The other was from my grandfather, who was a iron worker: “People will say what they want about you, but never let them question your work ethic.”
SSI: What advice would you give to those looking to achieve success in the security industry?
Robinson: I think the biggest piece of advice I would give is to listen. Whether it is a client you are trying to solve a problem for, another integrator from a different part of the country or just someone in your company, listening can teach you so much. In this day and age, with so much information at our fingertips, listening is becoming a lost art.
SSI: If you could point to one person in the security industry and tell up-and-comers, “Make sure to listen to what they have to say,” whom would you pick and why?
Robinson: This one is hard for me. There are several people in the industry that when they speak I want to make sure I listen. But I think right now I would say Jake Voll. He grew a distribution company from the ground up, understands the nuances of our industry and what great customer service should look like.
Click here to check out the entire Best Advice series!
