Episode #115 - Following Your Passion with Elijah Shaw
WELCOME TO EPISODE #115 OF THE ENRICH YOUR SOUL PODCAST
It’s episodes like these that make me sit back with gratitude.
I have been blessed to meet some amazing people in this world, and even luckier to call some of them friends.
Then there’s this guy, who’s not only a friend and amazing, but an ICON in his own right.
Elijah J. Shaw is the CEO of ICON Global, Inc. A consulting firm specializing in Executive and VIP Protection.
With tours of duty that frequently take him across the globe, Mr. Shaw acts as a personal bodyguard to a number of highly recognizable public figures, providing security consultation and staffing worldwide. As an instructor, Elijah teaches an internationally recognized program on Celebrity & VIP Protection at the ICON academy, as well as in conjunction with Executive Security International (ESI), the nation’s oldest bodyguard school, where he currently sits on the Board of Directors.
Elijah also serves as the current National Director of the North American Bodyguard Association (NABA) and holds the position of Managing Editor of the NABA-produced Circuit Magazine in which he writes an ongoing column entitled, Keeping Your Edge. A seasoned expert with dealing with the media on topics related to Executive Protection and the Bodyguard Industry, Elijah has been featured in prestigious publications such as Portfolio, Entrepreneur and Inc. Magazine. In addition, he has been interviewed for his expert opinion on major broadcasts such as The Today Show, FOX and E! News.
He’s also the author of An Introduction to Celebrity Protection and Touring: A Guide to Mastering the Business of Vip Security, an Amazon best-seller.
You can see some footage of Elijah in action on HBO below.
In this episode, Elijah shares his background and how he got into executive and celebrity protection and what he does to build a culture of excellence around client service, project execution and self-care.
Background 4:10
How to Educate to Achieve Higher Ground 7:30
How to learn from others while coming up 9:23
How to identify your differentiators 11:47
Details, focus and planning 15:44
“Make sure they call you back” & client service 18:32
The value of proper communication as an advantage 24:00
Verbal judo & being on the same page 27:34
How to avoid “no” with providing options in client service 30:18
Choosing your role in a conversation 35:45
How doing the tough thing can enhance a relationship 38:26
The value of self-care for balance 39:40
The impact of COVID-19 on the industry & self-care 43:24
The lessons & growth from getting uncomfortable 48:50
The positive feeling of going after a scary goal 54:14
All things Elijah Shaw 1:00:00
Do you have a topic you'd like me to discuss? Do you want to share your story? Do you know someone who has a fantastic story to share?
You can contact me by email at rich@richbracken.com or on Twitter and Instagram @richbracken1.
