Don Erickson, CEO, Security Industry Association: Best Advice

The latest security industry leader to share his pearls of wisdom in our ongoing Best Advice series is Don Erickson, the chief executive officer of the Security Industry Association.

Security Sales & Integration: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Don Erickson: When I was a legislative staff member in the U.S. Senate, I attended a meeting with a well-known political operative who was advising the senator’s re-election campaign. During the discussion, he became frustrated that our team was sharing accomplishments that he had never heard about but felt could impact the campaign. His message: If you don’t read about it, it did not happen.

Promote any win early and often, even the small ones. You can’t take for granted that all your stakeholders are aware of the results you may have delivered to them.

The second piece of advice that comes to mind is that there are few things that may truly achieved alone. I have been fortunate to work alongside some of the most dedicated and creative professionals in the industry.

The SIA staff team has been essential in lifting the value proposition and impact of the association by fostering connections among members, organizing conferences that offer compelling content, presenting new research that can validate business strategies, influencing public policy and convening committee meetings on technology topics that most impact our members and the security industry.

SIA’s success in recent years is also due to the active strategic involvement of members of our board of directors. As I’ve often said, they are the most influential and effective “brain trust” in the industry.

SSI: What advice would you give to those looking to achieve success in the security industry?

Erickson: Become involved in any industry association and look for opportunities to submit blogs, speak at conferences and offer your expertise toward standards and regulatory issues that association committees may be evaluating.

Take advantage of mentoring programs such as the TIME mentoring program and the SPARC and Women in Security Communities offered by SIA, which foster unique networking and professional development opportunities.

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?

Erickson: John Stroia, president, Hamilton. John is a former SIA chairman and past George R. Lippert Award recipient. I have known John for nearly 20 years.

His business success is largely due to how he has treated people in the industry regardless of their level of responsibility, his high level of integrity and humility and his unique overall ability to look at industry trends and issues in a very substantive, nonpolitical and thoughtful way.

Click here to check out the entire Best Advice series!

The post Don Erickson, CEO, Security Industry Association: Best Advice appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.



from Security Sales & Integration https://www.securitysales.com/insights/don-erickson-ceo-security-industry-association-best-security-advice/613020/
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