1. Keep a copy of your personal info on 2 thumb drives. This would include a scanned copy of your passport, drivers license or government ID card, personal contact information, birth certificate, SSN or RA #. Password Protect the drive. Give one to a relative or close friend and take the other with you. This will give you enough information to get home if your passport or ID is stolen or lost.

2. Carry cash in separate locations. Keep a small amount in your purse or wallet but don’t put all of it in one location. If you are held up just hand them the cash in your wallet/purse. Try not to give them everything. Also you can exchange your cash for the countries currency at home before you travel. This will keep you from getting ripped off in the exchange at a hotel ect. Also you can use a visa and they do the exchange for you.

3. Know where you are going before you leave. Have your route planned in advance. Let someone know where you will be going and when you should return. Travel in groups and don’t wear clothing that will draw undue attention to yourself. Blend in with the local customs.

4. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep your head up and scanning the area. Usually you should be able to see a potential problem before it becomes one. If a scary dude gets on the elevator get off now! If “thugs” are walking down your side of the sidewalk, cross the road. A polite “No Thanks” goes a long way. What time is it? ans-> No Thanks Want this item follow me? ans -> No Thanks

5. Improvised weapons – Keys, Laptop battery and a sock, good quality metal pen, belt buckle, magazine rolled tight and folded in half, there are 101 ways to kill someone with a drinking straw… Use your imagination!

Traveling is fun and should remain that way. Don’t be too paranoid but be prepared for the worst and you can ovoid most incidences.

These theories are based upon assumptions regarding human nature. Theory X, which still has some acceptance among dinosaur leaders assumes:¹
1. The average human has an inherent dislike of work and will avoid it if he or she can.

2. Because of their dislike of work, most people must be coerced, controlled, directed and threatened with punishment to get them to put forth adequate effort toward the attainment of organizational objectives.

3. The average human prefers to be directed, wishes to avoid responsibility, has relatively little ambition and wants security above all.

Theory Y is more adopted in today’s leadership roles and encourages more leadership support of subordinates it follows these assumtions:¹
1. The average human does not inherently dislike work. The expenditure of physical and mental effort in work is as natural as play or rest.

2. External control and the threat of punishment are not the only means of bringing about effective organizational effort.  A person will exercise self-direction and self-control in seeking to obtain goals to which he or she has committed himself or herself.

3. Part of the rewards of achievement are found in the ego satisfaction and self-fulfilling aspects of the individual commitment.

4. The Average individual, under the proper conditions, learns not only to accept but to seek responsibility.

5. The capacity to exercise a relatively high degree of imagination ingenuity and creativity in seeking to solve an organizational problem is quite widely distributed throughout the population.

6. Under the condition that exists in today’s industrial and economic life, the intellectual potential of the average person is only partially tapped.

An alternative to these theories that I have attempted to assimilate is Theory Z. This theory is not as well documented. However, psychologists have started to study this in more depth. This theory was introduced by two main individuals Maslow and Ouchi. I predict we will start seeing more of this leadership style starting now and beyond the 21^st century.

Most people have heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. His theory Z is an extension of that well known study. The assumptions of theory Z are:

1. Reason is the motivations behind man.

2. Interdependence is man’s primary mode of discourse.

3. Interaction is the social unit of importance.

Ouchi further stated in his “Japanese Management” that the goal of theory Z is to increase employee loyalty to the company by providing a job for life with a focus on the well-being of the employee. For those of you that are leaders or are aspiring to be such let me encourage you to motivate your team by friendship and fostering an environment to achieve lasting actualization. When together you achieve actualization you will have the ability to accomplish anything.

“Not all warriors now stand at the head of command, though—not all of them are yet “the boss.” But each of them is ready, when the moment arises, to assume that command and to lead the people around them. If a warrior’s flag-bearer falls, the warrior is ready to take up the standard and lead the way. WAR is an acronym: We Are Ready.”  – Richard Marcinko

¹Miller, Katherine. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes, 5^th Ed(2008)

So I thought why not use it and see how it works. I found the voice memos feature in the extras and turned it on. What do you know, it works quite well. I just pressed record, put the Nano on hold and stuck it in my chest pocket with the mic facing out. The audio was quite impressive. It was a good thing I had just charged the Nano!

I determined that in a pinch the Ipod Nano 5th gen would be great to use for a spy tool. The Nano is small and compact so you can discretely carry it in most locations undetected. It is very easy to record both audio and video. Perfect for on foot surveillance! I now have a new high tech spy gadget as well as a music/video player!

This device or similar items such as mp3 players pose a threat to buisiness information. If you are working on sensitive projects or even have proprietary information it is easy to transfer this information in seconds to these devices. Protocols should be developed regarding employees bringing any type of media device to work. Even smart phones with the cable have the ability to transfer several gigs of data in seconds.

FYI – Most states have what is called a one party consent law that pertains to recording conversations. As long as you are a member of the conversation you don’t have to tell the others you are recording it. It is legal and I would recommend it to cya!

In order to survive in today’s business environment you must be properly armed. One of the greatest weapons is accurate knowledge of your competitors and business environment. It is necessary  to be able to identify and avoid the minefields.

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When these individuals are asked, how they achieve these results, they usually state that they just did it. They always act on what they thought was the best course of action. In self defense any action is always better than no action.

At an early age we are often told that we can’t do something. Parents usually formulate these responses in order to keep their children safe. Statements such as, no that’s hot, you’re too little, it’s dark, or that’s too hard, start to formulate our mindset. From this we develop predetermined responses to particular circumstances. As we grow, we begin to overcome some particular statements but others take more time and are difficult to change. We must overcome these preconceived notions and replace them with proper mindset. Sun Tzu says, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.”

Even in approximately 500b.c. mindset was recognized as the most important aspect of winning. When it comes to your personal protection the same principle still applies. Ultimately it is our individual decision to develop the proper mindset. Ways have been developed to provide positive results that further shape our mindset. This must be done through training. Corporate Alliance International focuses on developing the proper mindset through hands on experience in training and professional seminars.