On October 10, 2009 Brett Lorenzo Favre turned 40 years old during what has become arguably his best season in the NFL. True, Brett Favre has kept himself in excellent physical condition but more than maintaining his fitness, Brett Favre has learned valuable survival lessons from all the hard knocks of his 17 years in the game. In fact, it is Brett’s cerebral fitness which makes him a harder target to hit. Although it would be foolish to say age is irrelevant in the executive protection business, age certainly is not the most relevant consideration. Knowledge, experience, and a keen ability to learn from one’s mistakes will take you further as an executive protection specialist than a 350 pound bench press or a six minute mile.
It has been said that youth is wasted on the young. The premise behind this statement is that if a person could combine the physical abilities of youth with the wisdom of age the possibilities would be near limitless. Providing executive protection past the age of forty is a matter of leveraging one’s life and professional experiences to make yourself more efficient at providing services despite your aging body. A man or woman who knows how to avoid danger for him or herself and their client is far more valuable than one who can muscle their way out of a volatile situation that was caused through youthful inexperience.
As for your physical health after age forty there are some important things to consider. Due to significant advances in medicine and a heightened awareness of the role physical fitness plays in longevity, today’s forty year olds are enjoying a healthier happier life than generations past. Providing executive protection past the age of forty involves making some different choices in how you care for your body. Although it is extremely important to be wise and learn to leverage your past experience it is also important to look at your body as a tool of the trade. While you are young establish some life long habits that are conducive to enhanced health as you advance in years. Eat a healthy diet including lean meats, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Get into exercise routines that maintain good cardio fitness. Although you do not want to depend solely on your ability to wrestle and run, it is important that when you do go hand to hand with someone that you win the fight quickly and decisively, so take your health and fitness seriously.
It is also important that you see a physician regularly for routine check ups. Many problems that can cause you to slow down or become seriously ill can be avoided with regular visits to your family doctor. It is not a bad idea to find vitamins that are appropriate for whatever stage of life you are in as well. Consider a gym membership as an important investment in your long term success. Regardless of your age you should be involved in a regular fitness routine.
With the right combination of fitness and savvy, there is no reason you cannot continue to provide executive protection services well beyond age forty and be just as much if not more in demand than those half your age. At the end of the day, the client is only interested in whether or not you are able to keep them safe.
