Ok. Fair enough.
We’re all different, and that’s a good thing. So I’d like to touch on a couple of points of the diversity in the feedback from the last email.
The first type of feedback I got was it wasn’t “security enough.” Well, maybe that’s true.
However…
If you want hardcore, traditional “security” or controls information, you’re not gonna get it from me. That’s not really what we do.
Do we understand it? Of course we do.
But we understand it in the larger context of what it takes to build a business-aligned and effective security program everyone (including your Mom) will love and appreciate.
The point of what we do is to focus on helping “security people” increase their awareness of business and risk management in general so they can do a better job arranging all those technical security controls into something that actually adds value.
And the fact that most people don’t see this as “security” is one of the main things we’re trying to change.
“Security” is what you do to make sure you or someone else gets what they want.
That means you have to figure out what the whole picture is so you know where to apply the tools and skills you have.
Here’s where the break normally comes, because those skills are either underdeveloped, or there’s no awareness of how to apply structured, root-cause problem analysis and creative brainstorming and problem solving in the domain of a security leader.
That’s why we built the course we’re running right now (which will open again in a few months, but if you want on the waiting list, just reply to this email).
My goal is to make you a better security leader. You’re probably already packed up to your eyeballs with “security” knowledge and tool expertise, but based on my own experience, you’re not quite there yet in terms of architecture, governance, business knowledge, interpersonal communication, marketing and strategic thinking.
And those skills are what security leaders need.
So if you’re already good at those, well great. I think you can always get better.
I learn new stuff every day from all areas, and everything I learn generally makes me more effective in some way, or it gives me a perspective I hadn’t previously considered.
The second type of feedback was “why are you always pitching your program instead of just giving me the ways to solve the problem?”
Well, for starters, we’re in the middle of a launch between now and the end of next month. If you get in now, you save some money and get some extra cool stuff people won’t get later.
I want to make sure people who are ready to step up don’t miss out. Because a) there’s a fixed number of people I can take, and b) there’s a deadline.
The second reason is that you already have access to all the information and solutions you can handle on your own. If you have time to figure out how to put all that information together in a way that works for you, that’s great. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, and, frankly, that’s what I’ve been doing my whole career.
But, again, in my experience and from speaking with people just like you all over the world, you need results now. Not 2, 3 or 12 months from now while you’re trying to figure it out yourself.
I want to help you get where you want to be faster, and maybe save you some of the dead-ends and mistakes I made along the way.
The third reason is that I’m running a business, and the purpose of that business is to help as many people who want it as possible. The more the business is successful, the more people we help, and the bigger the success impact for everyone—including the way the industry thinks about itself.
So, if you don’t agree with the above or it doesn’t make sense to you, it’s probably going to be difficult for me to help you. That doesn’t mean you’re bad, or there’s something wrong with you or that we can’t get along.
It just means you’re not ready to do anything different. And that’s perfectly ok.
You don’t have to be, and you always have the option of taking the tips I’m giving you and figuring it out by yourself. Again, that’s what I did, so I know for a fact it does work.
However…if you’re up for taking action and solving some of those problems you know you need to solve but you just can’t seem to lick ‘em on your own,
Check out our coaching and mentoring program here: https://archistry.com/go/SecurityLeader
Maybe it’s not right for you either.
…but if it is, there’s no time like now to get started.
Cheers,
ast
—
Andrew S. Townley
Archistry Chief Executive
