Protected and Purposeful
Stagione 1
di Samuel Griffin III
March 2020 — one phone call cancelled tens of thousands in contracts and suspended the Richmond office. Honest about fear (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 56:3) while steady on the four actions: PPE for guards first, calling every creditor, the SBA PPP loan, and instituting down-payment policies. Notes he wrote Rent-A-Cop Reboot during the pandemic — the wipeout became wisdom — and connects to his building season sensitively (leadership principle, explicitly not financial advice), closing on "This, too, shall pass, and me and my house will continue to serve the Lord." Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
Samuel's three operating principles become a complete leadership system — study prepares the mind (the 1996 Streisand lost-credentials lesson), communicate engages the heart ("a security professional's best weapon is his or her mouth"; the black shoe restraint story), practice trains the hands (the Atlanta 30-mile march). Grounded in 2 Timothy 2:15, Proverbs 15:1, and Philippians 4:9, it closes with a one-week challenge running all three on a single area of life. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
From Samuel's blog — "Yesterday is behind you. Today is another opportunity to begin again." Weaves his 2021 stage-four cancer testimony ("God gave me another chance — now I have a responsibility"), his mother Jacqueline's "Don't say I wish, I could have, or would have," Lamentations 3:22-23's daily-new mercies, and the 2020 COVID contract wipeout as a business fresh start. Hopeful, actionable New Year close: write down what yesterday taught you, pick one small beginning, tell somebody your plan. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
The Miami story: before a meeting with the U.S. Vice President, Samuel reached into the same suitcase pocket his client had already searched and pulled out pair after pair of socks — "Every time was a different color. We were both in awe!" A light, joyful Christmas episode on God in the small details, faithfulness in the least (Luke 16:10), gratitude (1 Thess 5:18), and the line "the God of the socks is the God of the manger." Closes with a challenge to start a journal of small miracles. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
Oklahoma City, April 19, 1995 — in his first year as head of security, Samuel attended funerals for 168 victims including 19 children and learned to "leave my emotions in my hotel room": grieve honestly with God in the room, then stand post with steadiness for others. Tender, non-preachy treatment of grief leadership anchored in John 11:35 ("Jesus wept"), Ecclesiastes 3:4, and Psalm 34:18. Practical close: name it, find your room, stand your post, let people in. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
From Rent-A-Cop Reboot: a security professional's best weapon is his mouth. "Please," "sir," and "ma'am" can defuse violence — while calling an adult "boy" or "girl" is, in Samuel's words, "a verbal grenade," written from his perspective as a Black man in the profession. Marcus and Darius make the case that the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) is both scripture and tactics: how you treat people IS your strategy, and every leader should retire their verbal grenades. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
Before he ever protected anyone, he was a scared 12-year-old who couldn't protect his own mother. How God turned Samuel's deepest wound into his life's calling — and what your pain might be pointing to. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
Waiting on God and hearing silence? Samuel's been there — through a cancer battle and back to remission. Why the waiting season isn't wasted, and how to keep praying, keep working, and keep believing. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
Winter 1996. Madison Square Garden. Samuel lost his credentials — his and his client's. That humbling night became 'The Bodyguard.' Why the best leaders confess fast, own it, debrief honestly, and build systems. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd
What if God blessed you so you could BE the blessing? Samuel shares how he's helping his family member Samuel James build a home — and a future — in Kenya. Success isn't what you have; it's what you do with it. Music: Empire, produced by Tim Byrd