“to teach others to endure”
EVERYONE HAS A STORY.
MINE DOESN'T BEGIN IN A GYM, ON A SHOOTING RANGE, OR IN A CLASSROOM.
IT BEGINS IN THE WOODS.
GROWING UP IN NEW ENGLAND, I SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS EXPLORING FORESTS, CLIMBING MOUNTAINS, FISHING QUIET RIVERS, AND LEARNING LESSONS THAT NO CLASSROOM COULD TEACH. LONG BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD CONCEPTS LIKE RESILIENCE, DISCIPLINE, OR LEADERSHIP, THE OUTDOORS WAS ALREADY TEACHING THEM. NATURE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT EXCUSES. IT REWARDS PREPARATION, PUNISHES COMPLACENCY, AND HUMBLES ANYONE WHO UNDERESTIMATES IT.
THOSE LESSONS WOULD SHAPE EVERY CHAPTER THAT FOLLOWED.
Service Before Self
IN 2006, I EARNED THE TITLE UNITED STATES MARINE
AS AN INFANTRY TEAM LEADER, I LEARNED WHAT RESPONSIBILITY TRULY MEANT. LEADERSHIP WASN'T ABOUT RANK—IT WAS ABOUT BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PEOPLE BESIDE YOU. EVERY DECISION CARRIED CONSEQUENCES, AND EVERY MISSION REINFORCED THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION, DISCIPLINE, AND TRUST.
THE MARINE CORPS TAUGHT ME FAR MORE THAN WEAPONS AND TACTICS.
IT TAUGHT ME TO STAY CALM WHEN OTHERS COULDN'T.
TO SOLVE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF ADMIRING THEM.
TO CONTINUALLY PURSUE COMPETENCE BECAUSE LIVES DEPEND ON IT.
THOSE PRINCIPLES HAVE NEVER LEFT ME.
CONTINUING THE MISSION
AFTER LEAVING ACTIVE DUTY, I FOUND MYSELF DRAWN TO INSTRUCTION.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS I TRAINED HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND SECURITY PROFESSIONALS IN FIREARMS, PERSONAL PROTECTION, EDGED WEAPONS, AND COMBATIVES.
TEACHING QUICKLY BECAME MORE THAN A PROFESSION.
IT BECAME A RESPONSIBILITY.
I REALIZED THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T SIMPLY COMING TO LEARN HOW TO SHOOT—THEY WANTED CONFIDENCE, JUDGMENT, AND THE ABILITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE.
MARKSMANSHIP WAS ONLY ONE PIECE OF A MUCH LARGER PICTURE.
“I REALIZED THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T SIMPLY COMING TO LEARN HOW TO SHOOT—THEY WANTED CONFIDENCE, JUDGMENT, AND THE ABILITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE.”
“THE NAME RUNENATION REFLECTS MY FASCINATION WITH HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND ENDURING PRINCIPLES. RUNES WERE MORE THAN SYMBOLS—THEY REPRESENTED KNOWLEDGE PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT THIS COMPANY TO BECOME.”
WHY I STARTED RUNENATION
IN 2017, I FOUNDED RUNENATION BECAUSE I BELIEVED THERE WAS ROOM FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
NOT ANOTHER TRAINING COMPANY BUILT AROUND EGO.
NOT ANOTHER INSTRUCTOR TRYING TO IMPRESS STUDENTS WITH FLASHY DRILLS.
I WANTED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING CAPABLE PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WHO THINK CRITICALLY.
PEOPLE WHO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.
PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT MINDSET WILL ALWAYS MATTER MORE THAN EQUIPMENT.
THE NAME RUNENATION REFLECTS MY FASCINATION WITH HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND ENDURING PRINCIPLES. RUNES WERE MORE THAN SYMBOLS—THEY REPRESENTED KNOWLEDGE PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT THIS COMPANY TO BECOME.
A PLACE WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS EARNED, SHARED, AND CONTINUALLY REFINED.
THE ROAD DIDN'T END WHEN RUNENATION BEGAN
LAUNCHING RUNENATION WASN'T THE FINISH LINE.
IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER CHAPTER.
WHILE CONTINUING TO BUILD RUNENATION, MY CAREER EVOLVED INTO EXECUTIVE PROTECTION AND RESIDENTIAL SECURITY.
TODAY I LEAD RESIDENTIAL SECURITY TEAM OPERATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING AN VERY-HIGH-NET-WORTH PRINCIPAL, THEIR FAMILY, THEIR HOME, AND THEIR DAILY LIVES. MY WORK EXTENDS FAR BEYOND STANDING BESIDE A CLIENT. IT INVOLVES DESIGNING COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY PROGRAMS, CONDUCTING THREAT AND VIOLENCE RISK ASSESSMENTS, INTEGRATING SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, DEVELOPING EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS, COORDINATING PROTECTIVE INTELLIGENCE, MANAGING PERSONNEL, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY LAYER OF SECURITY WORKS SEAMLESSLY WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE CLIENT'S LIFESTYLE.
PROTECTION ISN'T ABOUT REACTING.
IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING PATTERNS BEFORE THEY BECOME PROBLEMS.
IT'S ABOUT NOTICING DETAILS EVERYONE ELSE OVERLOOKS.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING HUNDREDS OF QUIET DECISIONS EVERY DAY SO SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE CAN CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED.
THOSE EXPERIENCES HAVE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE WAY I TEACH.
THE RUNENATION PHILOSOPHY
RUNENATION HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT PRODUCING BETTER SHOOTERS.
ANYONE CAN TEACH SOMEONE HOW TO PRESS A TRIGGER.
MY MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE BECOME HARDER TO VICTIMIZE.
THAT MEANS DEVELOPING AWARENESS BEFORE MARKSMANSHIP.
JUDGMENT BEFORE SPEED.
DECISION-MAKING BEFORE TACTICS.
WHETHER I'M TEACHING A FIRST-TIME CONCEALED CARRIER, A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, A MILITARY UNIT, OR SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, MY OBJECTIVE NEVER CHANGES.
DEVELOP DISCIPLINED THINKING.
DEVELOP COMPETENCE.
DEVELOP CONFIDENCE EARNED THROUGH PREPARATION—NOT FALSE REASSURANCE.
THE BEST PROTECTOR ISN'T ALWAYS THE FASTEST.
THE BEST PROTECTOR IS USUALLY THE ONE WHO RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE DID.
A LIFETIME STUDENT
OUTSIDE OF WORK, YOU'LL STILL FIND ME WHERE THIS JOURNEY BEGAN.
HIKING MOUNTAINS.
EXPLORING FORGOTTEN PLACES.
READING HISTORY.
STUDYING PHILOSOPHY.
PRACTICING BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU.
TRAINING.
WRITING.
LEARNING.
THE DAY I BELIEVE I'VE MASTERED MY CRAFT IS THE DAY I BEGIN FALLING BEHIND.
I REMAIN A STUDENT BECAUSE EXCELLENCE IS A PURSUIT—NOT A DESTINATION.
NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE YOU®
PEOPLE OFTEN MISUNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PHRASE MEANS.
IT ISN'T ABOUT FEAR.
IT ISN'T ABOUT PARANOIA.
IT ISN'T ABOUT BELIEVING YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.
IT'S ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S A REMINDER THAT PREPARATION IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.
THAT RESILIENCE IS BUILT LONG BEFORE ADVERSITY ARRIVES.
THAT CONFIDENCE COMES FROM COMPETENCE.
AND THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR SAFETY, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR FUTURE ULTIMATELY RESTS WITH YOU.
THAT PHILOSOPHY GUIDES EVERYTHING I DO—WHETHER I'M PROTECTING A FAMILY, STANDING ON A FIRING LINE, WRITING AN ARTICLE, OR MENTORING A STUDENT.
THE MISSION
RUNENATION EXISTS TO BUILD CAPABLE PEOPLE.
NOT THROUGH SHORTCUTS.
NOT THROUGH GIMMICKS.
THROUGH DISCIPLINED TRAINING.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO BECOMING HARDER TO KILL, HARDER TO DECEIVE, AND HARDER TO QUIT.
IF THAT MINDSET RESONATES WITH YOU, THEN WELCOME. YOU'RE EXACTLY WHERE YOU BELONG.
-LIFE IS FLEETING/IAN