Reed Security Must Reads - Reed People

THE 5 BIGGEST LESSONS I LEARNED

virgil@reedsecurity.ca — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:42:00 -0600

Last night, I stood on stage and told my story.

It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t polished. It was raw.

I talked about the highs, the gut punches, the mistakes, and the lessons that came out of them. It was emotional for me to share. And the crowd connected with it.

These lessons aren’t from a textbook. They come from real experiences, tough decisions, and a few scars. Here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned from building my business.

1. Be Far More Diligent

I chose the wrong partner early on, and it cost me. A lot. I felt blindsided, frustrated, and honestly, a bit foolish. I told myself I’d never end up in that position again.

That’s when I started getting far more diligent. I became the guy who asks question after question after question… and then verifies everything. If the answers don’t add up, I move on.

A few things that guide me:

Don’t believe everything you read or hear
Pay attention to what’s missing in the story
Use AI to help analyze the facts

This approach now guides who I hire, which dealers we work with, and who we partner with.

2. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

I’ll never forget the day CRA froze my bank account. I was young, broke, and terrified. When your bank account is frozen, your business is frozen. I didn’t sleep that night.

The next morning, I picked up the phone, stayed calm, explained my situation, and asked for a plan. I didn’t make excuses. I told the truth. They listened. By the next day, we were back in business.

That moment taught me the power of clear communication when things are hard.

Here’s what works for me:

Pick up the phone or meet in person
Be nice
Be truthful – even if it hurts
Share your plan
Follow through

Silence breeds fear and assumptions. Communication builds trust.

3. Never Get Too High and Never Get Too Low

This one is personal.

For years, my mood was tied directly to the business. If things were good, I was on top of the world. If things went sideways, so did I. It’s a brutal way to live, and it affected my confidence, my family, and my ability to lead.

Eventually, I learned to build habits that keep me grounded no matter what’s happening:

Exercise clears my head
Time away resets my perspective
Being present with my family reminds me what matters
Friends, mentors and peers give me perspective and support

These habits keep me from flying too high when things are great, and from sinking too low when they suck.

4. Get Noticed

Early on, I had a great product, but nobody knew who we were. We were invisible. And that hurt. I was working so hard, but it felt like no one was paying attention.

That frustration taught me two big lessons:

1. Pay attention to marketing

2. Build your brand, not someone else’s

I started experimenting, showing up, and trying everything until something stuck.

Today, I spend about 40% of my time on branding, marketing, and relationships. Because if people don’t notice you, they’ll never buy from you.

5. Look After Your People

Over the years, I’ve learned that business isn’t about products or profits. It’s about people.

For me, that means:

Being kind and flexible
Having fun together
Recognizing effort
Paying people properly
Keeping everyone in the loop and part of the plan

When you look after your staff, they look after your clients.

When you look after your clients, they stay loyal.

And when you give back to your community, it all comes full circle.

Staff. Clients. Community.

Look after your people – and they’ll look after you.

Final Thought

No pain, no gain. And it was worth it.

These lessons were earned the hard way. If they resonate with you, I hope they help you avoid a few of my mistakes, or at least give you some encouragement when things get tough.

-Virgil

FIRST ANNUAL SOAK & SHARE WAS A SPLASHING SUCCESS!

virgil@reedsecurity.ca — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:24:00 -0600

On August 12th, 2025 the Reed Security team put down their tools and keyboards to head to the park for our first annual SOAK & SHARE team building event.

The afternoon was all about connection, laughter, and celebrating our awesome team. In addition to an epic water fight, the event was also an opportunity to recognize and reward employees for their contributions over the past year.

It wasn’t just Reed Security staff who got in on the fun - some local kids joined in when they saw all the action, adding even more energy and smiles to the day.

At Reed Security, we believe that when you take care of your staff, they’ll take care of your clients. Soak & Share was a perfect reminder that investing in our people is investing in the customer experience.

Special thanks to Lesli and Sarah for organizing and hosting the event. Your planning made it easy for everyone else to relax and fully enjoy the day.

Events like this remind us that success isn’t just about numbers - it’s about people, teamwork, and shared moments. And at Reed Security, we’ve got the best.

Scroll down to see the photos from the day in full splash.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: ARIEL HAMBLIN CELEBRATES 9 YEARS AT REED SECURITY

virgil@reedsecurity.ca — Thu, 08 May 2025 14:03:00 -0600

This month, we’re celebrating Ariel Hamblin, who has been a key part of Reed Security for the past nine years!

Ariel is our Accounting & Administration Manager, and she’s played a huge role in helping us grow and succeed.

We sat down with Ariel to hear about her journey, what she loves about her work, and her thoughts on Reed’s success.

Why do you love working at Reed Security?

“It’s the family environment. Everyone is supportive, and I genuinely enjoy the work I do - it’s rewarding and keeps me engaged every day.”

What’s your role, and what do you do day-to-day?

“I’m the Accounting and Administration Manager. I oversee the Department, handling onboarding, contracts, and sales for our dealer network. My goal is to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.”

What makes Reed Security different?

“We care about each client as an individual, not just a number. We focus on understanding their needs and providing security solutions that truly fit them and their needs.”

How has Reed Security grown over the years?

“We’ve added a lot of staff, and we’ve really grown into a family. Plus, the company has expanded nationwide, which is amazing to see.”

What’s a memorable moment from your time here?

“Definitely the staff events - barbecues, YXE smash therapy, axe throwing - I love when we do fun things together that build our team spirit.”

What do you love doing outside of work?

“I’m a mom, and we love to travel, garden, and just enjoy life together.”

What’s your best advice for someone starting a career at Reed?

“Learn how to find and access resources independently. Be the person who takes ownership and gets things done.”

👏 Huge thanks to Ariel for sharing her story and for everything she does to keep Reed Security moving forward. Stay tuned for more team spotlights as we celebrate the people behind the scenes who make Reed Security what it is today! 💪

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