Most people think safety is a product you can buy. They believe that if they install a doorbell camera and buy a firearm, they are “secure.”
I learned at 12 years old that safety isn’t a product. It is a mindset.
I lived through a violent encounter where there was no escape. In that chaos, while adults around me froze in fear, I realized I had a choice: I could be a victim, or I could be a protector. That 12-year-old boy formulated a plan, took action, and kept people safe when the “system” failed.
That moment defined the rest of my life. It taught me that when the lock fails—and it will—you are the backup plan.
The Professional Evolution That drive to protect led me into the professional security industry. I spent years working as an armed security contractor, handling everything from executive protection to high-risk surveillance. I learned the tradecraft of violence. I learned how predators select their targets, how they bypass defenses, and how quickly a “normal” day can turn catastrophic.
But I also noticed a gap.
The security industry was great at selling fear, but terrible at teaching independence. They wanted clients to be dependent on guards and gadgets.
Building The Independent Mindset I founded this company to break that cycle. I realized that true safety requires a 360-degree approach.
- It requires Situational Awareness so you can spot threats before they happen.
- It requires Physical Health so you have the energy to fight or escape.
- It requires Financial Independence so you aren’t forced into dangerous situations by poverty.
- It requires a Mindset that refuses to freeze.
I am not just here to sell you a lock. I am here to teach you how to be the most capable person in the room.
My Mission You don’t need paranoia. You need a plan. My goal is to give you the tools I wish I had back then—so you can walk through the world with your head up, knowing that no matter what happens, you can handle it.
Welcome to the team.
—Stephen Hampton Founder, The Independent Mindset
