Eddie Sorrells, DSI Security Services and ASIS International: Best Advice

Our Best Advice Q&A series continues with Eddie Sorrells, chief executive officer at DSI Security Services and president of ASIS International. He shares the best advice he’s ever gotten, gives tips to security industry pros on the rise and names the person to whom all others in the sector should always listen. Security Sales & Integration: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Eddie Sorrells: The best advice I’ve ever received is simple, but it’s shaped my entire career: “Do the best job with the one you’ve got.” My father shared that with me over 35 years ago. Early on, I learned that success in this industry isn’t about titles or shortcuts; it’s about consistency, credibility and how you show up every day. When you take ownership of your current role, when you treat every assignment as important, people notice. Doors open not because you ask for them to, but because you’ve earned the trust to walk through them. That idea sits at the heart of my journey—building a career by fully committing to where you are, not waiting for permission to lead. SSI: What advice would you give to those looking to achieve success in the security industry? Sorrells: My advice is this: master the fundamentals, stay humble and commit to lifelong learning. The security industry rewards people who are reliable, professional and willing to grow. Learn your post orders. Understand your client. Building your knowledge in technology. Respect the wisdom of those who are mentoring you. But don’t stop there. Ask questions, seek information and look for ways to add value beyond your job description. Success in this industry isn’t flashy. It’s built over time through discipline, integrity and service to others. If you focus on being dependable and developing leadership skills where you are right now, you’ll find that opportunities tend to find you. That’s what I mean when I say the best job might just be the one you’ve already got—if you’re willing to do it well. SSI: If you could point to one person in the security industry and tell up-and-comers, “Make sure to listen to what they have to say,” whom would you pick and why? Sorrells: I would point them to Joe Olivarez with Jacobs. I had the pleasure of working with Joe when he led ASIS International Joe has a deep, practical understanding of the security industry, especially when it comes to operations, leadership and building strong relationships. What sets him apart is that he speaks from experience, not theory. He understands what it takes to lead people in real-world environments and how small decisions made on the front end can have a lasting impact on performance and credibility. For up-and-comers, listening to someone like Joe reinforces an important lesson I emphasize in my own life: success in this industry comes from mastering the fundamentals, leading with integrity and earning trust over time. Joe represents the kind of steady, principled leadership that helps young professionals see that long-term success isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about doing the work, learning from others and growing into leadership the right way. Click here to check out all entries in SSI’s Best Advice series! The post Eddie Sorrells, DSI Security Services and ASIS International: Best Advice appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.