Hey! So nice to speak with you! Can you tell our readers a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

Hello, It is a pleasure to be featured in Business Stories Magazine. My name is Richard Cummings, and I am the founder and owner of RCJ Protection Agency. Our company is based in Woodland Hills, and I currently reside in Encino, California. Building this company has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story and passion for the security industry with Business Stories Magazine.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

What I love about Encino, California is the opportunity to network and meet amazing, successful individuals. You can simply be out running everyday errands and unexpectedly cross paths with some of the most influential and accomplished people. The environment is inspiring, motivating, and full of opportunity, a place where meaningful connections can happen naturally.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

At RCJ Protection Agency, we specialize in executive protection and high-end security services, providing discreet, professional, and reliable protection for high-profile individuals, private clients, businesses, and special events.

With the increase in crime throughout Los Angeles County, having a trusted security company provides clients with peace of mind, knowing they have a professional team dedicated to their safety, privacy, and protection.

I started the business in 2022 with the overall mission of creating and delivering world-class protection for individuals, businesses, and organizations who require security at the highest level—where discretion is paramount and excellence is expected.

The company prides itself on five core values: INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, COURAGE, PRIDE, and LOYALTY.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give someone starting a business is to stop waiting for the ‘perfect time’ to begin. The truth is, there will never be a perfect time. There will always be obstacles, fear, uncertainty, financial pressure, or reasons to delay your goals. If you truly believe in your vision, you have to take the leap and start.

Entrepreneurship is not easy. Along the journey, you will be tested in ways you never expected. You will face adversity, setbacks, stress, and moments where quitting feels easier than continuing. Every successful entrepreneur has experienced those moments.

What separates successful entrepreneurs from unsuccessful ones is not that they never struggled, it’s that they refused to quit. The successful ones kept going when things became difficult. They stayed committed to the vision even during the hard times.

Building a business requires resilience, discipline, sacrifice, and faith in yourself. There will be seasons where nobody sees your vision but you. Keep pushing anyway. Stay consistent, continue learning, and never allow temporary hardships to make you abandon long-term goals.

Success doesn’t happen overnight, but persistence changes everything.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One piece of feedback I received from a client that I will never forget was when he left on a business trip and had to leave his family behind at home. Before departing, he told me that he had never felt more comfortable or at peace with his family’s safety while being away.

Moments like that mean everything to me because security is about more than just protection — it’s about providing peace of mind. Knowing that a client can focus on business, travel, and daily life without constantly worrying about the safety of their loved ones is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do at RCJ Protection Agency

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see RCJ Protection Agency continuing to grow into one of the biggest and most respected security companies in the world. My vision is to build a company that is recognized globally for professionalism, discretion, reliability, and excellence in protection services.

As we continue to expand, I want RCJ Protection Agency to become a trusted name for executive protection, residential security, commercial security, and private event security for high-profile individuals, businesses, and organizations worldwide. The goal is not only to grow in size, but to grow in reputation and impact. I want clients to immediately associate the RCJ name with elite service, trust, and peace of mind.

I also see the company creating opportunities for others by building a strong team of highly trained professionals who take pride in protecting people and communities. One of the most important parts of growth is maintaining the standards and values the company was founded on integrity, professionalism, loyalty, and commitment to excellence.

In the future, I envision RCJ Protection Agency operating in major cities across the country and internationally, protecting some of the world’s most influential individuals, families, and organizations while continuing to provide the same level of dedication and personal attention that helped build the company from the beginning.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions about the security industry is that people often assume security guards are not highly trained professionals or that they do not take their jobs seriously. In reality, the role carries an enormous amount of responsibility. Security professionals are trusted with protecting lives, families, businesses, and high-profile individuals in situations that can become dangerous or unpredictable at any moment.

A great security officer must remain alert, disciplined, professional, and prepared at all times. The best officers are trained in areas such as threat assessment, de-escalation, emergency response, situational awareness, and client confidentiality. In many cases, security personnel are the first line of defense before law enforcement arrives.

Unfortunately, the industry is sometimes judged based on negative stereotypes or the actions of a few unprofessional individuals. What many people do not see is the amount of dedication, long hours, sacrifice, and constant vigilance that goes into doing this work properly. At RCJ Protection Agency, we take pride in changing that perception by operating with professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to excellence every single day.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest struggles I faced while building my business was starting with no real guidance or blueprint. When I founded RCJ Protection Agency, I didn’t come from a family of business owners, and there wasn’t anyone walking me through the process or showing me what to expect. A lot of what I learned came through experience, trial and error, and overcoming difficult situations on my own.

Along the journey, there were definitely hardships and obstacles that tested me mentally, financially, and emotionally. There were moments where things didn’t go as planned, moments of uncertainty, and times where I had to make sacrifices most people never see behind the scenes. Building a company from the ground up requires a tremendous amount of discipline, resilience, and belief in yourself, especially when you are trying to establish credibility in a highly demanding industry like executive protection and security.

What helped me deal with those challenges was refusing to quit. I stayed focused on the vision I had for the company, even during the difficult times. Every obstacle became a learning experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally. I also learned the importance of networking and surrounding myself with driven, successful individuals who could offer advice, perspective, and motivation.

Today, when I look back at those struggles, I’m grateful for them because they shaped me into the entrepreneur and leader I am today. They taught me perseverance, adaptability, and how to keep moving forward regardless of the circumstances.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Growing up, my favorite athlete was Kobe Bryant. What always stood out to me was his dedication, discipline, and commitment to perfecting his craft. He approached the game with a mindset of constant improvement and never being satisfied with average results.

Watching his work ethic and mentality inspired me at a young age. It taught me the importance of discipline, consistency, and pushing through adversity, even when things get difficult. As a business owner, I still carry a lot of those lessons with me today. I believe success comes from being fully committed to your vision, putting in the work every single day, and always striving to be better than you were yesterday.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Absolutely. First and foremost, I want to thank my family and friends who have supported me throughout this entire journey. Building a business comes with a lot of pressure, sacrifices, and challenges, and having people around you who genuinely believe in you makes all the difference. Their support kept me motivated during some of the toughest moments.

I also want to give a special thank you to all of my clients who have trusted me and RCJ Protection Agency with opportunities over the years. Whether it was executive protection, residential security, or private events, every opportunity helped us grow and continue building our reputation. Trust is everything in this industry, and I never take that for granted.

I especially want to thank one of my clients who really took me under his wing early on. He has been extremely supportive and has given me valuable advice, guidance, and business knowledge that helped shape the way I think as both an entrepreneur and a leader. Being able to learn from successful people and apply those lessons to my own journey has been priceless.

Where can our readers follow your work or learn more about your upcoming projects?

Readers can learn more about RCJ Protection Agency by following us on social media and searching us on Google. We stay active on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, where we share behind-the-scenes content, company updates, executive protection operations, and highlights from the work we do. We’re always looking to connect with new people, clients, and supporters who are interested in the security industry and entrepreneurship.