Unlocked Podcast

Interested in the Unlocked Invitational? Fill out the form at https://unlockedpodcast.com Every business leader inevitably hits a wall where the daily grind transitions from an exciting problem-solving puzzle into an exhausting, endless game of operational whack-a-mole. In Episode 85 , Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Tony ( Assured Security ), and Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ) get incredibly candid...

If you want to expand your locksmith business into the hollow metal door and frame market. In Episode 84 , Tony Hokanson ( Assured Security ) takes the steering wheel to break down a listener question from Adam Smith regarding vertical trade integration, managing the extreme hidden risks of retrofitting, and scaling into adjacent security segments without diluting your focus. Chad Lingafelt ( Loc-...

Technical Issues prevented an episode release this week. We have it resolved, until next time. We will be back next Thursday!

Where is the locksmith and physical security integration industry heading over the next 3 to 5 years? In Episode 83 , Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ), and Tony ( Assured Security ) bypass the day-to-day operational whirlwind to map out the long-term macroeconomic trends, technological disruptions, and personnel changes heading straight for security business owners. Fres...

When a security integration or locksmith business begins to scale geographically, leadership faces a massive, existential structural hurdle: Do you structure your new locations under autonomous branch managers, or do you organize by centralized product divisions (locksmithing, electronic security, and hollow metal doors)? In Episode 82 , Tony Hawkinson ( Assured Security ) takes the host seat to g...

Are the trades facing a structural recruitment crisis, or are we just terrible at telling our story? In Episode 81 , Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Tony ( Assured Security ), and Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ) break down the historical social status gap between university degrees and modern craftsmanship. Lars challenges the trio with John Gardner’s classic warning: a society that scorns plumbing be...

In Episode 80 , Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ), and Tony ( Assured Security ) dive into a fascinating Harvard Business Review article examining what operating rooms can teach business leaders about team design. The trio discusses a truth that hits close to home for physical security integration companies: despite massive investments in advanced technology, data trackin...

As physical security companies scale, regional expansion is often the ultimate growth engine—and the ultimate culture killer. In Episode 79 , the Unlocked trio—Lars Johnston ( Calgary Lock & Safe ), Tony Hokanson ( Assured Security ), and Chad Lingafelt ( Loc-Doc Security )—tackle the tactical friction of geographic scale . Fresh off a cross-border training event, Tony puts the guys in the hot...

We are officially a quarter into 2026, and it’s time for the Unlocked trio to stop talking and start walking. In Episode 78 , Lars Johnston ( Calgary Lock & Safe ), Tony Hawkenson ( Assured Security ), and Chad Lingafelt ( Loc-Doc Security ) revisit the ambitious goals they set in January to see what’s actually sticking. The conversation gets real as Chad describes the "brain transplant" of ro...

Fresh off a sales training in North Carolina, Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Tony ( Assured Security ), and Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ) tackle their most technical "homework" assignment yet: Process Mapping . Inspired by Elon Musk’s "Five-Step Process" and the realization that many security businesses are "built around the edge case," the trio discusses how to visual...

In Episode 76 , Tony ( Assured Security ), Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ), and Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ) step outside the security industry to examine what the world’s most successful brands can teach us about growth and operations. From the rigid, fat-marbling precision of The Keg’s steak-grilling process to Raising Cane’s relentless focus on the "chicken finger specialist" model, the...

In Episode 75 , the Unlocked trio—Lars Johnston from Calgary Lock & Safe , Tony Hokanson from Assured Security , and Chad Lingafelt from Loc-Doc Security —break down the literal architecture of their businesses. Moving past high-level philosophy, they dive into the tactical "how-to" of departmental structure, reporting lines, and the common pitfalls of scaling past 25 employees. Lars...

In Episode 74 , the Unlocked trio—Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Tony ( Assured Security ), and Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe )—engage in a high-stakes debate over the future of security sales. Fresh off a trip to Las Vegas for ISC West, Chad proposes a radical shift: abandoning the generalist model in favor of "micro-business centers" where salespeople specialize in single disciplines like...

In Episode 73 , Tony ( Assured Security ), Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ), and Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ) tackle the challenge of growing organically by capturing large-scale projects. The trio explores tactical ways to move beyond basic break-fix service calls and into the world of $50,000+ contracts. Chad reveals the "Association Strategy," explaining why trade associations are the ke...

In Episode 72 , the Unlocked trio—Tony ( Assured Security ), Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ), and Chad ( Loc-Doc Security )—dive into the psychology of decision-making. Inspired by the work of Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman and sage advice from "Uncle Glenn," they explore System 1 (Fast/Habitual) and System 2 (Slow/Analytical) thinking. The guys discuss how to use "Level 2&quot...

In Episode 71 , Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Tony ( Assured Security ), and Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ) dive into the psychological and operational warfare of "The Messy Middle." Inspired by Scott Belsky’s framework, the trio explores the volatile space between the dopamine-heavy start of a project and the satisfaction of the finish line. The conversation gets tactical as they discuss...

Buckle up for Episode 70 , where the trio takes on an Instagram-inspired "Blind Rank" challenge that nearly breaks the podcast. Tony ( Assured Security ) forces Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ) and Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ) to rank a list of 12 business and philosophy books without knowing which title is coming next. The result is a chaotic, high-stakes debate over the industry's mos...

As we move through the first quarter of 2026, the Unlocked trio—Chad from Loc-Doc Security , Tony from Assured Security , and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe —flip the script on traditional goal setting. Instead of focusing on what to add to their lives, they dive deep into what they need to quit . The conversation gets raw as Lars opens up about the danger of "ruminating" on past mist...

In Episode 68 , the Unlocked trio—Chad from Loc-Doc Security , Tony from Assured Security , and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe —tackle the most important asset any company owns: its culture. They dive deep into why culture isn't just a "vibe" but a set of sacred standards that must be protected with aggressive consistency. Chad shares the "Dabo Swinney" inspired strategy...

In Episode 67 , the trio tackles one of the most critical challenges for any entrepreneur: moving from a reactive "firefighting" mindset to proactive leadership. Tony ( Assured Security ) kicks things off by operating from a backup computer with no passwords and slow internet—a real-time lesson in why systems matter when things go sideways. Lars ( Calgary Lock & Safe ) pulls back the...

In Episode 66 , Lars Johnston from Calgary Lock & Safe challenges the trio to get vulnerable with a high-stakes leadership exercise: identifying their "Uniques." Moving past typical corporate bios, Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ), Tony ( Assured Security ), and Lars reveal the honest, sometimes uncomfortable feedback they received from their teams and families. The conversation dives into...

In Episode 65 , Chad, Tony, and Lars explore how business owners can turn unexpected chaos into operational gold. When a rare North Carolina snowstorm threatened to derail a week of factory training for the Calgary team, the hosts pivoted to an impromptu Technician Exchange Program . They discuss the massive "ROI of fresh eyes" when a guest technician shadows your team and provides an un...

In Episode 64 , the Unlocked trio—Tony from Assured Security , Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe , and Chad from Loc-Doc Security —dive into the tricky middle ground of business leadership: When to NOT Delegate . After spending previous episodes discussing how to find the "Who" and master the art of letting go, the conversation shifts to the pitfalls of over-delegation. Tony explores the...

In Episode 63 , the Unlocked Podcast shifts focus from "low tide" excuses to high-level Sales Management . Lars Johnston from Calgary Lock & Safe leads a candid discussion with Tony ( Assured Security ) and Chad ( Loc-Doc Security ) about the hardest sale a leader makes: getting the sales team to buy into a proactive process. Tony reveals how intentional hiring —specifically finding...

In this episode, the team dives into the specific habits and systems required to turn 2026 goals into reality. Tony from Assured Security admits that while he used to struggle with organizational details, he has found success by building a "rigid morning routine" and committing to reading physical books for creative spark. Chad from Loc-Doc Security shares a deep look into how he uses Vi...