keene-training-cons20251215155202

What's In A Logo?

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:37:28 GMT

What's In A Logo?

What's In A Logo?

What's in a logo?

Some logos you recognize immediately.

A swoosh on a pair of shoes or a sweatshirt.

A piece of fruit on the back of a phone or computer.

A true logo explains the WHY of a business. It sets a tone

People ask us all the time.

"Your logo is cool! Where did it come from?"

Allow me to explain.

Our company name is a tribute to the matriarch of our family.

The family crest goes back hundreds of years to the motherland - Ireland.

Now, there are a few different variations of the family crest. A few different color schemes, a few different details. But all versions clearly depict two distinct items:

The helmet of a Knight and a Shield.

Two iconic symbols. The Knight's helmet pays tribute to those who serve and knowingly go into harms way despite the risks involved. The shield represents the constant quest to help keep others safe, whether it is country, community or family. These two symbols are the cornerstone of everything we continue to stand for to this day here at Keene.

The original crest is pretty intricate. And to be honest it would probably be a nightmare to print on a business card or t-shirt. Originally we reached out to some talented folks in the graphics design program at a local university. That design provided the inspiration of our current logo, thanks to the talents of our friend Brad Hillard.

So that is the backstory. That is our "why." Our logo has purpose, meaning and history. And I have to be honest...I think it looks pretty badass as well.

Until next time...

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting L.L.C.

Protecting Your Flock

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:34:35 GMT

Protecting Your Flock

Flock.

Noun - A large group of people usually of a particular type.

Your flock may be your family, your co-workers or even your place of worship. And this is what we know for certain:

You and everyone in your flock have the undeniable right to be safe. Safe in your homes.

Safe in your schools.

Safe at your job.

Safe at your places of worship.

How we go about ensuring that level of safety varies.

Sometimes it’s in preparation and planning.

Sometimes it’s calling out or confronting the bully and taking a stand.

Sometimes it’s not going Stupid places with Stupid people at Stupid times and doing Stupid things (remember that one folks).

Sometimes our communication skills are our most effective tool. Sometimes our physical tools are our best assets.

And yet sometimes it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun. Yep, I said it. It’s true folks. There are people out there that are truly evil and there will be no reasoning with them.

The key to all of this: you must possess all the tools. You can’t pick and choose. A person without the ability to be violent when needed is not peaceful. They are harmless. And if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe you need all the tools. And yes, that means preparing for violent encounters.

Because you never know when your flock may need you.

Until next time…

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting L.L.C.

The SH%# You See When Traveling

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:32:31 GMT

The SH%# You See When Traveling

Typically, we would talk about safety and awareness tips to keep you safe when traveling. The common sense things, like research where you are going, don’t put all your financial eggs in one basket, know the local resources in case of an emergency and stay clear of the Coronavirus.

This is not that type of article.

This is straight up, 100% the goofy shit you see and experience while traveling.

There are clearly two types of people who travel at airports.

The first type is the person who believes air travel is a formal affair. Dressed to the hilt, they look like they are on their way to a wedding or Sunday church. They take 20 minutes to go through TSA because they have so much stuff to take off. The second type is the person who travels in “comfort.” They have no metal, string or laces on any part of their clothing. They are basically wearing one step above pajamas. And sometimes, well, they are wearing pajamas.

And then there is the fifty-something year old lady who is under the influence of some sort of substance who believes they are the reincarnation of the Macho Man Randy Savage.

How about the experience of sitting next to the person in the packed Gate E-3 area who feels the need to call every single member of their family before they board? You know, the one who talks loud enough for everyone in the terminal to hear him? I too feel your pain that the fish tacos you ate last night did not agree with you and you have been taking regular doses of Imodium AD to help with your irregularities. And I pray your sinuses to return to normal once you arrive home to Cleveland.

For those of you traveling with small, mobile kids, it will suck.

For every additional small kid you travel with, the suck-ness multiplies by 10x.

Enough said.

Women who can completely change their wardrobe in a bathroom stall amaze me. Kudos to you all.

I also envy the “Weekend at Bernie’s” look a-like guy. The one who is seated next to you with: knit hat on, headphones on, hoody pulled over his head, sunglasses on, rocking out the official airplane neck pillow. He is out before the plane takes off. He does not awaken from his slumber until you are getting your bags out from the overhead bin after landing. I salute you Sir.

Speaking of carry-on luggage and overhead storage, if you have to beat your luggage like Mike Tyson on a heavy bag, check that shit. Seriously.

Despite all of this, it is good to get away once in a while. It’s good to recharge your batteries and take a break from the daily grind. We live in the day and age where you can plan a trip with nothing other than your phone and be on the other side of the world within a day. And that my friends, is pretty amazing.

Until Next time…

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting L.L.C.

The New Normal

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:28:42 GMT

The New Normal

Three weeks into this new way of life due to Covid-19, here are some things I have learned (in no particular order):

Heroes are not celebrities or athletes. Heroes are nurses, doctors, scientists, cops, fire fighters, EMTs, truck drivers, delivery folks, etc.
Teachers are (and always have been) greatly under-appreciated. Same goes for stay-at-home parents. Anyone want to argue that ever again? I think not. (Remember this when your teachers ask for a raise)
Tip the shit out of the Grub Hub driver.
Hats off to all the industries who switched gears over night, overhauled their entire product line so they could provide equipment to fight this battle. Remarkable.
If you ‘d told me last fall that school would be cancelled in March for the rest of the year I would have told you “you’re bat shit crazy.”
As much as I hate to admit it, I can live without watching sports.
If you appreciate your small businesses, support them now more than ever.
I have come to appreciate unplugging from technology. Sitting on the deck with a book. Playing cards at the dinner table with family.
On the flip side, I have come to appreciate technology. Nothing like Face Time to catch up with far away family or taking part in a virtual happy hour.
I was always taught when meeting or greeting someone to offer them a handshake and look them in the eye. Will we go back to that?
You can make home workouts work if you need to.
Thank God for travel insurance.
Seeing people at the grocery store standing in line, waiting to get in and wearing masks and gloves looks like something out of a movie.
It pays to have some basic supplies on hand at all times.
I have come to despise the terms “essential” and “non-essential.”
Carole Baskin killed her first husband.

So when will this all end? A few weeks? A few months? Will kids start school in the fall? Do we go back to “normal” too quickly and this thing rears its ugly head again? No one has these answers for certain. What we know is staying apart seems to be helping. Keeping your hands clean seems to be helping. And like it or not we have to put some faith in the folks on the front lines of this battle and heed to their cautions.

Be safe. Stay healthy. Take care of your loved ones. Wash your hands.

Until next time…

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting L.L.C.

A Guide to Being a Better Human.

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:26:17 GMT

A Guide to Being a Better Human.

Almost thirty ago, a man by the name of Dr. George Thompson coined the concept of verbal judo and spoke about the 5 fundamentals truths of human interaction. We touch on these concepts in our courses. Let us explore them…

1.People feel the need to be respected.

Race, religion, socio-economic status, place in the organizational hierarchy. It does not matter. All people want to be respected. Whether you give it to get it back, or give it unconditionally until someone proves they do not deserve it is irrelevant. But make not mistake. It is the cornerstone in which everything else is built. Build a weak foundation and the house will crumble.

2.People would rather be asked than be told.

Anyone who has raised kids knows about this one. Adults are no different. Outside of the military, give an order to an adult and it will be met with distain. Ask them to help with a task, and you are more likely to get compliance. It’s making them part of the solution. And it makes you come across less like an asshole.

3.People have a desire to know why.

Such a simple concept. But usually the one we screw up the most. Most of the time when people complain, it’s because they don’t have the proper information. They don’t know the process. They don’t understand the reasoning behind something. Tell them. Explain the process upfront. Humans are inquisitive by nature. Feed this trait on the front end of the conversation and you will see things sometimes work themselves out

4.People prefer options to threats.

Threaten someone and they will become defensive. It’s built into our DNA. By giving someone options, an individual feels as if they have some control over their destiny. And at the end of the day, that’s what we all want. A sense of control and security.

5.People want a second chance.

We are all humans. We all make mistakes. Show me someone who claims they have never made a mistake and I will show you someone who is:

1. A liar

2. Someone who never risked anything… ever.

If someone gets pissed (maybe because they didn’t know why or maybe because they were disrespected) they deserved the opportunity to say, “My bad. Give me another chance.”

While we are at it:

Take a breath.

Try not to offend.

Try harder not to be offended.
Outrage is a sign of weakness. It means you have lost control.

Until next time…

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting L.L.C.

Keene Notes – July 2020

Keene Notes - January 2021

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:23:48 GMT

Keene Notes - January 2021

It’s not a surprise many of us would categorize 2020 as a complete dumpster fire. And although that may be true in many regards, there are some things that we are thankful for.

FAMILY

Yes we know. There is such thing as too much family time. But let’s be honest. Some of us were thrown into roles where we had to spend A LOT more time with our family. And you know what? That’s a good thing. You figured out to make it work. Maybe you came up with new hobbies, schedules or traditions. Any way you look at it, family is the cornerstone of any society. And there is no doubt that for most of us, that family bond is stronger.

YOUR HEALTH

The thing with COVID…there seems to be no rhyme or reason. Some people were positive with no symptoms. Some folks barely hung on to life. We initially thought it only affected the elderly, then we watched as younger people lost their battle with this virus. So if you are reading this, you have won the initial battle. Now go win the war, and don’t take your health for granted.

SLOWING DOWN

Raise your hand if you secretly were NOT disappointed that you didn’t have to attend fourteen holiday functions. While the not being able to travel or see some loved ones may have made this holiday season unique, there is something to be said for not spreading yourself too thin. And spending Christmas in sweatpants.

YOUR HOME

For some of us, home is where we eat, sleep and repeat. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with SLOWING DOWN as mentioned above. But if 2020 showed us anything, it showed us how versatile we can make our homestead. Our homes became our offices, schools, gyms, entertainment centers and restaurants. And although some of that will change as vaccines are available and things open up, things like the home office and home gym may be here to stay (I know for us it is).

THOSE WHO STEPPED UP

Where do you even start? How about all the first responders and medical folks who never took a day off? Or the teacher who overnight became an expert in teaching 30 kids online? How about the guy who owns a distillery and changed over all his equipment to make hand sanitizer? Let’s not forget the scientists who came up with a vaccine in an unprecedented timeframe. And if you are like us, you are on a first name basis with your Amazon delivery driver and the Door Dash guy.

A special shout out to the stay-at-home parent who overnight was promoted to the rank of “Coordinator of Three Kids in Different Grades Home Learning Program.” Damn.

Some days you’re the statue. Some days you’re pigeon.

Some days you’re the windshield. Some days you’re the bug.

You get the point.

At the end of the day, it’s all about perspective.

Until next time…

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting L.L.C.

Thankful for 2020…wait what?

Keene Notes – March 2021

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:22:06 GMT

Keene Notes – March 2021

In today’s day and age, there isn’t a more hot button topic than gun control. I know what you are thinking. “You guys are a firearms training company. Of course you are in favor of everyone having guns!” But just for a moment, let’s take an OBJECTIVE (i.e. not political) look at some of the current issues when addressing this topic. Some things that must be taken into consideration:

New Gun Sales

2020 broke just about every gun sale record ever. And it wasn’t just firearm enthusiasts buying them. Purchases by first time gun owners set an all time high. According to the National Sports Shooting Federation, 2020 brought us almost 5 million first time firearm owners. In Michigan, NICS checks were conducted on over 1 million firearm purchases according to FBI. That’s more than double what it was in 2019. Trying to find ammunition? Well…best of luck to you. What this all equates to is there are a lot folks, who own a lot guns, and do not have a lot of experience or training with them.

The COVID Pandemic

There isn’t a single segment of our society that has not been affected by COVID in the past year. Consider people who are stuck in abusive, shitty living environments that have been forced to stay in those environments with little to no alternative. In talking to some of our law enforcement friends, they have confirmed cases of domestic violence have increased. The same can be said for mental illness. Take away someone’s ability to receive treatment or interact with folks is detrimental to anyone who needs help with their mental health. All the research supports this. An increase in cases of suicide and depression has occurred since March of 2020, largely due to the lack of interaction with other people and normal functions. And we are not even mentioning all the folks who lost their home / business / primary source of income for a multitude of different reasons associated with the pandemic.

Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI)

In the past two weeks the country has been witness to MCIs in Atlanta (GA) and Boulder (CO). Eighteen people lost their lives in those two incidents. And although these investigations are ongoing and most information is preliminary, the weapons of choice of the shooters appear to be a semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15 variant pistol. Anytime we experience one of these incidents, the same issues arise: background checks, mental illness, magazine capacity, weapons of war, etc. Turn on any major news network and you will hear these arguments verbatim. And although every year more people are killed by knives, fists and drunk drivers than with AR-15s, we have to collectively acknowledge the exposure these types of events receive. After all and regardless of your agenda, never let a crisis go to waste, right?

Decrease in Police Resources

Notice we didn’t use the other “D” word, because defunding the police is a topic for another day. But here is what we know: whether it’s not enough cops on the road, not enough funds to properly train them or too many good cops leaving the profession, like the old adage goes, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.” There is a movement in our society reference self-preservation. About being able to keep you and your loved ones safe. And that’s a good thing. In many communities, people are facing up to the fact they cannot always count on the police to respond in time to prevent a tragedy. But without a specific standard or baseline for folks to carry firearms responsibly, there is the potential for problems. Yes, I know. It is your constitutional right to bear arms and protect yourself. We 100% support that. It is also my right not to get accidently shot by you because you don’t know what the hell you are doing, you never practice and you shot (and missed) at the guy stealing a cordless drill from the hardware store. Just saying.

It’s the perfect storm, so-to-speak. But where do we go from here? Although not conclusive by any means, here’s a start:

Increased resources dedicated to mental illness.

There are commonalities in all MCIs: lots of people, most likely unarmed and located in a confined space. But the mental health of the shooter, or lack thereof, is almost always a factor. And this is clearly the case in the two most recent ones we spoke about. We need to have strict, objective mechanisms in place to ensure those with mental illness do not possess firearms. Get rid of the loopholes. And don’t talk to me about HIPPA. If I am your brother and you talk about shooting up your workplace and you are looking to go buy a gun, give me a tool to report that so you can’t walk into the local sporting goods store and buy one. But to add to that, let’s ensure we are treating people with mental illness. Give them access to all the tools and resources they need to be successful. How about we take a small fraction of the BILLIONS of dollars we are giving to other countries and dedicate to treating the mentally ill here at home. Seems like a novel concept.

Mandated / Ongoing training to carry a firearm in public.

I know some states have constitutional carry. No license, no class, just go ahead and carry your firearm. Some states, like Michigan, require an 8-hour course, which includes written exam, live fire proficiency and a legal segment. Other sates fall somewhere in between. It’s all over the place. And why is it when you have to renew your driver’s license every few years you have to go into the Secretary of State so they can test you and check your vision. But, want to renew your concealed pistol license? Just check this box on this form and you are good to go. See you in 4-5 years.

It hit me today when I listened to a podcast and the guest was a firearm trainer in Arizona. She emphasized the fact that in Arizona citizens have the ability to carry a firearm to protect themselves. But cross an imaginary line to a neighboring state, those folks don’t have that right. It is very difficult to obtain the ability to carry a firearm. So they don’t have that tool in the toolbox. I know it’s a lot to ask. But can we at least consider a national standard? Can we start to talk about, “Hey if you want to carry a firearm in public, we have to make sure you can hit the broad side of a barn every few years.” You have some God-given rights. Freedom of speech. Worship who you please. And you should have the ability to protect yourself and your loved ones SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO. Owning and carrying a firearm is not for everyone. But it should at least be an option if you check the appropriate boxes.

Enforce the firearm laws we currently have in place.

There are literally hundreds of firearm laws on the books. But we hear it all the time. Cases dismissed. Plea deals. Early release. So before we come up with new firearm laws, why don’t we give this a whirl: let’s starting actually using and enforcing the ones we already have. Who knows the places we may go! Making it harder for me to own or possess a firearm because of the actions of a mentally ill person on the other side of the country is like taking away my car because someone got arrested for drunk driving in Ohio. It makes no sense. We have laws on the books. Let’s use them. And if you commit a crime with a firearm, no pleas, no deals. Do your time. Make the risk not worth the reward.

The catalyst for this piece was the potential for executive action reference firearm ownership. But when talking out loud about the topic with other folks, all of the things mentioned above were consistent themes. So it made me think, are these consistent themes in other conversations other folks are having? If they are, well, maybe there is some common ground to work towards a common goal: safe, responsible gun ownership.

Until next time…

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting LLC

Sensible Gun Legislation: Does Such a Thing Exist?

Who’s Training You?

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:04:43 GMT

Who’s Training You?

Keene Notes – July 2021

Like the rest of you, we blinked and now it’s July! With that being said, requests for firearms training are at an all time high. But do you know who is training you? A weekend course and some fancy social media skills can make any look like an “expert.” So here are some things to be wary of. And some types of instructors you should avoid at all costs.

RED FLAGS

In today’s day and age, there is no excuse to not look into who is training you. After all, it’s your hard earned money! And we get it, we all have to start somewhere, but we are talking life saving skills. The first time a doctor conducts heart surgery, he or she isn’t taking that on solo. There is a seasoned doctor there to oversee things. We cannot stress this enough: A weekend certification class from an alphabet soup training company does not qualify someone as a firearms or self-defense instructor. I don’t care what anyone says. This stuff takes time. You have to spend years vetting the good stuff from the bullshit. And don’t get me wrong; I am not saying you have to be a cop or a soldier to teach this stuff. I have trained with some fantastic instructors who have lived solely in the civilian sector. But…and this is a big but...it helps to have seen and/or experienced this stuff in real life. It helps you explain why certain things work and certain things don’t. With that being said, ask your potential instructor: How long have you been doing this? How many people have you taught? Can I have references? Can they speak with any knowledge on the use of deadly force or the physiological effects of stress on the body under stress? If they can’t provide you with this info, it’s time to move on.

WHO TO AVOID

1.The Story Teller

You didn’t pay money to hear war stories. And if the instructor is doing his / her job correctly they should be a facilitating the session. They are a piece of the puzzle. You, the student, are the priority. So if your instructor spends more time telling you about all the cool shit they have done rather than helping you learn skills, take your money and move on.

2.The Relic

You don’t use the same phone you did in the 80s. So the training you receive should not be the same course that was taught thirty years ago either. There are some firearm & self-defense fundamentals that do not change. For example, cardinal rules of firearm safety. Sight picture & sight alignment. Things like this. But equipment changes. Research gives us insight into what really happens and where we should spend training time. Our society has changed and the need for these life saving skills has never been more important. Make sure you don’t spend your time and money on training that is no longer relevant.

3.The Bubba

If your instructor ever says something to the effect of they don’t need to be in shape or they don’t need any hand-to-hand skills because they carry a gun, RUN, don’t walk, for the door. The chances of a private citizen being involved in a gunfight are relatively low. You are far more likely to have to use your words or your feet to avoid violence. And a good instructor knows this. Oh yea…if they ever start a phrase with, “If I need more than 8 rounds…” take your money and move on.

4.The Smoke & Mirrors Magician

If you go to a course and all your instructor does is put you through drills they have stolen off the Internet, your time and money has been stolen. Can they demonstrate what they are teaching? Can they walk the walk? Anyone can regurgitate drills. But can they explain the WHY? That is what is most important. What is the concept behind what they are doing? You want to train with someone who is a problem solver, not someone who can memorize drills on demand. Remember, real life encounters are dynamic and rarely go as planned. Your training should reflect this.

5.To Good to be True

We all know the old adage…you get what you pay for. And it certainly pertains to training. If you pay $40 for a weekend course, that’s what you are going to get. Time is money, and professional instructors have spent years and even decades perfecting their craft. Don’t get me wrong. We do pro-bono work and give back to the community. And our goal with all training courses is to create an environment where when folks leave after training, every place they go is safer because they are there. Quality, professional services of any kind cost money. Our industry is no different.

So in essence...do your research on who is training you. Your time and money are valuable. And the skills you are paying to learn are of the utmost importance!

Until next time….

Paul Beasinger

Keene Training and Consulting