Becoming Bulletproof:

By: Evy Poumpouras

Number of Pages: 308

Published on: 2024

"We convince ourselves that we lack the skill, talent, or self-worth, assuming that others are infinitely more qualified. We identify why it CAN'T be done, rather than focus on how it CAN be done."

Becoming Bulletproof Book Cover

In Becoming Bulletproof, Evy Poumpouras shares insights gained from her diverse experiences within the U.S. Secret Service. For twelve years, Poumpouras was responsible for protecting U.S. presidents, first ladies, high-ranking government officials, and world leaders. Being around individuals who exude great influence and power allowed her to observe the traits and skills that make a strong and resilient leader. In the book, Poumpouras explains how to harness fear for positive change, increase resilience and confidence, communicate effectively, spot manipulation and dishonesty, and develop a mindset that is bulletproof against outside attacks.

I found her advice and commentary highly beneficial as someone at the beginning of my professional journey who sometimes doubts their qualifications and self-worth. She discusses ways to become an effective communicator—by finding your true voice, giving undivided attention to those you interact with, remembering and frequently using people’s names, and asking open-ended questions, both in the interrogation room and in daily life.

Poumpouras also emphasizes the importance of empathy, taking ownership as a leader, being adaptable in life and work, and granting people autonomy. Lastly, she shares memorable anecdotes that reflect the character of each president she worked for—from Bill Clinton’s generosity and Hillary Clinton’s fortitude to Michelle Obama’s sense of self-worth and Barack Obama’s magnanimity.

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Favorite Quotes

• "Sometimes it's about learning how to use and harness your fear to achieve what you truly want out of life" (pg. 33)

• "I began to fear the consequences of quitting more than the hardship that every day of training had in store for me"

• "If I had taken all that in along with every taunt and aggressive slur thrown my way to heart, I would have been a cowering mess by the end of the day. That wasn't an option, if I wanted to be good at my job I needed to be impermeable..." (pg. 48)

• "We need a certain amount of stress to make us stronger." (pg. 50)

• "I can't begin to tell you how many interviews I've bombed over the years, but I go out as often as I can- even to this day. I put myself in front of people deliberatly to get better at presenting my ideas and fine- tuning my social skills- all vital to fulfilling my goals. Becoming good ar something involves practice, practice, and more practice." (pg. 51)

• "Because I know it's a fear of mine I don't want it to control me, so I condition myself to face it." (pg. 54)

• "You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. (Epicurus) " (pg. 65)

• "Research on resilience shows that it's not a genetic trait some people luck into. Rather, it's a learned skill that can be built over time like an internal scaffold capable of bearing the weight of emotional burdens." (pg. 65)

• "Yes your words are your most powerful weapon. But when it comes to respect, sometimes it's best to hold your silence and simply show the world who you are through what you do." (pg. 223)

• "It's important to remember one thing: The respect you seek must start with you. I was a female Special Agent for more than 12 years in a male- dominated profession. I wish I could say that during my career everything was fair, that I was always treated justly and as an equal, but that wouldn't be true. The path I walked was difficult at times and I faced many adversities along the way. But over the course of my career, I learned that I couldn't force others to respect me or see me as their equal. Once I came to accept that, I no longer allowed other people's opinion of me to determine my self-worth, my demeanor, and my performece." (pg. 224)

• "Know how to listen and you will profit even from those who talk badly." (pg. 265)

• Be Careful Not to Self- Edit: "Negative self- beliefs can easily prevent us from taking chances or pursuing the things we want."; "We can be so terrified of taking risks that we don't even make the attempt to go after something we want and something that we may indeed be very good at if we could just give ourselves the chance to try. Instead, we'll create a dream and kill it in the same moment. We convince ourselves that we lack the skill, talent, or self-worth, assuming that other are infinitely more qualified. We identify why it CAN'T be done rather than focus on how it CAN be done." (pg. 269)

• "Do you sabotage a goal by convincing yourself there are too many obstacles in tour way? Do you focus on all of the reasons why you can't pursue something rather than how you can?" (pg. 270)

• "If you turn every obstacle into a wall you can't get over, you let yourself become the cause of your failures. Knowing how to notice and navigate the self- editing process is the difference between trying or not, achieving or not. The first "no" you hear should never come from you." (pg. 270)

• "We base our accomplishments on someone else's failures and compare our shortcomings to another person's success." (pg. 270)

• "Every ounce of energy you waste worrying about someone else's progress or performance is one less ounce of energy you can spend on yourself on building your skills and making your own strides forward." (pg. 271)

 Rating of the book: 8/10