Why I Still Check Doors Twice

Growing up, we didn't have much. There were times we lived in shelters, other times we stayed with friends, and sometimes we were just scraping by, holding everything together with whatever we could. In those years, safety wasn't something we felt it was something we worked for.

I can still picture my mom every night before bed checking every door, every window, every lock, sometimes more than once. She wasn't being paranoid. She was being smart. She was raising three kids on her own, in places that weren't always safe, and doing everything she could to protect us.

That habit stuck with me.

Even now, decades later, in a different season of life with a stable home and a career in safety and leadership, I still check the doors twice. I walk around before bed, give the locks a second tug, make sure everything is set. It's automatic. And every time I do it, I remember exactly where that came from.

I'm not doing it because I think someone's lurking outside. I do it because old lessons taught in hard times tend to become core values, and this one taught me a lot more than how to secure a door. It taught me the importance of vigilance, consistency, and ownership.

In my work today whether it's training organizations on risk management, helping business leaders navigate chaos, or building teams that thrive under pressure I see it all the time: the difference between those who prepare and those who react. It's in the small things. The extra step. The double-check. The moment where someone could say "close enough" but chooses to go a little further.

That's what checking the doors twice represents to me.

It's not just about locks and latches. It's about mindset. It's about discipline. It's about honoring the responsibilities we've been given whether that's protecting a household or leading a team.

Leadership starts with how you lead yourself.

If you can't follow through on the small promises to yourself like double-checking something that matters how can you expect others to trust you with the big ones?

In leadership, in safety, and in life, it's often the smallest habits that create the strongest foundation. The second glance. The backup plan. The late-night walk around the house. These things may seem insignificant, but over time, they build trust, confidence, and results.

So yeah, I still check the doors twice. Not out of fear but out of respect.

• Respect for where I came from.
• Respect for the people who kept me safe.
• And respect for the life I'm responsible for now.

Some habits never leave us. And sometimes, that's a good thing.

#Leadership #Resilience #Preparedness #SafetyMindset #HabitsMatter #JasonMcClaren #PersonalGrowth #FromSurvivalToSuccess