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“Being switched on is a daily decision, a moment-by-moment choice, a constant awareness and mindset. It is a coat of armor that protects you from all types of threats, in all aspects of life.”

“We need to read the people in front of us, behind us, on the phone and online … there could even be a time when being switched on could save your life.” That is the philosophy of former U.S. Special Agent Eric J. Caron, which serves as the umbrella for his life story as recounted in his insightful memoir, Switched On: The Heart and Mind of a Special Agent (read our review here).

In a wide-ranging interview, Caron goes deeper into that philosophy and the harrowing career in which his switched-on mindset kept him alive.

Q: Tell us more about what being “switched on” really means.

A: It’s constant protection against potential threats, both in your physical and emotional worlds. It has kept me safe and prevented me from getting killed as a Special Agent for 25 years. It has three core ingredients: sleep, eat and exercise (learned from my Marine Corps father at the age of five); faith (believing in a greater being gives you hope, and helps see you through those life-shattering events); and education (your ticket to life’s party).

Q: You first learned the concept within your family. Explain why it was so significant and so important given the work you did as a Special Agent in the U.S. Government.

A: Life’s journey is filled with hills and valleys, broken dreams and promises, and, of course, death. If you’re switched on, you’ll understand and appreciate that, through love and loss, our hearts take shape as we grow as human beings. As a police officer, my father saw all the demons of the world. He was determined to prepare his twin sons for all life’s challenges, or the “tests” where, in some circumstances, there is no makeup exam. My dad understood if you trained the mind, the most important “muscle,” the body will follow. 

Q: Tell us about one of the more precarious situations you ever found yourself in, and how your philosophy helped you get through.

A: I introduce the reader to transnational criminals such as drug smugglers, child pornographers, arms traffickers, defense contractors, terrorists and even CIA officials who go rogue. My life and all Law Enforcement Officers’ (LEOs) lives are devoted to fighting the worst kind of criminals and dealing with the most terrible evil. LEOs are in constant fight-or-flight mode, resulting in higher levels of stress and causing physical ailments. What can’t be seen and is often undetected is the psychological injury many LEOs suffer in the form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. LEOs who are not switched on drift to the “dark side” and criminal behavior, or after years of mental trauma to the brain, some commit suicide. I’m alive today because I was switched on!

Q: Your book could be described as an exciting story and memoir and a self-help book. Do you see it filling both those categories?

A: My story is a memoir that includes teachable moments like: “Finding the Blessings in Tragedy” and “Understanding the Circle of Life.” I provide the reader a true glimpse into the making of a U.S. Special Agent and life behind the badge. Switched On will certainly make you laugh, cry and sweat with a degree of realism that leaves the reader stunned.

Q: Tell us a little about your podcast.

A: Switched On Life (SOL) is all about keeping you safe! No matter where you play or pray, I want people to identify, avoid and escape potential threats in their lives — from cyber to physical to emotional. SOL will give you information and a coat of armor to live a safe, balanced and happy life. The show is produced by Sociable, an Emmy Award-winning production company that co-produced Caught In Providence, which was syndicated by Debmar-Mercury.

Q: What message do you want readers to take away from this book?

A: Life is good but filled with challenges that can lead us down a path of destruction or peace. Living a switched-on life is a way of life. I provide the reader my core principles, which kept me safe from all dangers, and I also provide a law enforcement insight that few see. Without these good shepherds, our neighborhoods, cities, states and country would almost certainly fail to exist.

Q: Is there another project on the horizon for you?

A: I just finished the Switched On audiobook, and I’m so very proud of the final product. The professional narrator and music selection make it truly riveting. I also look forward to doing Switched On public speaking and book signings. Finally, a second book, a national security thriller based on true events, is in the works.

Q: What is the significance of the Switched On butterfly logo on your website?

A: My hero, a fatherless father, was a shoeshine boy in the 1940s and later joined the Marines. He went on to become a decorated police officer and raised seven children. That shoeshine boy was my dad. When he died, my mom discovered tucked in his policeman’s cap a Christian butterfly card titled, “Born Again.” The butterfly symbolizes hope and new beginnings, derived from the resurrection. Within the wings of my butterfly logo, you will see two pairs of shoes — mine and my father’s, symbolizing that I never walk alone.

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About Eric Caron:

Eric Caron is a retired U.S. Diplomat, U.S. Special Agent, HSBC Middle East Bank Executive and author of Switched On: The Heart and Mind of a Special Agent. He is currently a security consultant and an analyst for Channel 7 News in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Cape Cod, where he teaches a course on How to Identify and Prevent Transnational Crime, and Cyber Security.

When he is not lending his knowledge and expertise to the country’s continuing fight against crime, evil and terrorism, Caron is likely to be found spending time with his family, at the gym working out, or walking along the beach.

Jim Alkon

Jim Alkon is Editorial Director of BookTrib.com. Jim is a veteran of the business-to-business media and marketing worlds, with extensive experience in business development and content. Jim is a writer at heart – whether a book review, blog, white paper, corporate communication, marketing or sales piece, it really doesn’t matter as long as he is having fun and someone is benefitting from it.

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