greg334
Veteran Expediter
Warning long post ahead
After a few odd (and funny) threads on EO, I made a comment to another EO member about some comments on one thread that had to do with a top performer.
It really made me think; is it all that important to be a “top performer�
To me - No, it is not important at all.
I think it doesn’t matter to most of us here on this site to compare what you made against what I made to see who is better. I actually think that it is poor taste to post successes and other comments when they can’t be generalize them for all to compare and learn from, but that is my ethics surfacing. I can say that I honestly want everyone to get loads to make money, even the person sitting next to me at the truck stop.
The issue for me is simply defining ‘top performer’ to the general audience here on EO so making an ‘one size fits all†is like trying to describe a flavor to a Martian who does not have a mouth; it simply can’t be done.
Being only an average owner/operator, belonging to the majority at this site and the expediting world in general, I have less control over a lot of the things that determine my overall success. Truthfully it all depends on the customer, the market and their needs that drive the business. I can only use so much skill/knowledge (also luck) to leverage my money making potential. While others (they go unmentioned) that make it a point we must emulate others, it is impossible to do so and more improbable to be a success trying. So my point of view is simply the definition of top performer does not exist with the individual owner/operator but rather it does with the fleet owner or a company where competition and the bigger picture is more in focus. Being a driver for a fleet owner even has more restrictions and achieving a top notch in this business at that point is impossible when compared outside the fleet owner’s fleet and boosting such is not justified at all. It is still luck.
Defining performance for me is more akin to being a provider, paying the bills and having money left over at the end of the day to save up for or buy something, not chasing a specific numeric goal. Going hand in hand with performance is ethics; most importantly being truly ethical in life is a mark of success, not just work ethics. Performance is also about being honest and realistic with yourself and your capabilities, setting realistic goals, even small ones that are stepping stones to larger ones. It is too about learning and sharing, you actually grow through sharing knowledge, hence the purpose of this site.
I used to work with some really wealthy people, some you know, many you don’t. All have said that chasing the buck will burn you out, it does not matter what your neighbor thinks, how many cars you have or the size of the house that matters, but what really matters is that you are happy, healthy and have a good family and that you understand that being rich is not about money at all, being rich is paying the bills, no debt and having money left over. As stupid as this sounds; it is true – you could be rich too.
Oh well I could go on for a long time on this but I won’t to save your sanity.
After a few odd (and funny) threads on EO, I made a comment to another EO member about some comments on one thread that had to do with a top performer.
It really made me think; is it all that important to be a “top performer�
To me - No, it is not important at all.
I think it doesn’t matter to most of us here on this site to compare what you made against what I made to see who is better. I actually think that it is poor taste to post successes and other comments when they can’t be generalize them for all to compare and learn from, but that is my ethics surfacing. I can say that I honestly want everyone to get loads to make money, even the person sitting next to me at the truck stop.
The issue for me is simply defining ‘top performer’ to the general audience here on EO so making an ‘one size fits all†is like trying to describe a flavor to a Martian who does not have a mouth; it simply can’t be done.
Being only an average owner/operator, belonging to the majority at this site and the expediting world in general, I have less control over a lot of the things that determine my overall success. Truthfully it all depends on the customer, the market and their needs that drive the business. I can only use so much skill/knowledge (also luck) to leverage my money making potential. While others (they go unmentioned) that make it a point we must emulate others, it is impossible to do so and more improbable to be a success trying. So my point of view is simply the definition of top performer does not exist with the individual owner/operator but rather it does with the fleet owner or a company where competition and the bigger picture is more in focus. Being a driver for a fleet owner even has more restrictions and achieving a top notch in this business at that point is impossible when compared outside the fleet owner’s fleet and boosting such is not justified at all. It is still luck.
Defining performance for me is more akin to being a provider, paying the bills and having money left over at the end of the day to save up for or buy something, not chasing a specific numeric goal. Going hand in hand with performance is ethics; most importantly being truly ethical in life is a mark of success, not just work ethics. Performance is also about being honest and realistic with yourself and your capabilities, setting realistic goals, even small ones that are stepping stones to larger ones. It is too about learning and sharing, you actually grow through sharing knowledge, hence the purpose of this site.
I used to work with some really wealthy people, some you know, many you don’t. All have said that chasing the buck will burn you out, it does not matter what your neighbor thinks, how many cars you have or the size of the house that matters, but what really matters is that you are happy, healthy and have a good family and that you understand that being rich is not about money at all, being rich is paying the bills, no debt and having money left over. As stupid as this sounds; it is true – you could be rich too.
Oh well I could go on for a long time on this but I won’t to save your sanity.
