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Are You Willing to Become the Boss You Need to Succeed in Expediting?

“I will do today what others won’t so I can do tomorrow what others can’t.”

This quote by the all-time great NFL Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice captures the essence of what it takes to succeed as an expediter.

How?

Think about it.

Whether you’re an owner-operator or a 1099 contract driver, you’re a business owner. You’re the boss.

Sure, you have clear instructions from the carrier, broker or shipper, for how a load should be handled and by when to deliver it.

But you have the power to choose whether to accept that load or not. You decide how you want to run your business, how much time and money to invest in your professional development, and how you’ll manage your bookkeeping and finances.

Ultimately, you’re in charge. Your success (or failure) as an expediter depends on your decisions and actions today.

But, far too often, you find yourself battling some sort of inner resistance. You know should be doing certain important tasks today to grow your business, but you don’t feel like it. You’re tempted to give yourself a pass.

And that’s where Jerry Rice’s words come in.

When you’re considering the expedite life, it’s easy to be attracted to the dream of being your own boss.

You like the idea of having the freedom to set your own schedule, get paid to travel the country, and increase your income potential.

But are you willing to become what it takes to be a successful boss?

Are you willing to put in the hard work - even when you don’t feel like it today - to continuously learn, grow, and improve as a business owner?

Are you willing, as Rice puts it, to do today what others won’t so you can do tomorrow what other can’t?

I wrestled with questions like these when I started my professional writing and consulting business over two decades ago. Then a mentor shared this advice:

“Sean, being ‘the boss’ is not for everyone. if you want to get your business off the ground, you need to be the toughest boss on yourself than the most hardnosed boss you could ever imagine working for. You can’t let yourself off the hook. You must constantly kick yourself in gear. You must be more demanding of yourself than anyone else could ever be of you.”

His advice put things in perspective for me.

Was I willing to become what it takes to be the boss?

Or, was I only “in love” with the idea of being my own boss but not willing to put in the hard work?

What about you?

Are you willing to become that hardnosed boss to yourself?

Or, are you only in love with the DREAM to be your own boss?

Be brutally honest with yourself.

The Next Step
Where can you discover more details about what it takes to succeed in the expedite business?

Where can you meet potential mentors -- successful expedite owner-operators and drivers who can help you decide whether expediting is right for you?

Consider attending the Expedite Expo on July 16 and 17 in Fort  Wayne, Ind.

The Expo is the only trade event that’s focused exclusively on the expedited trucking industry.

And it’s poised to be the first in-person trucking event in the U.S. since the COVID-19 lockdowns began in March 2020.

There will be educational workshops and networking opportunities to give you the details you need about the industry to determine whether you’re ready - and truly willing - to be your own boss in expedited trucking.

The best part?

Registration is free.

Go to https://www.expediteexpo.com/ to learn more and reserve your spot today.