In The News

Staying Level-Headed

Year-in and year-out, I try to set goals (not resolutions) as I shift into each and every new phase of life. And as we’re already closing the book on the first two months of 2025, it seems a good time to assess just where we each reside in terms of our own personal goals and the sights we might set on our future.

We all have responsibilities. We all have hopes and dreams of our own. But sometimes, the outside world can beat us down and, unfortunately, it often seems like the beatings just keep on coming. Take comfort, though, in knowing that we are all in this together and that most of us are feeling similar to one another.

You listen to or watch the news and realize that so much is in flux these days. Which is often when uncertainty, fear, and anxiety begin to deplete our energy and cloud our judgment. It’s easy to become so distracted by everything going on around you that you lose focus on what you need to be doing TODAY to not only survive but to thrive in such an environment.

But, as an expediter, how do you keep your head when everyone else is losing theirs?

In times like these, I’m reminded of a powerful quote by the legendary basketball coach John Wooden who said, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

Going With The Flow, Not Fighting The Current

The lesson here: You can’t control the market, trucking regulations, economic ups and downs, or many other external forces that can impact your success.

But you CAN control how you respond to those forces―to channel whatever energy comes your way in order to position yourself and your business for growth.

Think about it. A 20-ft wave terrifies the average beachgoer but THRILLs a professional surfer who transforms that wave’s overwhelming power into a stage for performing breathtaking maneuvers―like an artist on the water.

So, try and resist the temptation to complain about external forces which you have no control over.

Instead, learn how to ride that wave and harness its energy to build momentum for yourself and your long-term success.

Ask yourself:

• What attitudes or beliefs are bringing me down right now and keeping me from achieving my goals?
• What changes do I need to make to break through my inner resistance and get back on track toward my goals?
• Should I consume less social media and news, and instead add more books (or audiobooks) and inspirational content to my informational rotation?
• What are my most significant challenges in this environment―and what are the potential opportunities I can find in them?
• How can I convert the negative energy I feel into productive action?

The Bottom Line

When you deal with things as they are, not as you WISH they would be, you’ll find yourself in a better mindset, as Coach Wooden put it, to “make the best of the way things turn out.”