I work with many new people looking to start out a career or new business as I instruct at many of the training institutes in the transportation industry. Like many young people when you start going through the information you learn about where they want to go with their lives. When you tell them that you can make it if you work hard they get excited realizing they might have a chance at reaching their goal. As the course progresses it is at this point that the actions don't add up with the goals at the end. They stop thinking about their goal fearing it is too far away to attain. Instead of looking for ways to attain their goals while completing the course they begin to send in unfinished work, stop reading the information, or stop working towards the goal.

In my class I have two different types of students, both want the same outcome, either a job or owner operator business. One is going through the motions and barely squeezing by, and the other is listening and doing what he can. I have been telling them to start applying for positions while still enrolled so that when finished their course they will have already set up a plan. One is following that plan and realizing the opportunities available and the other is plodding along at the same pace. Reaching your goals involves making the opportunities happen, some call it luck while others call it opportunity. If you are trying to improve your career, start a business you have to make the opportunities and that happens by getting started in contacting people that may listen to what you want to do and making sure you are creating the opportunities that can help you succeed in your goals. Waiting to see what happens is the true way of making sure you miss important opportunities.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership author. For more information visit his website at www.outridge.ca 

We all go through ups and downs in life and sometimes staying positive is very hard to do, however the only person that can keep you motivated is you. I do my best to be positive and even I get down, but I am doing what I love and I have put myself in that position. I enjoy entrepreneurship even with the hardships that it brings. Over time I have met some people who feel a little less enthusiastic about their positions however and wonder if they know how they present to the industry they are in.

In the transportation industry there is a great driver shortage that will be no small feat to get over. A few of the recruiters in that industry however are very negative about owner operators yet their job is to recruit them to their company. How do you become enthusiastic to bring someone into your organization if you don't believe the applicant will be successful once in place? Owner operator opportunities are plentiful right now so someone negative against those opportunities will have problems hiring people in that area.

If you have something similar going on in your workplace realize the only person that can change your way of thinking is you. If your job is to do something that you truly don't believe in then you are best to get out of that position or find the benefits of it. Maybe you don't understand the owner operator position and need to find out the positive of the  position so you can be more enthusiastic when explaining it. Your attitude comes through even when you think you are hiding your disbelief. If your position works directly  opposite of your belief system it may be time for a new position.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge is a transportation consultant and author of the book Running By The Mile. For more information on Bruce and his programs please visit his website at www.outridge.ca