Comments By Brett Aquila

It eventually became the core principle in teaching young ski racers. We found long term success if we forced them to develop strong fundamentals and practice habits rather than simply relying on inherent talent.

I wonder how often the failure to do this leads talented people to come up short? In football, how many Heisman Trophy winners never have good NFL careers? I asked AI to explain:

It's a common observation that many Heisman Trophy winners, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding college football player in the United States, have not translated their success into notable NFL careers. A study or general observation would show that perhaps less than half of Heisman winners become significant contributors in the NFL, let alone stars.

So many talented people have natural gifts that get them far in life, but they never develop the discipline to practice at the level they should, and because of this, they fall far short of their potential.

One of the things that I really enjoy about trucking is that there are so many nuances that we can tweak and adjust and then see the results real time.

That's true! It's a career where you can set yourself apart, not necessarily through safe driving, but through overall efficiency. Most drivers are safe drivers, and it's not uncommon to go many years without an accident, but far fewer drivers can turn big miles consistently and be on time for all of their appointments.

Being on time and efficient over the long run takes a lot of creative problem solving and commitment. It takes a lot of experience and experimentation to figure out the tricks of the trade.

I always enjoyed the flexibility trucking offered. Of course, getting to write down what you did in a loose-leaf logbook sure helped!

Hey Jason,

If that's all that happened, you'll get another opportunity soon enough. You have to keep pounding the pavement with every company you can find. It's painful to hear they sent you home over a one-point miss, but TMC has quite a few military personnel running things, and they love being strict and ruthless sometimes. Great company. Amazing company. But they can be harsh.

I don't know if they still do it, but they used to have a "stay off the grass" sign, and if you walked on the grass, they sent you home, no questions asked. You were done.

I don't think military folks realize civilians don't approach things the way they do. We don't regard every sign we see or everything we're told as deadly serious. If we're told you need an 80 to pass and you get a 79, it seems reasonable to most people that you're good enough.

But I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.

Don't let it bother you anymore. Forget it and find the next opportunity. It's out there.

Oh man, that sucks! I make my living at a computer these days, and I don't think a broken finger would be much help with typing, either.

Here's to fast healing! Get better.

Without a systemic approach of repeatable tasks, it's much more difficult to practice tasks. And without practices, automaticity is extremely difficult to achieve.

One key that distinguishes highly accomplished, successful people from the rest is their focus on constant learning and personal growth. Most people do very little of this.

It's so deeply ingrained that I find myself thinking through even small details, like how I wash the dishes, load the wood stove, or make eggs. Can I do it faster, easier, or more efficiently?

You really must make a conscious effort to improve, though, and not just put in reps. We've all known people who have done something for 20+ years, and somehow, they're still terrible at it! My varsity football coach was at his post for almost 25 years and he was just awful. His playbook never changed. We had parents that played for the same coach, and they used the same plays!

At the same time, one of the main differentiators in intelligence is one's ability to plan ahead and give up things in the near term for long-term rewards. Most people do very little of this.

Interestingly enough, the ability to postpone near-term gratification for long-term rewards is something you can practice and improve upon, and I do it all the time. For instance, I'll buy a small bag of hard candy - about 15 pieces - for the week. I set it out on the counter, and that's all I get for the week, but I put no restrictions on how I eat it. Sometimes, it's gone in two days, and sometimes, it lasts the entire week. I'm always happier when I make it last.

High-achievers integrate routines, practice skills, learn, and plan ahead in their everyday lives. We are creatures of habit. Therefore, forming good habits is a powerful tool. Failure to do so or developing bad habits can become a brutal punishment.

Trucking offers many opportunities to develop strong habits, learn, and grow, which shows in top-tier drivers' performance. They've mastered their skills and developed the discipline and habits that keep them at the top.

Thanks, Greg. I'll take a look at that.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Let us know if you made it home for Xmas and what your plans are!

If you're on the road, God bless you and I hope you find a way to make the most of it!

I just found out about this yesterday myself. How sad! Anne was really something. She helped out quite a bit behind the scenes here and loved being part of the community.

Welcome, Matt!

I have a clean driving record with no criminal history. Is it reasonable to make $1000+ a week starting out?

Absolutely! If you hustle and give it your all, you should make at least $50,000 - $60,000 your first year in trucking, and that may even be a bit conservative. Some do better than that.

I would recommend Paid CDL Training Programs instead of private schooling. Check out that link and also:

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
• Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Truck Driving School"

Apply For Paid CDL Training

I can't make any more career mistakes at this point in my life

Yes you can, you're still a kid! I'm 53 and I'm always trying to start a new business or career. I'm constantly learning new things and trying to find better opportunities. Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself. I'm a quarter century older than you and I have another quarter century of good years left in me.

I think trucking might be just the right thing for you at this stage. It's certainly worth a shot, and you can always walk away anytime.

Hey David,

That's a tough spot you're in. That speeding ticket is about 1/2 degree short of murder in this industry, and I'm sure you know that already. Unfortunately, I don't think buying your own truck would help because getting insurance would be a nightmare. You could almost certainly find someone to lease a truck to you, but I'm not a fan of leasing or owning a truck. The economics of it are terrible.

But if you're in a tough spot, sometimes you have to make due until you can get back to where you want to be.

In most states, that ticket will be an issue for three years. I believe tickets drop off after that.

All you can really do is apply like crazy everywhere imaginable and see what happens. If you can't find a company gig, I would look for a lease opportunity before buying a truck. You won't make as much money as a company driver in either regard, but I think it's easier walking away from a lease than a truck you own outright. Plus, I believe the company leasing you a truck can help you out with regard to insurance, which is key in your situation.

Maybe PJ will come around. He owns his truck and will have far more insights into the leasing vs buying thing.

Where there's a will there's a way. You'll get another shot. It might be a grind trying to get one, but you will.

"We" refers to me and God (not the multiple personality disorder my wife accuses me of!)

It's funny, but anyone who spends an enormous amount of time alone (myself included) always says "we" when referring to themselves. When I first started driving, I noticed that everyone said things like, "We're heading to...." or "We have four hours to go."

I've always done it, and I still do.

In fact, I also walk around talking as if there's someone in the room with me. I'm constantly explaining myself to this imaginary person. The other day, I read that we organize our own thoughts by explaining them. It helps us sort through our thought processes to make sure we have a grasp on things. I like that explanation better than, "he's obviously insane" so I'm going with it!