Hired At Con-Way ... Everything Was Great!

I don't think God or any other entity should be given too much credit for our successes and failures. We all receive help along the path of our most difficult journeys. But we as individuals are still the ones who have to walk that path. Its our hard work, preparation, persistence, attitude, and decisions that ultimately make or break any endeavor.

I think you may have misinterpreted what I wrote Brett. I no way did I mean God had anything to do with MG being successful. I simply stated that in my life God has blocked my path when it really wasn't the one I should be on, nothing more, nothing less. MG was sure she wanted to work for the tanker company in her area, yet there was a different company that is just as good (and may be better) that she didn't have to fight tooth and nail with to get hired on. I believe in fighting the battles that need to be fought, but make sure I pick them carefully. If that isn't the way it came across I apologize!

If that isn't the way it came across I apologize!

Oh you came across just fine and no need at all to apologize. I just pick up on little things and run with em sometimes.

When you said that, it made me think about how often people blame others for their failures, and that kind of thing is rampant in the trucking industry. If you took a poll and asked anyone who was unsuccessful in trucking if it was their fault, 99% of the people wouldn't even take 50% of the blame for their failure. It's always someone else's fault.

But even the thought that you're not in control of your own destiny can be crippling. It keeps people from putting in the time, energy, and effort it takes to be successful because ultimately they really don't believe they have control over the outcome anyhow. So why bust your *ss, struggle, suffer, and sacrifice if it won't be the deciding factor in the outcome? Just put in the minimum effort and wait to see what happens. And that's exactly what an alarming number of people do when coming into this industry. They think their destiny will be determined by the company they choose, the truck they drive, the trainer they get, or a million other factors. Cuz you know how most people are - we're always right! We don't make mistakes - others do. We don't create bad plans - others do. We don't fail to put in the effort it takes to learn - the teachers fail to teach us! So heck....it can't be me that's the problem. It must be someone else.

So anytime I find an opportunity to help people understand what it takes to get their trucking career off to a great start I run with it. And the attitude problem is by far the biggest problem people face. If you look at all of the people that get booted out of trucking, often times it doesn't have much to do with driving. They may tell you it's your driving. But quite honestly there are times a company or company-sponsored school might not think you have the right attitude or approach to become a safe, productive driver so they tell you that your driving stinks and they send you home. It's safer from a legal standpoint to say you aren't capable of developing the skills than it is to say you're arrogant or unwilling to learn.

Anyone who has ever attended a company-sponsored school or company orientation will tell you that about 20% of the people that show up have horrible attitudes. They think they know it all or they're skeptical about whether or not the company is any good. Don't forget, the average age in trucking is in the late 40's and rarely is it someone's first career. Most people come into trucking from other careers and they have a lot of life experience. They assume trucks are basically big cars and they have to drive them around to deliver things. Big deal. What's to know? Get out of my face, let me practice a little backing and shifting, give me a load, and let's start making money, right? How hard can it be?

That type of attitude gets people killed in a hurry. Trucking companies try like crazy to make sure the people they put behind the wheel take safety seriously. And common sense would tell you that 80,000 pounds rolling down the road is seriously dangerous, but once again we're all heroes in our own minds. Some people simply don't realize how challenging it is and how quickly things can go wrong.

SEE??? I told you I run with things!!!

But you said absolutely nothing wrong and I wasn't directing any of my last two posts at you personally. I just spotted a generally applicable teaching moment and ran with it til I ran out of gas. Such is my style.

But you said absolutely nothing wrong and I wasn't directing any of my last two posts at you personally. I just spotted a generally applicable teaching moment and ran with it til I ran out of gas. Such is my style.

And it's appreciated, believe me. I don't speak up much, but I do read most everything, and I can use all the perspective I can get from those with experience.

And congrats, Mountain Girl!

You know, sometimes God has a way of protecting us from ourselves! There are times I just know what I am supposed to be doing, and then there is a big roadblock in my way I cannot get around....come to find out that wasn't the road I was supposed to be on anyway!

I totally agree that sometimes it seems like divine intervention when things work out well. But I was hoping God wasn't going to be given all the credit for helping to make this happen because the way I see it, things are working out for Mountain Girl because:

1) She has an amazing attitude. Stellar in fact.

2) She worked very hard at school then equally hard at researching companies and seeking out opportunities

3) She listened to the wonderful advice she was given by so many different people along the way. This is truly a victory for Mountain Girl and our entire community because so many people contributed their wonderful time and thoughts along the way....exactly how the system was designed to work.

The only reason I mentioned this is because time and time again people drop out, fail out, or get kicked out of the trucking industry and if you ask them it's never, ever their fault. Not even 1%. It's the company, the trainer, the truck, the school - it's always someone or something else that's to blame.

I don't think God or any other entity should be given too much credit for our successes and failures. We all receive help along the path of our most difficult journeys. But we as individuals are still the ones who have to walk that path. Its our hard work, preparation, persistence, attitude, and decisions that ultimately make or break any endeavor.

So I think placing too much credit or blame elsewhere can be detrimental to our chances of success. If we don't believe we control our own destiny we may not be willing to do what's necessary to succeed or be ready to accept the blame for our failures so we can learn from them and improve ourselves for the next time. Not to mention, credit is often misplaced. Like when you see football players thanking God for their success. Hey, what about your parents, coaches, teachers, and teammates that busted their *sses every single day of your life to help you get where you're at? Yeah, let's not forget to thank them or the next time you might truly find yourself alone with God on your long, difficult journey.

Congrats Mountain Girl! You've earned it and you deserve it. Now go out there and earn yourself an awesome reputation as a safe, productive driver with a great attitude - a true professional. That's clearly within your capabilities so I know we can expect that from you the same way you expect it from yourself.

And to anyone else coming into the trucking industry - you control your own destiny. Go out there with unbreakable resolve and make great things happen. Ignore the garbage you read about trucking companies or the industry itself. Ignore the complaints, the misplaced blame, and the cry-babying. Take responsibility for your own attitude and work ethic and prove to yourself and everyone around you that you are willing and able to earn a reputation as a true professional out there. That's the approach that will get you to the top of the mountain.

-Brett Aquila

Oh, wow. THANKS Brett!

I just came across this for the first time, as I was browsing through the blogs on here and didn't even know you'd written this, until now. Man, I am so flattered. I'm going to keep this page forever, and read it all over again sometime when I'm having a rough day. I really, truly appreciate such high compliments, especially from you.

You bet I'm gonna' meet and exceed the company (everyone's) standards - especially with all my "homies" on here covering my back. I'll at least bust my tail trying. On some levels, (okay, most) I have no idea what-the-heck I'm doin' but I guess I'll figure it out, right?

My gratitude toward you, this way-cool website, and everyone on here is beyond my ability to express.

vroom-VROOM!

-mountain girl

I haven't drank kool aid in years. I drink tea. Got to love the young-adult stigma.

It's not a reference to your age or stigma, actually. "Kool Aid" is a reference from the 60s when hippies were experimenting with LSD and mixing it with Kool-Aid. There was even a very popular, groovy book that came out called The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

"You've been drinking too much of that kool aid" became a reference to one's lack of sense of reality.

-mountain girl

Guess I have to brush up on my references from ancient times.

Hey!!! ... watch the "ancient jokes" lol ;)

I'm subscribed !!! ... I love the energy of this thread and @mountain girl.

It's players like mg and @wine taster that inspire me to move forward with this thing and teach me the correct mindset to have.

grazie

Well DUH! Did you expect anything less than the best outcome? No, not you! Congratulations and everything Brett said

I'm subscribed !!! ... I love the energy of this thread and @mountain girl.

It's players like mg and @wine taster that inspire me to move forward with this thing and teach me the correct mindset to have.

grazie

-AJ D

Did you just call me a "player?"

OMG. LOL. NOT. I am SUCH a newb, Dude. But thank you. LOL.

Stick around. It's fun here.

-mountain girl

Well DUH! Did you expect anything less than the best outcome? No, not you! Congratulations and everything Brett said

-Rolling Thunder

Well, let's put it this way: I shouldn't have expected anything less, with all my homies backing me, yanno'?

So, Tha-anks!

Vroom-VROOM!

-mountain girl

Here's some more stuff on my "experience" so far. Har-har.

LTL Thread ...for inquiring minds

-mountain girl