In the moving business there are times that on moves going over 800 miles that the origin agent is asked to pick the move up and bring it back to their facility until dispatch can plan a driver to take it to it's destination.
Agents do not like to APU- (agent pick up)- their profit lessons when they do and in the summer season they have limited labor and floor space.
Drivers do not like APU's- their profit lessons because in order to pay the agent something to pick up a move we have to deduct it from the line haul that the driver would normally be participating in.
SO WHY ARE THEIR APU's ?
Many factors.
In the slower season operations is trying to build loads and it is difficult to start a long haul driver on a load unless you have at least a half or a third of a trailer load. You can try to fill in the holes with late bookings and other sources but you at least need a foundation.
In the 3-4 months of our busy season several factors come into play.
First and foremost it is the goal of operations to assign every move to a direct driver that will load and deliver it rather than have an agent pick it up. The move gets handled less which means, more than likely, less claims. We have a much better chance at meeting our registered delivery dates if we load direct. And overall we feel the customer has a much better experience if the driver that delivers their goods is the driver who takes things a part and loads them.
Ok, so back to why we APU in the summer
Many offers now come over from our accounts and the military last minute, or within 7-10 days of the load, which lessons the choices of operations.
Even if operations assigns a move to a driver or an agent to haul many other factors come into play by the time the load date comes around-
Estimates- if a move is registered and planned for 7000 lbs for example and it is then revised to 14,000 lbs before load date we need to make shifts to avoid overflows and to service the move correctly. Estimates going larger or smaller can have a domino effect on two to three drivers and in the busy season, again, the choices may be limited.
Cancellations- A move cancelling can cause the same domino effect as a blown estimate so what is planned in the morning may not be planned in the afternoon.
Medical- Because we work in a people business there is always a chance that a driver or a close family member of the driver has medical issues so again shuffling may need to occur on a move previously assigned.
Mechanical breakdowns- As good as we all are on keeping our tractors, trucks and trailers inspected and mechanically sound there are problem that can occur when you driving thousands of mile.
Weather- We certainly know what mother nature can do and there is no pre-planing that can prevent that.
Driver shortage- As the moving industry shakes get familiar and helps shapes our military moves in particular and we all get our hands wrapped around all the new regulations that D.O.T. has, and is, implementing our drivers are having a difficult time and therefore we have a driver shortage in our industry for the first time since I have been associated with it in the mid eighties.
I do believe it will get better and the industry will once again recognize the "driver" for his hard work....I know that Arpin still does !
I am sure that I am missing some but you get the drift....we all want to take care of our customers and loading direct is our priority and always will be.
As always it takes TEAM work.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
TRUST
There use to be an exercise to do with a group of people where someone would stand in front of a person and stare straight ahead and then fall backwards trusting that the person behind them would catch them.
That is what it feels like in the work place and it certainly the relationship that is needed between drivers and dispatch.
For the driver to do his job he needs to know that the person who is dispatching them had their back and he must trust that the dispatcher is working FOR them. The same of coarse works in reverse, the dispatcher needs to know that the driver has their back and trust them and will do keep their word on what is promised.
No matter what business you are in we all must trust our counterparts and the people that we work aside every day.
When you do not trust each other there is no way anyone can truly work to the best of their ability. You end up always looking over your shoulder and it effects your disposition and how you approach the day. It spreads negativity which is always counterproductive.
You gain trust by being honest and not having personnel agenda's.
You can trust by reaching out and helping.
You gain trust by looking past someones false because let's face it we all of our own false.
Be positive and be first to extend the olive branch and you will be surprised.
To many people hold grudges and want revenge and for what ?? Where does it get you.
It will wear you down.
If you want to make your day easier then pull in as many people as you can, don't push them away and DO NOT JUDGE.
Unless you have walked a mile in someone Else's shoes DO NOT JUDGE THEM.
WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED AT A MUCH LATER DATE....
That is what it feels like in the work place and it certainly the relationship that is needed between drivers and dispatch.
For the driver to do his job he needs to know that the person who is dispatching them had their back and he must trust that the dispatcher is working FOR them. The same of coarse works in reverse, the dispatcher needs to know that the driver has their back and trust them and will do keep their word on what is promised.
No matter what business you are in we all must trust our counterparts and the people that we work aside every day.
When you do not trust each other there is no way anyone can truly work to the best of their ability. You end up always looking over your shoulder and it effects your disposition and how you approach the day. It spreads negativity which is always counterproductive.
You gain trust by being honest and not having personnel agenda's.
You can trust by reaching out and helping.
You gain trust by looking past someones false because let's face it we all of our own false.
Be positive and be first to extend the olive branch and you will be surprised.
To many people hold grudges and want revenge and for what ?? Where does it get you.
It will wear you down.
If you want to make your day easier then pull in as many people as you can, don't push them away and DO NOT JUDGE.
Unless you have walked a mile in someone Else's shoes DO NOT JUDGE THEM.
WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED AT A MUCH LATER DATE....
Saturday, April 28, 2012
A sense of URGENCY
Most people that I see and work with seem to always have a sense of urgency to them.
They do not put things off or push them aside or pass them to someone else.
They attack the day and each situation with a sense of urgency.
I see it everyday, rather then doing it now they put it off...and some times for days.
Paul Arpin trained me well because when he asked for something he expected you to get right on it.
He wanted answers, and wanted them sooner rather than later.
He looked at procrastination as someone who did not care about their job and therefore he moved on. Because by delaying their job and duties they were delaying what he could then do.
I expect the same with the people around me and they can certainly expect the same from me.
If I say I am working on it you can take it to the bank. People need that type of trust to truly build a relationship of trust. And in business, as in life, it is all about trust.
By putting something off that is asked of you it is showing disrespect. What you are saying to the person is they are not important and you will get to it when dam well fell like it.
Talk is cheap....show them that you care. Do it and do it sooner rather then later and by all means FOLLOW UP.
They do not put things off or push them aside or pass them to someone else.
They attack the day and each situation with a sense of urgency.
I see it everyday, rather then doing it now they put it off...and some times for days.
Paul Arpin trained me well because when he asked for something he expected you to get right on it.
He wanted answers, and wanted them sooner rather than later.
He looked at procrastination as someone who did not care about their job and therefore he moved on. Because by delaying their job and duties they were delaying what he could then do.
I expect the same with the people around me and they can certainly expect the same from me.
If I say I am working on it you can take it to the bank. People need that type of trust to truly build a relationship of trust. And in business, as in life, it is all about trust.
By putting something off that is asked of you it is showing disrespect. What you are saying to the person is they are not important and you will get to it when dam well fell like it.
Talk is cheap....show them that you care. Do it and do it sooner rather then later and by all means FOLLOW UP.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
20-60-20
The 20-60-20 Rule
In any profession the 20-60-20 rule applies.
On any given day at any given place of employment, 20 percent of the people that work there are incredibly responsible and will always strive to do their best and get the job done. they may want to be that responsible but they have this inner voice that tells them, "if not you, who? If you don't do it, it's not going to get done and bad things are going to happen". So, often at great cost to themselves, they still get the job done.
Next comes the 60 percent in the middle. They don't want to do anything bad, but they also don't necessarily want to do anything good. They just want to get by, put in their eight hours a day, and be unnoticed. They straddle the fence of indifference and really like it up there.
Then you have the final 20 percent. They are the worse. All they want to do is advance themselves while doing as little as possible. They lie, steal, and cheat for the greater good of ... themselves. They continually corrupt and manipulate the system to the detriment of the other 80 percent. And guess what? They couldn't care less. I'm willing to bet you know a few people from each category.
So in life, the trick as an employer is to find those those first 20 percent, hire them, and keep them happy.
What we all need to do is to get in, and then remain in, that first 20 percent.
Hard work, decency, street smarts, and persistence will conquer a lot of ills.
In any profession the 20-60-20 rule applies.
On any given day at any given place of employment, 20 percent of the people that work there are incredibly responsible and will always strive to do their best and get the job done. they may want to be that responsible but they have this inner voice that tells them, "if not you, who? If you don't do it, it's not going to get done and bad things are going to happen". So, often at great cost to themselves, they still get the job done.
Next comes the 60 percent in the middle. They don't want to do anything bad, but they also don't necessarily want to do anything good. They just want to get by, put in their eight hours a day, and be unnoticed. They straddle the fence of indifference and really like it up there.
Then you have the final 20 percent. They are the worse. All they want to do is advance themselves while doing as little as possible. They lie, steal, and cheat for the greater good of ... themselves. They continually corrupt and manipulate the system to the detriment of the other 80 percent. And guess what? They couldn't care less. I'm willing to bet you know a few people from each category.
So in life, the trick as an employer is to find those those first 20 percent, hire them, and keep them happy.
What we all need to do is to get in, and then remain in, that first 20 percent.
Hard work, decency, street smarts, and persistence will conquer a lot of ills.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
FROM ONE OF ARPIN'S DRIVERS..
We all know how hard it is
to lose a friend or family member,death,does not come easy,for ANYBODY,Well?I
lost a 25 year friend 6 weeks ago and I believe he went the way any furniture
mover would have wanted to go,at the end of a pack and load...There's a bunch
of background...
John Rush(RIP)had a medical
problem in Georgia 6 weeks ago. I talked to him twice that day and just thought
it was a cold....His help realized it was more and took him to a doctor,who
placed him in ICU,where he did not return...A pulmonary embolism,took his
life.....Imagine a driver dieing on the road and what a mess it was to clean
up..
Up Steps Arpin,gets the
truck secured,moved to a locked lot,and at that point they step in and work out
the details with Johns 5 years girlfriend for EVERYTHING. Talk about a FAMILY
of movers?
Every aspect was overseen by
them and to the last detail,they listened to the tears...
NOW,They are in the process
of getting her stuff moved back to Atlanta(she could not afford to live in
California by herself)and I don't think there's going to be anything published
as to just what they have done to help. I HAD to say something.....Special
thanks need to go out to David Arpin(for being there),Dave Vieira,and most of
all to Bruce Fox,he listened to the tears,and DID something about it.
AND folks wonder why I'm so
happy here at Arpin???They got our back........Thanks for letting me be here.
John's background and years
in the industry are covered in the obit:
John Dewey Rush, 65, of
Grover Beach, California unexpectedly went to be with the Lord on Friday, March
9, 2012. His mate of nearly 5 years, Juli DeCarlo, and long-time friend,
Michelle Hagarman, were by his side.
John was born to the late
Benard Clarence Rush and Jessie Anderson on May 26, 1946 in Warren, Ohio. After
graduating high school, he served our country in the Army. Once discharged,
John became a long-haul truck driver and spent most of his life on the road
serving the public. He had such a zeal for life and enjoyed being on the road
travelling the United States. With his contagious laugh, witty humor and caring
personality, he made long-lasting friendships everywhere he went.
During his 30+ years as a
driver and mover, he worked for North American Van Lines and, most recently,
Arpin Van Lines. While picking up a load in Valdosta, Georgia, John fell ill on
Tuesday, March 6 and was admitted to Tifton Regional Medical Center. Great
praise is deserved for the doctors and ICU nurses who fought tirelessly and
exhausted all resources to save John.
John is survived by his
mate, Juli DeCarlo. His remains were cremated, and no formal memorial service
was held. If a memorial gift would like to be given, it is requested to be sent
to Juli DeCarlo at 651 South 9th St, Grover Beach, CA 93433 to defer
costs of handling John’s estate.
John’s beaming smile,
cheerful laugh, and enduring friendship will be dearly missed by all who knew
him.
Friday, April 20, 2012
1981
| THE YEAR WAS 1981 | |
| US PRESIDENT-VICE PRESIDENT: Ronald Reagan & George Bush HEADLINES: Iran releases 52 American Hostages minutes after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated, ending their 444 - day ordeal ~ Major League Baseball players begin 7 week strike over free agency issues ~ Sandra Day O'Connor of Arizona becomes the first woman on the US Supreme Court. TIME MAGAZINE PERSON OF THE YEAR: Lech Walesa POPULAR TV SHOWS: Too Close for Comfort ~ M*A*S*H ~ One Day at a Time ~ 60 Minutes ~ Dallas ~ The Love Boat ~ House Calls SONGS: Bette Davis Eyes ~ Celebration- Endless Love ~ Jessie's Girl ~ 9 to 5 ~ Physical ~ Private Eyes ~ Kiss On My List SPORTS: Champions include Los Angeles Dodgers (baseball), Oakland Raiders -football, Bobby Unser (Indianapolis 500), New York Islander (hockey), Indiana (NCAA basketball), Marcus Allen from Southern California (Heisman Trophy), and John McEnro and Chris Evert (Singles at Wimbledon Tennis) COST OF LIVING: New Car $7718 ~ Gasoline $1.25 per gallon ~ Eggs .50 a dozen ~ Bacon $1.45 a pound ~ Ground Hamburg .97 per pound ~ Fresh Bread .53 per loaf ~ Postage Stamp .19 ~ Average Rent $315 FADS: Rubik's Cube ~ Jellybeans POPULAR MOVIES: Every Which Way You Can ~ Nine to Five ~ Absence of Malice ~ Arthur ~ Chariots of Fire ~ Excalibur ~ Superman II ~ Raiders of the Lost Ark ~ For Your Eyes Only |
Thursday, April 19, 2012
As the great philosopher...
As the great philosopher.. Forest Gump once said....SHIT HAPPENS
In the moving business many hands and many people touch one move. From the first point of contact to arrange the move to the person that does a survey to the packers and loaders and the delivery crew and if a move goes to storage add in warehouse crews and the delivery out people.
Add in traveling hundreds and thousands of miles and many things can happen and could go ...let's say not as planned.
In this business as in many businesses you do your very best to prevent those moments of mishap and train and preplanned and educate and exchange as much information as possible and even then problems can arise.
What separates the good from the great is how you handle the problems because they will happen no matter how much effort is put in.
Everyone needs to work together and address the situation as soon as possible. Do not hesitate or put it off...run to it...hit it head on and push aside the drama and the he said she said game and work the problem. The secret is to let others around even know that there is a problem just quietly access it and come up with resolutions.
I have seen some very cool things happen in operations through the years. Agents and drivers that step up and a part of the solution and are part of the team.
That is when great things happen and yes I believe in what goes around comes around, call it Karma or fate or what ever you want to but I do believe in it.
Yes," shit happens" but it is what YOU do when it does happen that will show YOUR character.
In the moving business many hands and many people touch one move. From the first point of contact to arrange the move to the person that does a survey to the packers and loaders and the delivery crew and if a move goes to storage add in warehouse crews and the delivery out people.
Add in traveling hundreds and thousands of miles and many things can happen and could go ...let's say not as planned.
In this business as in many businesses you do your very best to prevent those moments of mishap and train and preplanned and educate and exchange as much information as possible and even then problems can arise.
What separates the good from the great is how you handle the problems because they will happen no matter how much effort is put in.
Everyone needs to work together and address the situation as soon as possible. Do not hesitate or put it off...run to it...hit it head on and push aside the drama and the he said she said game and work the problem. The secret is to let others around even know that there is a problem just quietly access it and come up with resolutions.
I have seen some very cool things happen in operations through the years. Agents and drivers that step up and a part of the solution and are part of the team.
That is when great things happen and yes I believe in what goes around comes around, call it Karma or fate or what ever you want to but I do believe in it.
Yes," shit happens" but it is what YOU do when it does happen that will show YOUR character.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A posting from our Road Warrior- SKIP
Things I'm Proud Of
I was sitting in the truck today and just
glanced at the miles on this OLD Pete...906,000,JEEZE,I just realized this will
be the 4'th truck(not bought new,and in just 94,000 more)I've taken over a
MILLION miles.That's a lesson,take care of your stuff and it will last.My
actual miles are just over 3.2 million.At this point I need to get to the part
where I'm proud.........My last truck was a 378 Pete that after 1.2 million I
finally wore out the starter button.The Peterbilt shop I stopped in to replace
it was funny,I went in there with the attitude of....CAN'T YOU GUYS MAKE
ANYTHING THAT LASTS?,come on,only1.2 million miles?They got a kick out of it
and sold me another button....
Then on to this truck....It's a 1994
Pete,379,Able body sleeper, single axle...I put together,475 Cat,15 Over,5 Deep
reduction,308 gears....I bought it from some friends,this sleeper is unique,and
with the mods of cutting it down,it is the ONLY 379 Able body sleeper,SINGLE
axle in the country.Imagine....With the 308 gears,I have 70 MPH at only 1300
rpms,and my fuel mileage at less than 70 is over 7.....But,I'm getting ahead of
myself....What I'm proud of today is......I wore out the KEY....Thank god I
have a spare in my wallet......Thanks for letting me BRAG....
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Step 10- SURVIVE SUCCESS
10) - Survive Success
Struggling with adversity might seem to be the toughest challenge in achieving your dreams, but the greatest hurdle you must face, in fact, is surviving success itself.
I have witnessed many a driver climb the ladder from working as labor on a truck to obtaining a class A and becoming a owner operator and making $11.00 an hour to well over $200,000 and the biggest challenge they always have is handling the success and the money.
It is fine to enjoy your success and you should but you must remember that even the most dedicated and hardworking people are tempted by laziness and complacency once they think their work is over.
But the work is never "over".
Success is not without dangers.
Complacency can creep in and you may start spending money way above your means.
Do not forget where you came from and what it took to get where you are.
Separate WANT from NEED.
Give back, help others and never stop setting new goals for yourself.
Stick with your discipline. Sometimes it's easy to cling to the consequences of success and forget the exhausting path that got you there. Remind yourself that the only way you did it was through hard work- and that's the only way you'll do it again.
Keep raising the bar. This is what separates good from great.
Never under estimate your competition. If anything, work harder.
COMMIT YOURSELF TO CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT, NEVER REST ON SUCCESS.
If you truly understand that, you will never allow yesterday's accomplishments to get in the way of tomorrow's goals.
That's it folks.....Rick Petino's - 10 Steps to Success...if you missed any take the time to check out past postings....never stop learning...Paul Arpin said right up till his last days that he was still learning.
Struggling with adversity might seem to be the toughest challenge in achieving your dreams, but the greatest hurdle you must face, in fact, is surviving success itself.
I have witnessed many a driver climb the ladder from working as labor on a truck to obtaining a class A and becoming a owner operator and making $11.00 an hour to well over $200,000 and the biggest challenge they always have is handling the success and the money.
It is fine to enjoy your success and you should but you must remember that even the most dedicated and hardworking people are tempted by laziness and complacency once they think their work is over.
But the work is never "over".
Success is not without dangers.
Complacency can creep in and you may start spending money way above your means.
Do not forget where you came from and what it took to get where you are.
Separate WANT from NEED.
Give back, help others and never stop setting new goals for yourself.
Stick with your discipline. Sometimes it's easy to cling to the consequences of success and forget the exhausting path that got you there. Remind yourself that the only way you did it was through hard work- and that's the only way you'll do it again.
Keep raising the bar. This is what separates good from great.
Never under estimate your competition. If anything, work harder.
COMMIT YOURSELF TO CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT, NEVER REST ON SUCCESS.
If you truly understand that, you will never allow yesterday's accomplishments to get in the way of tomorrow's goals.
That's it folks.....Rick Petino's - 10 Steps to Success...if you missed any take the time to check out past postings....never stop learning...Paul Arpin said right up till his last days that he was still learning.
Monday, April 16, 2012
More on Step 9- Adversity
STICK TO YOUR FUNDAMENTALS
There is no question that adversity causes us to start doubting ourselves.
So how do you combat that?
By sticking to our organized plan of attack.
Do not panic or set artificial time limits. Have patience and faith in your plan.
BELIEVE
Stick with it.
Especially during a period of adversity, your fundamentals become more important than ever.
GET BACK TO BASICS
Have faith in your vision
Accept adversity for what it is, and start finding ways to confront it. You must find the solution and go after it. Take immediate action. You must become even more positive, because negativity will begin to sneak in.
Accept your role in a failure. Only by doing this honestly can you pinpoint why you failed and isolate what you need to work on to avoid it in the future.
Stick to your fundamentals for they are your building blocks, and they become even more essential in times of adversity.
When adversity takes the form of a personal tragedy, you must not see your entire life as not worth living.
RECOGNIZE THE VALUE IN YOURSELF AND IN THOSE YOU LOVE.
SEEK OUT HOPE NOT DESPAIR.
A personal tragedy is the worse form of adversity, but it, too, can teach you valuable lessons about learning to seize the moment and realizing the importance of the people you love in your in life.
Our last step next...STEP 10..
There is no question that adversity causes us to start doubting ourselves.
So how do you combat that?
By sticking to our organized plan of attack.
Do not panic or set artificial time limits. Have patience and faith in your plan.
BELIEVE
Stick with it.
Especially during a period of adversity, your fundamentals become more important than ever.
GET BACK TO BASICS
Have faith in your vision
Accept adversity for what it is, and start finding ways to confront it. You must find the solution and go after it. Take immediate action. You must become even more positive, because negativity will begin to sneak in.
Accept your role in a failure. Only by doing this honestly can you pinpoint why you failed and isolate what you need to work on to avoid it in the future.
Stick to your fundamentals for they are your building blocks, and they become even more essential in times of adversity.
When adversity takes the form of a personal tragedy, you must not see your entire life as not worth living.
RECOGNIZE THE VALUE IN YOURSELF AND IN THOSE YOU LOVE.
SEEK OUT HOPE NOT DESPAIR.
A personal tragedy is the worse form of adversity, but it, too, can teach you valuable lessons about learning to seize the moment and realizing the importance of the people you love in your in life.
Our last step next...STEP 10..
Saturday, April 14, 2012
STEP 9- LEARN FROM ADVERSITY
9) - Learn From Adversity
As long as we maintain the right attitude and a certain amount of flexibility, we will be able to persist through the ups and downs we face in our day-to-day lives.
We certainly know that life will not be perfect, and if we know this, we'll be able to avoid the impulse to quit.
But even if you are strong enough to persist through the obstacle course of life and work, sometimes toy will encounter an adverse event that will completely knock you on your back. This might be an event out of your control that effects your life or health so profoundly that it may seem like the end of your dreams. These major set backs can leave you doubting yourself.
Adversity happens to all of us, and it happens all the time. It's as much a part of our life as the food we eat and the air we breathe.
You must recognize that history is full of examples of men and women who achieved greatness despite facing situations so dire and hurdles so steep that could have easily crushed their spirit. Just to name a few:
Abrahan Lincoln, Helen Keller, Franklin Roosevelt, Rocky Blier, and Bill Clinton. There are endless examples but you get the point.
These are people who not only looked adversity in the face but learned valuable lessons about overcoming the circumstances and were able to move ahead.
They had the will, hard work and an unwavering belief in themselves, and maybe most important of all, strength of character. Nothing more. No magic potions. No Miracles.
These people simply told themselves that they couldn't say no.
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS
Accept your role in a failure. You can't blame it on other people or on fate.
You create what happens to you, based on your decisions. You create your future, both by your actions and your non-actions.
More on Learning form Adversity on our next posting....
As long as we maintain the right attitude and a certain amount of flexibility, we will be able to persist through the ups and downs we face in our day-to-day lives.
We certainly know that life will not be perfect, and if we know this, we'll be able to avoid the impulse to quit.
But even if you are strong enough to persist through the obstacle course of life and work, sometimes toy will encounter an adverse event that will completely knock you on your back. This might be an event out of your control that effects your life or health so profoundly that it may seem like the end of your dreams. These major set backs can leave you doubting yourself.
Adversity happens to all of us, and it happens all the time. It's as much a part of our life as the food we eat and the air we breathe.
You must recognize that history is full of examples of men and women who achieved greatness despite facing situations so dire and hurdles so steep that could have easily crushed their spirit. Just to name a few:
Abrahan Lincoln, Helen Keller, Franklin Roosevelt, Rocky Blier, and Bill Clinton. There are endless examples but you get the point.
These are people who not only looked adversity in the face but learned valuable lessons about overcoming the circumstances and were able to move ahead.
They had the will, hard work and an unwavering belief in themselves, and maybe most important of all, strength of character. Nothing more. No magic potions. No Miracles.
These people simply told themselves that they couldn't say no.
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS
Accept your role in a failure. You can't blame it on other people or on fate.
You create what happens to you, based on your decisions. You create your future, both by your actions and your non-actions.
More on Learning form Adversity on our next posting....
Friday, April 13, 2012
More on step 8- PERSISTANCE
THE HARDER YOU WORK, THE TOUGHER IT IS TO SURRENDER
Vince Lombardi said - Truly persistent people never give in to physical or mental fatigue.
Persistent people treat each day as a competitive game, with a never give up attitude.
They have old fashioned work ethic, and that becomes the norm. They EXPECT to work hard. They EXPECT to put in the effort. And they EXPECT to succeed. They go to bed at night thinking about getting up the next day and having another chance to succeed.
They have worked too hard to get to where they are to stop now. They're not about to surrender.
BE FLEXIBLE
As tough as this sounds, our knowledge is becoming obsolete every day.
Technology is just one of the things that is dramatically changing our work and our lives, and if we don't adjust we will quickly be left behind.
Given a choice we'd all like to remain in our comfort zone as much as possible.
That attitude will only work to your detriment.
Readjust and develop a philosophy that allows you to stay ahead. Because if you are not you will fall behind.
Old habits die hard.
Old devices and methods must be thoroughly researched to make sure they're the most efficient way to make your day the most productive it can be.
Readjust if necessary, do not allow your feet to settle in concrete.
ELIMINATE QUIT FROM YOUR VOCABULARY
This is the ESSENCE of PERSISTENCE.
PEOPLE WHO WON'T QUIT, DON'T.
STEP 9 IS NEXT...
Vince Lombardi said - Truly persistent people never give in to physical or mental fatigue.
Persistent people treat each day as a competitive game, with a never give up attitude.
They have old fashioned work ethic, and that becomes the norm. They EXPECT to work hard. They EXPECT to put in the effort. And they EXPECT to succeed. They go to bed at night thinking about getting up the next day and having another chance to succeed.
They have worked too hard to get to where they are to stop now. They're not about to surrender.
BE FLEXIBLE
As tough as this sounds, our knowledge is becoming obsolete every day.
Technology is just one of the things that is dramatically changing our work and our lives, and if we don't adjust we will quickly be left behind.
Given a choice we'd all like to remain in our comfort zone as much as possible.
That attitude will only work to your detriment.
Readjust and develop a philosophy that allows you to stay ahead. Because if you are not you will fall behind.
Old habits die hard.
Old devices and methods must be thoroughly researched to make sure they're the most efficient way to make your day the most productive it can be.
Readjust if necessary, do not allow your feet to settle in concrete.
ELIMINATE QUIT FROM YOUR VOCABULARY
This is the ESSENCE of PERSISTENCE.
PEOPLE WHO WON'T QUIT, DON'T.
STEP 9 IS NEXT...
Thursday, April 12, 2012
STEP 8 TO SUCCESS- BE PERSISTENT
8) - BE FEROCIOUSLY PERSIST ANT
EMERSON WROTE- A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he was brave for ten minutes longer.
In our past steps we talked about strong self-esteem, positive attitudes, goals, good habits and learning from others and of coarse pressure.
Now comes the hard part.
The part that determines who is actually going to stick to the plan and who will fall by the wayside.
THE KEY IS PERSISTENCE
There's no real mystery to it. No secret blueprint. Nothing that is all that complicated. Simply the awareness that after you establish the work ethic, and after you've started to master the techniques, the real struggle is just beginning.
It's persistence that makes you great. It's persistence that allow you to reach your dreams. It's persistence that enables you to perform at your fullest potential.
There is no better example of persistence than Thomas Edison, Edison received 1,033 patents, including ones for the phonograph, microphone, and the incandescent electric lamp. He certainly had more then his share of victories along the way.
But think of how many failures he had, literally thousands. To his credit Edison did not see them as such. When reminded that he failed like 25,000 times while experimenting with the storage battery, Edison responded by saying, "No, I didn't fail. I discovered 24,999 ways that the storage battery does not work".
The dictionary says - persistence is "refusing to give up, or let go. Continuing despite opposition."
More on Persistence in our next posting.....
EMERSON WROTE- A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he was brave for ten minutes longer.
In our past steps we talked about strong self-esteem, positive attitudes, goals, good habits and learning from others and of coarse pressure.
Now comes the hard part.
The part that determines who is actually going to stick to the plan and who will fall by the wayside.
THE KEY IS PERSISTENCE
There's no real mystery to it. No secret blueprint. Nothing that is all that complicated. Simply the awareness that after you establish the work ethic, and after you've started to master the techniques, the real struggle is just beginning.
It's persistence that makes you great. It's persistence that allow you to reach your dreams. It's persistence that enables you to perform at your fullest potential.
There is no better example of persistence than Thomas Edison, Edison received 1,033 patents, including ones for the phonograph, microphone, and the incandescent electric lamp. He certainly had more then his share of victories along the way.
But think of how many failures he had, literally thousands. To his credit Edison did not see them as such. When reminded that he failed like 25,000 times while experimenting with the storage battery, Edison responded by saying, "No, I didn't fail. I discovered 24,999 ways that the storage battery does not work".
The dictionary says - persistence is "refusing to give up, or let go. Continuing despite opposition."
More on Persistence in our next posting.....
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
PRESSURE- MORE ON STEP 7
STRESS VS PRESSURE
My formula for handling pressure situations is simple: I consider pressure to be an ally and stress to be the enemy. It is a philosophy I follow in both my personal life as well as my business life. Yes, pressure is always there in some form. It's in all of our lives, whether in the work place or your personal lives. It's a part of our contemporary life, the product of our fast paced jingle-jangle culture. To deny it is simply kidding ourselves.
BUT WE CANNOT ALLOW IT TO CONTROL OUR PERFORMANCE IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
Just like a positive attitude, you have a choice every day in how you deal with pressure. You can either see it as something stimulating and exciting- something you can use as your ally- or you can worry about it and have it negatively effect your performance.
It's up to you.
Pressure itself is not the enemy- Stress is the enemy.
Stress appears when you are not prepared, not focused on your job. It shows up when your cutting corners and looking for shortcuts.
Stress lessens your confidence. When stress becomes a factor you make bad decisions. You don't perform well. You feel anxious. When stress comes into play you choke.
BELIEVE IN YOUR DISCIPLINE- The more stressful the situation the more you must rely on the essential building blocks in our steps to success.
DON'T CONFUSE YESTERDAY'S PRESSURE OR TOMORROW'S PRESSURE WITH TODAY'S PRESSURE. - Live for the moment you are facing. Take care of today and tomorrow becomes easier to deal with. Don't waste precious energy worrying about what you have to do tomorrow.
SPEND MORE TIME DOING LESS COMPLAINING
STAY POSITIVE UNDER PRESSURE
Being in Operations most of my adult life learning to deal with pressure has been my number 1 so I will circle back on this one later......next step 8.....
My formula for handling pressure situations is simple: I consider pressure to be an ally and stress to be the enemy. It is a philosophy I follow in both my personal life as well as my business life. Yes, pressure is always there in some form. It's in all of our lives, whether in the work place or your personal lives. It's a part of our contemporary life, the product of our fast paced jingle-jangle culture. To deny it is simply kidding ourselves.
BUT WE CANNOT ALLOW IT TO CONTROL OUR PERFORMANCE IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
Just like a positive attitude, you have a choice every day in how you deal with pressure. You can either see it as something stimulating and exciting- something you can use as your ally- or you can worry about it and have it negatively effect your performance.
It's up to you.
Pressure itself is not the enemy- Stress is the enemy.
Stress appears when you are not prepared, not focused on your job. It shows up when your cutting corners and looking for shortcuts.
Stress lessens your confidence. When stress becomes a factor you make bad decisions. You don't perform well. You feel anxious. When stress comes into play you choke.
BELIEVE IN YOUR DISCIPLINE- The more stressful the situation the more you must rely on the essential building blocks in our steps to success.
DON'T CONFUSE YESTERDAY'S PRESSURE OR TOMORROW'S PRESSURE WITH TODAY'S PRESSURE. - Live for the moment you are facing. Take care of today and tomorrow becomes easier to deal with. Don't waste precious energy worrying about what you have to do tomorrow.
SPEND MORE TIME DOING LESS COMPLAINING
STAY POSITIVE UNDER PRESSURE
Being in Operations most of my adult life learning to deal with pressure has been my number 1 so I will circle back on this one later......next step 8.....
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
STEP 7 TO SUCCESS- THRIVE ON PRRSSURE
7 ) - Thrive on pressure
As a child, we envisioned performing in the adult world as some great new adventure. We weren't worried about pressure then; we only saw wondrous opportunities to prove ourselves. We closed our eyes and saw ourselves doing all kinds of amazing things.
But as you grow older and see your weaknesses, you start to lose confidence. You falsely assume that weakness in one area carries over to all aspects of yourself. The result is that you start to see pressurized situations become opportunities to fail, rather than opportunities to succeed. Worse, you compound the pressures in your life from work and home by piling responsibility on top of responsibility. Eventually, you start seeing this as one big mess, like a mountain you couldn't possibly climb, rather than a series of actions to be taken one step at a time.
That childhood wonder you once had is long gone.
You have begun to doubt yourself and that doubt is one of the ingredients that leads to eventual failure. You have started to think of all the things that you can't do, rather than all the things that you can do.
YOU NEED TO REDISCOVER YOUR CHILDLIKE WONDER AT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE A PRESSURE SITUATION.
You need to look at tomorrow with eager anticipation rather than fear.
In order to do that you must understand the difference between pressure and fear.
STRESS VS PRESSURE IN OUR NEXT POSTING....
As a child, we envisioned performing in the adult world as some great new adventure. We weren't worried about pressure then; we only saw wondrous opportunities to prove ourselves. We closed our eyes and saw ourselves doing all kinds of amazing things.
But as you grow older and see your weaknesses, you start to lose confidence. You falsely assume that weakness in one area carries over to all aspects of yourself. The result is that you start to see pressurized situations become opportunities to fail, rather than opportunities to succeed. Worse, you compound the pressures in your life from work and home by piling responsibility on top of responsibility. Eventually, you start seeing this as one big mess, like a mountain you couldn't possibly climb, rather than a series of actions to be taken one step at a time.
That childhood wonder you once had is long gone.
You have begun to doubt yourself and that doubt is one of the ingredients that leads to eventual failure. You have started to think of all the things that you can't do, rather than all the things that you can do.
YOU NEED TO REDISCOVER YOUR CHILDLIKE WONDER AT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE A PRESSURE SITUATION.
You need to look at tomorrow with eager anticipation rather than fear.
In order to do that you must understand the difference between pressure and fear.
STRESS VS PRESSURE IN OUR NEXT POSTING....
Monday, April 9, 2012
More on Step 6- ROLE MODELS
Learning from others can help you make up for your own lack of experience. This is a valuable lesson. People all around you have valuable things to teach you, and you must be receptive to them. You must take advantage of people who have made the journey ahead of you.
It is important to pick the right role models. You're not looking for people who entertain you or people who make you feel good. You're looking for people who can help you.
Role models are not simply people you like and admire. The key is to look for traits in people that can help you be more successful. You are not looking to join a fan club. You're looking for specifics traits other people have that you can incorporate into your own repertoire.
Take advantage of the fact that you can learn from the mistakes of others. You can learn different approaches to overcoming challenges and select which ones work for you and which ones don't. Which ones fit your personality and which ones don't.
LEARNING WHAT NOT TO DO IS OFTEN AS IMPORTANT AS LEARNING WHAT TO DO.
STEP 7 NEXT ON HOW TO SUCCEED....
It is important to pick the right role models. You're not looking for people who entertain you or people who make you feel good. You're looking for people who can help you.
Role models are not simply people you like and admire. The key is to look for traits in people that can help you be more successful. You are not looking to join a fan club. You're looking for specifics traits other people have that you can incorporate into your own repertoire.
Take advantage of the fact that you can learn from the mistakes of others. You can learn different approaches to overcoming challenges and select which ones work for you and which ones don't. Which ones fit your personality and which ones don't.
LEARNING WHAT NOT TO DO IS OFTEN AS IMPORTANT AS LEARNING WHAT TO DO.
STEP 7 NEXT ON HOW TO SUCCEED....
Sunday, April 8, 2012
GOD BLESS
We all of something to be thankful for.
Take today to count your blessings and thank someone close to you.
Don't assume they know, say it.
I have many opportunities and I am blessed to be in the position that I am in. I have met many good people from around the country.
Thank you ALL !
Take today to count your blessings and thank someone close to you.
Don't assume they know, say it.
I have many opportunities and I am blessed to be in the position that I am in. I have met many good people from around the country.
Thank you ALL !
Saturday, April 7, 2012
STEP 6- TO SUCCESS
6 )- LEARN FROM YOUR ROLE MODELS
I learned at a young age that you could learn from the experiences of people around you, lessons that you make part of your own arsenal.
I learned a lot from my first manager, Frank Debellis, he taught me how to trust people and to always set an example and work the hardest.
Those lessons were drummed home even more years later with my biggest role model, Paul Arpin.
Paul also taught me how to listen and how loyalty plays such a huge role in all we do.
You must remember that many people have made the journey before you. Some of them enjoyed success; some of them experienced failure. All of them can teach you something. Role models can enable you to learn from experience you haven't had yet, or may never have.
Understand, we all model those around us, even if we don't know we're doing it.
Newborn animals mimic behavior from their mothers. Little children take on the habits of their parents. Later they learn what they see around them, whether it's peers, teachers, or what they see in the movies or on television. It's the way we come of age.
Role models are people you can emulate, people you can learn things from. And you'll find them everywhere, from the person sitting next to you at work to someone in your family.
A role model is anyone who has anything to teach you on your journey to success.
More on Role Models on our next posting.....
I learned at a young age that you could learn from the experiences of people around you, lessons that you make part of your own arsenal.
I learned a lot from my first manager, Frank Debellis, he taught me how to trust people and to always set an example and work the hardest.
Those lessons were drummed home even more years later with my biggest role model, Paul Arpin.
Paul also taught me how to listen and how loyalty plays such a huge role in all we do.
You must remember that many people have made the journey before you. Some of them enjoyed success; some of them experienced failure. All of them can teach you something. Role models can enable you to learn from experience you haven't had yet, or may never have.
Understand, we all model those around us, even if we don't know we're doing it.
Newborn animals mimic behavior from their mothers. Little children take on the habits of their parents. Later they learn what they see around them, whether it's peers, teachers, or what they see in the movies or on television. It's the way we come of age.
Role models are people you can emulate, people you can learn things from. And you'll find them everywhere, from the person sitting next to you at work to someone in your family.
A role model is anyone who has anything to teach you on your journey to success.
More on Role Models on our next posting.....
Friday, April 6, 2012
STEP 5 TO SUCCESS- COMMUNICATION
5)- MASTER THE ART OF COMMIUNICATION
One skill we should all cultivare further is effective communication. Communicating clearly- to your boss, employees, co-workers, friends, children, spouse- is a critical part of your success.
Many prople think that good communicators are born, not made, and that some people are just natuarlly good speakers and motivators. - Untrue-
Communication is a habit, just like the other ones we have written about and being a habit it can be learned and mastered.
If you can not communicate with people, you have dramitically narrowed your chances for success.
Never underestimate just how important making a personal connection is.
Communicating requires listening.
Never take your eyes of the person you are listening to, eye contact is very important, it conveys the impression that the conversation is very important to you. Listen and build trust , establish a relationship with the person.
Avoid having to be right all the time, remember the goal is to connect not defeat.
Communicate your goals and needs to other people. People will not respond to "because I told you so". They need to know they have an important role in the process.
Confront problems immediately, head-on. Problem will not disappear if you ignoire them, in fact they will only get worse.
HOW YOU RELATE TO PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE- BOTHE THOSE ABOVE YOU AND BELOW YOU- IS VITAL......COMMUNIACTE, LISTEN !
STEP 6 NEXT...
One skill we should all cultivare further is effective communication. Communicating clearly- to your boss, employees, co-workers, friends, children, spouse- is a critical part of your success.
Many prople think that good communicators are born, not made, and that some people are just natuarlly good speakers and motivators. - Untrue-
Communication is a habit, just like the other ones we have written about and being a habit it can be learned and mastered.
If you can not communicate with people, you have dramitically narrowed your chances for success.
Never underestimate just how important making a personal connection is.
Communicating requires listening.
Never take your eyes of the person you are listening to, eye contact is very important, it conveys the impression that the conversation is very important to you. Listen and build trust , establish a relationship with the person.
Avoid having to be right all the time, remember the goal is to connect not defeat.
Communicate your goals and needs to other people. People will not respond to "because I told you so". They need to know they have an important role in the process.
Confront problems immediately, head-on. Problem will not disappear if you ignoire them, in fact they will only get worse.
HOW YOU RELATE TO PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE- BOTHE THOSE ABOVE YOU AND BELOW YOU- IS VITAL......COMMUNIACTE, LISTEN !
STEP 6 NEXT...
Thursday, April 5, 2012
More on step 4- GOOD HABITS
MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
Your appearance is important
How you look, how you dress, how well groomed you are, are often the first impressions any one has of you.
How is dress is a perception of yourself, and you should never forget for a second that people form opinions of you bases on that.
YOU CAN NEVER BE OVER PREPARED
There are endless ways you can better prepare yourself for what you have to do.
If you know that you are prepared you will be ready for what ever obstacle comes your way.
Establish good habits, - be prepared.
Do your homework--- Your competitor is.
STEP 5 NEXT..
Your appearance is important
How you look, how you dress, how well groomed you are, are often the first impressions any one has of you.
How is dress is a perception of yourself, and you should never forget for a second that people form opinions of you bases on that.
YOU CAN NEVER BE OVER PREPARED
There are endless ways you can better prepare yourself for what you have to do.
If you know that you are prepared you will be ready for what ever obstacle comes your way.
Establish good habits, - be prepared.
Do your homework--- Your competitor is.
STEP 5 NEXT..
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
10 STEPS TO SUCCESS- STEP 4
4) - ESTABLISH GOOD HABITS
Habit as defined in Webster's dictionary, is " the tendency or disposition to act in a certain way, acquired by repetition of such acts.".
This does not say we're born with good habits or bad habits; it simply means that we've repeated a specific action enough times that it begins to look like instinct. It means that this behavior has become reinforced in our heads and in our bodies so often that is has become second nature.
This is good news and bad news.
Habits develop consistency. But consistency can either work in our favor or work against us. Repetition of bad habits defeats our purpose and keeps us from achieving excellence.
Some common bad habits in the work place are:
Distractions
Excuses
Wasting too much energy on things you cannot control
Allowing your personal life to come into the work place
Create good, solid habits, then repeat them over and over until they become so natural they become second nature.
ORGANIZE YOUR DAY AND YOUR ACTIONS
The day is not just something that happens to you, some wave that rolls over you and tosses you in any direction it wants.
The day is something the YOU control.
Every day you must have a plan and specific goals.
DON'T PUT THINGS OFF
When I go to work in the morning, things I don't like to do I do right away.
The rule is simple: Anything you consider unpleasant do first. Get it behind you.
More on our next posting.....Good Habits
Habit as defined in Webster's dictionary, is " the tendency or disposition to act in a certain way, acquired by repetition of such acts.".
This does not say we're born with good habits or bad habits; it simply means that we've repeated a specific action enough times that it begins to look like instinct. It means that this behavior has become reinforced in our heads and in our bodies so often that is has become second nature.
This is good news and bad news.
Habits develop consistency. But consistency can either work in our favor or work against us. Repetition of bad habits defeats our purpose and keeps us from achieving excellence.
Some common bad habits in the work place are:
Distractions
Excuses
Wasting too much energy on things you cannot control
Allowing your personal life to come into the work place
Create good, solid habits, then repeat them over and over until they become so natural they become second nature.
ORGANIZE YOUR DAY AND YOUR ACTIONS
The day is not just something that happens to you, some wave that rolls over you and tosses you in any direction it wants.
The day is something the YOU control.
Every day you must have a plan and specific goals.
DON'T PUT THINGS OFF
When I go to work in the morning, things I don't like to do I do right away.
The rule is simple: Anything you consider unpleasant do first. Get it behind you.
More on our next posting.....Good Habits
Monday, April 2, 2012
BE POSITIVE- more of step 3
CUT LOOSE DISRUPTIVE PEOPLE
We all know the person who comes to work every day and is always griping about something.
You are always going to be surrounded by negative people. They are even in your family and in your circle of friends. There is no way to fully get rid of them. They are the ones telling you that you can't do this or can't do that.
They are the fellowship of the miserable, and they killing your dreams and bringing you down.
You must a find a way to fight through their negativity, because they try to suck the air out of everyone. You must find a way to block their negativity.
Confront them, be honest with them, but but all means do not ALLOW their negativity to rub off on you.
Try to surround yourself with positive people if you can and the benefits will rub off on you.
The more trying the times get the more positive you MUST be. You must adapt to change, and condition yourself to see it as an opportunity to improve yourself.
Learn to live in the present tense- one that is free from failures of the past and the anxieties of the future-
This is a wonderful gift and one you should always be striving for.
STEP 4 NEXT......
We all know the person who comes to work every day and is always griping about something.
You are always going to be surrounded by negative people. They are even in your family and in your circle of friends. There is no way to fully get rid of them. They are the ones telling you that you can't do this or can't do that.
They are the fellowship of the miserable, and they killing your dreams and bringing you down.
You must a find a way to fight through their negativity, because they try to suck the air out of everyone. You must find a way to block their negativity.
Confront them, be honest with them, but but all means do not ALLOW their negativity to rub off on you.
Try to surround yourself with positive people if you can and the benefits will rub off on you.
The more trying the times get the more positive you MUST be. You must adapt to change, and condition yourself to see it as an opportunity to improve yourself.
Learn to live in the present tense- one that is free from failures of the past and the anxieties of the future-
This is a wonderful gift and one you should always be striving for.
STEP 4 NEXT......
10 STEPS TO SUCCESS- STEP 3
3)- ALWAYS BE POSITIVE
Norman Vincent Peale thought that being positive could cure Cancer.
His book was called - The Power of Positive Thinking- , and it's primary theme was that individuals should never allow obstacles or hardships to dominate their lives.
He believed that people had to have faith in their abilities and be self confident. He believed that any feelings of inferiority had to be overcome and that if you think " defeat" you are bound to be defeated.He also believed that people must fill their minds with creative and healthy thoughts and that each day should be started by affirming peaceful, happy, and contented attitudes.
His entire approach is based on the idea that for every problem there is a solution and that these solutions lie within ourselves, both in our faith and our belief in ourselves.
BEING POSITIVE IS A DISCIPLINE
Have you ever told someone that you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed?
We often keep help feeling crabby, but mood swings can be reversed.
We can control our moods.
Think about it for a second.
There are so many things we can't control, forces we are powerless to change because so much of life is unpredictable. We can't control disease. We can't control injuries. We can't control the weather. We can't control the world economy and the national dept and so many things that are a part our of lives.
BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR MOODS.
A mood is simply a reflection of our attitude.
Norman Vincent Peale thought that being positive could cure Cancer.
His book was called - The Power of Positive Thinking- , and it's primary theme was that individuals should never allow obstacles or hardships to dominate their lives.
He believed that people had to have faith in their abilities and be self confident. He believed that any feelings of inferiority had to be overcome and that if you think " defeat" you are bound to be defeated.He also believed that people must fill their minds with creative and healthy thoughts and that each day should be started by affirming peaceful, happy, and contented attitudes.
His entire approach is based on the idea that for every problem there is a solution and that these solutions lie within ourselves, both in our faith and our belief in ourselves.
BEING POSITIVE IS A DISCIPLINE
Have you ever told someone that you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed?
We often keep help feeling crabby, but mood swings can be reversed.
We can control our moods.
Think about it for a second.
There are so many things we can't control, forces we are powerless to change because so much of life is unpredictable. We can't control disease. We can't control injuries. We can't control the weather. We can't control the world economy and the national dept and so many things that are a part our of lives.
BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR MOODS.
A mood is simply a reflection of our attitude.
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