Build your strenghts and Earn your position

Build on your strengths We are all born with talents, but instead of focusing on those talents, we waste a lot of time trying to get better at the things we’re not good at. Stop wasting your time trying to do things other people do far better than you. Instead, find something you’re good at without trying hard. Then try hard to hone that skill.

Being a leader doesn’t mean you’re the one guy who knows how to do everything. It means you’re the one who know how to get things done, which means you know how to delegate and rely on the strengths and talents of others to help your organization reach its goals.

Earn your position The greatest opportunities for leadership typically arise during times of trouble and chaos. That means people who aren’t necessarily in leadership roles have to step up and create their position.
Embrace the adversity, because, even though at the time it may feel like the world is crumbling down around you, it may be exactly what you need to move your career to the next level.
Once you earn a leadership position, don’t think you’re in a position where to slack off and let the people below you do the hard work.

No matter what your position is, you’re really not that big of a deal. Real leaders work harder than everyone else and, in order to show you’ve earned your position, your people need to see no one is more committed than you.

Please meet Veteran Driver- Ike Thornton-

 

 

Ike Thornton is the epitome of a road warrior. Throughout his 38-year career, he has crisscrossed the United States thousands of times and logged in millions of miles. The first time he gripped the steering wheel of an 18-wheeler, his future was set. He immediately set a goal to one day become an owner operator. A standout loader at OK Moving and Storage in his hometown of Norfolk, VA, Ike quickly separated himself from his contemporaries with his strong work ethic and knack for fitting a full size sofa in a hole the size of a love seat. Deemed a once in a generation talent by the industry old-timers, he was not only a capable loader, he could drive with the best of them! The writing was on the wall. Ike was destined to be an owner operator. In 1979, Arpin Van Lines took a chance and offered him the opportunity of a life time. Under the alias “Cool Dude,” which he would eventually make famous, Ike hit the road vowing to bring the sun up the next morning.

A few road trips into his career, Ike made the ultimate pick up—his beautiful wife Lorraine. Better known as Lola, she stole his heart, became his business partner, and the newlyweds established a home base in San Diego, California. In 1981, his dream of becoming an owner operator was realized with the purchase of his first truck, a Ford L9000. Ike is the first to admit that he owes Arpin Van Lines a tremendous debt of gratitude for the faith they showed in him. In his rookie year, Ike returned the favor with his productivity and gained the respect and trust of his colleagues. A natural charmer with a healthy obsession for professionalism, dealing with customer demands came with ease. Whether business executive, professional athlete, or military top brass, Ike’s “I treat yours like its mine philosophy” left every customer satisfied. When your company’s reputation is on the line, Ike Thornton is the driver you want pulling up to residence. With every passing year, Ike consistently exceeded expectations and collected countless safety and productivity awards.

The once aspiring owner operator turned master mover is now the industry’s sage. Hundreds of drivers, young and old, seek out his advice. He routinely counsels them on practical matters ranging from the quickest route to their destination to the most opportune time to invest in a new truck. In the face of advancing technology and stricter rules and regulations, Ike continues to find ways to work smarter. Thousands of people recognize Ike by his iconic sun shades, neatly trimmed beard and jean jacket. Over the years his trucks, like his personality, got bigger and brighter. If you ever saw his bright white Pete rolling down the highway with chrome shining, you would swear you saw a unicorn. It’s no secret that Ike is approaching retirement, but his larger than life personality and legendary career will roll on forever.

 

 

Shine your light on others

Shine your light on others

Real leaders understand they are there to work for their teams, and not the other way around.

 Real leadership, the kind that makes a lasting impact, is centered on building up the people who work for you and shining a light on them and their achievements.

People are more productive when they feel recognized and appreciated. But, recognition can’t be something you don’t do regularly. Make recognition part of your culture. Share the credit with your people when things are going well and don’t blame them when they’re not.

You take that responsibility since, as the leader, what they do or don’t do is a reflection of your guidance.

When you do a good job of making the people around you look and feel good, it’s ultimately going to make you look good, too.

Decide who you are

Decide who you are

 Your past and your upbringing may have been less than desirable, but that’s not important because the person you ultimately become is up to you.

Decide what you believe in and who you are in the process of becoming. Look for the good in yourself and focus on bringing out those qualities. Then, grant the same grace to other people.
Even when you hit roadblocks, keep moving forward.

Deal with the issues right in front of you, with the intent of being just a little bit better today than you were yesterday.

 Incremental improvements take patience, persistence and faith, but they will go a long way to make you the kind of leader people admire.

BRAGGING

What happened to doing good deeds and not bragging about them?

You should want to do good things because it is the right thing to do not because you want to brag about how good you are.

Mr. Arpin was the perfect example of this, I saw him do this every day. Once I was raising money for a driver who needed multiple surgeries and he called me in his office and wrote me a personal check for $20,000 to help the driver and asked that I tell no one, no one knew till after Mr. Arpin passed and I tell the story now to show what a giving man he was.
That was just one example of many.

The great thing about giving is it makes you feel good and it always come back to you in one form or another. But if you take to bragging about it in almost diminishes the good deed and I think it lessens the return.

Do you because it is the RIGHT thing to do.. GIVE and FORGIVE and you life will be rich.

Snakes

Here's the realities.. there are snakes in the grass no matter where you work.
There will be people that take advantage of you, lie to you, stab in the back and talk about you behind your back. - Yup- that is a fact of life.
I do not care what business you are in or even if you own your own business these people exist and will take you down with them..if you let them.

In the same work place there are good people, people that care and will go out of their way for you- Yup- that is a fact too !
Accent the positive and pull them in- listen to them and help them.

Do not hate the back stabbers and allow them to invade your thoughts or your energy. First just come to the conclusion that no matter where you go they will be there, maybe in a different package and a different name but trust me you cannot run from them.

Instead- learn from them and I know it sounds crazy but smile at them and show them that they do not and cannot control you or your day- that drives them crazy and it helps keep you smiling.
Smile and limit your conversations with them- speak when spoken to and give short precise answers- do not go looking for trouble.
 If you already know that they want to fight do no give them the pleasure.
Move on.

If they are mean or obnoxious- take note and do your best to not do the same to others.

Challenges

Create four options before choosing one path forward.

 

Believe in your ability to learn, grow, and adapt.

 

Remember times when you rose up and faced big challenges in the past.

 

Respond to your fear of losing by developing strategies and taking aggressive action. The fear of losing your reputation enables you to face the lesser fear of looking the beast in the eye.

 

Think more about taking action than doing everything perfectly.

 

-Hang with men and women of valor.

 -Listen to people with battle scars.

-Doers are better than dreamers when it comes to looking the beast in the eye.

 

Worry more about the next play and less about winning.