Becoming your Own Boss

"I will do today what others won't so I can do tomorrow what others can't."

This quote by the all-time great, Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, Jerry Rice captures the essence of just what it takes to become successful as an expediter.

How? Well, just think about it for a moment.

Whether you're an owner-operator or a 1099 contract driver, you are a business owner. YOU are the boss. Sure, you may have clear instructions from the carrier, broker, or shipper, on how a load should be handled and by when to deliver it. But you also possess the power to choose whether you want to accept that load or turn it down. You get to decide how you want to run your business, how much time and money you wish to invest in your professional development, and how you're going to manage your bookkeeping and finances.

Ultimately, it's you who's in charge. Your success (or failure) as an expediter depends on your decisions and actions each and every day.

Far too often, though, you'll find yourself battling some sort of inner resistance. You know you should be doing certain important tasks today to grow your business, but sometimes you just don't feel like it. You're tempted to give yourself a pass. A little respite from the everyday wear and tear.

And that's where Jerry Rice's words strike most true.

What Are You Willing to Do?

When you're considering the expedite lifestyle, it's very easy to be attracted to the idea of being your own boss. You like the idea of having the freedom to set your own schedule, get paid to travel the country, and increase your income potential.

But are you willing to become what it takes to be a successful boss? Are you willing to put in the hard work - even on the days or nights when you don't feel like it - to continuously learn, grow, and improve as a business owner?

Are you willing, as Rice states, to do today what others won't so you can do tomorrow what others can't?

I wrestled with questions like these when I took a shot on myself as a freelance writer and rideshare driver. I became my own boss; I was calling all the shots on my own behalf. And I found that, sometimes, being 'the boss' doesn't always work for everyone. If you want to get your business off the ground, you need to be tougher on yourself than the most hardnosed boss you could ever imagine working for. You can't let yourself off the hook, and you must constantly kick yourself in gear. You need to be more demanding of yourself than anyone else ever could be.

The advice of Rice really put things in perspective for me. Was I willing to become what it takes to be the boss? Or, was I only "in love" with the idea of being my own boss but not willing to put in the hard work?

And what about you?

Are you willing to become that hardnosed boss that you didn't know you needed? Or, are you only in love with the DREAM of being your own boss? You'll need to be brutally honest with yourself.

What's the Next Step?
Where can you discover more details about what it takes to succeed in the expedite business?

Where can you meet potential mentors -- successful expedite owner-operators and drivers who can help you decide whether expediting is right for you?

Give ExpeditersOnline.com a try, paying special attention to the Forum page. Here you'll find some excellent networking opportunities, where expediters can gather 'round the cyber-watercooler and swap advice on everything you need to know about the industry. A place that will help in concluding whether you're ready - and truly willing - to be your own boss in the world of expedited trucking.