Hello Fleet Professionals!
Are you busy? Silly question, right? I know I am! It just seems like there aren't enough hours in the day, or days in the weeks to get things done the way we want them done. But we still try, right? It's important to always do your best, or at least I seem to remember that lesson from my parents. And I do remember how hard they worked when I was a kid - and beyond.
So what does this have to do with the subject? Well as many hours as I put into work, I do like to read. In fact these days, it seems like I can't get enough of reading lately. Any one of my LinkedIn connections, or Facebook friends can tell you how much I've been reading lately because I like to review and post in each of my social network's "bookshelves" which are available for all those connections and friends to see.
Now here's the problem I have with reading: I tend to get bored very easily. For that reason I mix things up. For instance, I read two books at a time. No I don't mean one for each hand! (There's always a smart alec in the group...). Anyway, one of those books is some kind of self improvement - and I mix those up too - self help, business development, something inspirational. Always something that will make me think and hopefully I'll learn a little something from. My other book will always be for pure enjoyment. My favorites include Stephen King, Clive Cussler, Dean Koontz and Tom Clancy, just to name a few. Action, thriller, science fiction, it doesn't really matter as long as it's an escape.
The books are just the tip of the iceberg though. Do you read a newspaper? I read at least one everyday. I get the Denver Post at home, and I live within walking distance of the public library where I have access to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Then there's our industry publications. And if you include all the electronic news magazines we get today, there's alot of reading. For the industry, my favorite has always been Automotive Fleet. Ed Bobit's editorial is where I always start and you don't have to always agree with him to find them insightful. Not to mention the letters from readers, Mike Antich's editorial and the actual articles. I won't say I have the time to read it cover to cover (as I did in the '80's) but I never miss the editorials and letters.
So what's the point? If you don't have time, you don't have time, right? Wrong! Make time. There is alot going on in our industry and in our world that affects what happens in your job and your life. Who would have thought that a slump in the housing market two years ago would have affected the auto industry and the fleet industry and our companies and jobs the way it has? Everything is connected these days and we've all seen how the housing domino has affected so many different parts of the world since it fell (and the rest started tumbling).
So if you are reading, good job! Keep up the good work and read more. If you're not reading, then you are missing alot. Of course you wouldn't be reading this blog either so who cares, right? Read on the plane and on the train, but please don't read while you're driving - I've seen people do this and it is super scary! Read at your desk, and on the couch and at the shore. And go ahead and read in the bathroom - oh c'mon! You know you do!
The worst things that could happen is you might learn something and you might even relax.
Keep your chin up and let me know what you think.
