Meeting your goal(s)
- Thread starter cheri1122
- Start date
Judy and I have done well this year. I became a legal resident of the U.S. April 20th...and after some hard nose research concluded Express-1 best fit our style, after 5 plus years of Canadian expediting. The crossover went very smooth although the American version is a little different. It's been a learning time. Income wise it has been better then expected and the Sprinter has proved to be a good investment. We are quite pleased that the year has turned out better then our expectations.
We have done very well for the year by our standards and our drivers.
Success can be measured in many ways. We look at it from a year to year just on the financial side. There are a whole lot of other measures that one can use to determine whether they are successful or not. Most of them are of a personal standard or measurement.
Industry standards are in most cases worthless unless one has ALL of the information. Most of what is provided is partial at best.
Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator
Success can be measured in many ways. We look at it from a year to year just on the financial side. There are a whole lot of other measures that one can use to determine whether they are successful or not. Most of them are of a personal standard or measurement.
Industry standards are in most cases worthless unless one has ALL of the information. Most of what is provided is partial at best.
Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator
We did everything we set out to do in 2007. The financial and personal goals we wrote down at the beginning of the year were all achieved.
Thank you for asking. And thank you for giving people the opportunity to say something good about themselves and the business.
Thank you for asking. And thank you for giving people the opportunity to say something good about themselves and the business.
are12
Expert Expediter
Jim and I feel we have met our goals for 2007. It seems each year gets a little better than the last. But like we all know, in this business, things can change in a heart beat.
Jim says, that sometimes success is not only measured in the years that you do well but how you survive the bad times.
We wish everyone the best, in whatever definition they have for success.
Jim says, that sometimes success is not only measured in the years that you do well but how you survive the bad times.
We wish everyone the best, in whatever definition they have for success.
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
In some ways I didn't reach my goals, but in others I did. In about November of last year I decided I wanted to buy a truck this year. Well as most of you know I had some health problems and haven't been able to drive so that didn't work. Then when I was sick I said I wantd to get better and I have. When I started school this semester I said I wanted to finish this semester and I'll be getting out on Dec.7 and we don't start the spring semester until Jan 8 08. It's been a rough year, but it looks like I'm gonna make it.
ThibodeauxBayou
Not a Member
Great question Cheri.
Jan1 last year we made our New Years commitments and set a GOAL
GOAL -- GET ORGANIZED AND LIVE
Can't run hard if your health is outta whack. Began the year with a complete physical and began a regulated nutrition program.
1. lost a combined 155 pounds. Not one fast food dinner was consumed
2. BP is now that of a 16 year old living at home. AKA "no worries"
3. walked and i mean walked hard on a daily basis
Began improving our relationships with our sources of money. Mailed out professionally prepared flyers to all our existing shippers & brokers
1. load offers began "coming" to us.
2. $ per mile showed a 11% increase
3. downtime/DH virtually eliminated
4. weekly calls to each and every shipper/broker.
Improve Hometime %
1. The PR campaign paid off. Maybe lucky but we were never away for more than 10 days. Wives/children/friends are all now a more consistent part of our lives.
Paperwork and financial gobbly-gook
1. state fuel tax breakdown numbers now accurate using new software
2. realtime net profits easily viewable using new software
3. stashed away 14% of net funds into a Fidelity Investments program
Our GOAL attitude worked rather well considering were pretty much nothing more than a couple of S. Louisiana hillbillys. It only took 52 years to finally realize we needed structure. Determined structure. The "old dogs" are now on the last leg return load heading home for the balance of December.
Life's Good.........and wer'e living
Jan1 last year we made our New Years commitments and set a GOAL
GOAL -- GET ORGANIZED AND LIVE
Can't run hard if your health is outta whack. Began the year with a complete physical and began a regulated nutrition program.
1. lost a combined 155 pounds. Not one fast food dinner was consumed
2. BP is now that of a 16 year old living at home. AKA "no worries"
3. walked and i mean walked hard on a daily basis
Began improving our relationships with our sources of money. Mailed out professionally prepared flyers to all our existing shippers & brokers
1. load offers began "coming" to us.
2. $ per mile showed a 11% increase
3. downtime/DH virtually eliminated
4. weekly calls to each and every shipper/broker.
Improve Hometime %
1. The PR campaign paid off. Maybe lucky but we were never away for more than 10 days. Wives/children/friends are all now a more consistent part of our lives.
Paperwork and financial gobbly-gook
1. state fuel tax breakdown numbers now accurate using new software
2. realtime net profits easily viewable using new software
3. stashed away 14% of net funds into a Fidelity Investments program
Our GOAL attitude worked rather well considering were pretty much nothing more than a couple of S. Louisiana hillbillys. It only took 52 years to finally realize we needed structure. Determined structure. The "old dogs" are now on the last leg return load heading home for the balance of December.
Life's Good.........and wer'e living
sixwheeler
Expert Expediter
whats that fuel tax software you mentioned? was it expensive?
We have had a very interesting year. We will meet our financial goals for this year but just barely. We would not be able to meet them if we took the month of December off.
We have had so many highlights this year that we are amazed when we look back.
We have become DoD qualified with a DOG in the truck! For those of you not FedEx Custom Critical that is a huge hurtle.
We were able to attend the truck show in Louisville in March
We attended the Expo in July and had our truck in the front parking lot. I am not sure if we or Molly had the best time there. We met many people and had a blast.
We were able to attend FedEx Custom Critical's 4-Star event in Las Vegas.
We were chosen contractor of the month.
We attended FedEx Custom Criticals Skills Challenge where we both did very well and surprised ourselves. Just ask and I will be more then happy to show you my new leather coat!!
We have been able to spend some time at the company headquarters learning how the operation works.
We have been able to test some different ideas FedEx Custom Critical has tried out.
We have attended all of the above events and still met our financial goals.
All I can say is how can next year get any better?
We have plans of attending two truck shows next year and all of the above events if every thing works out according to the plan.
We have had so many highlights this year that we are amazed when we look back.
We have become DoD qualified with a DOG in the truck! For those of you not FedEx Custom Critical that is a huge hurtle.
We were able to attend the truck show in Louisville in March
We attended the Expo in July and had our truck in the front parking lot. I am not sure if we or Molly had the best time there. We met many people and had a blast.
We were able to attend FedEx Custom Critical's 4-Star event in Las Vegas.
We were chosen contractor of the month.
We attended FedEx Custom Criticals Skills Challenge where we both did very well and surprised ourselves. Just ask and I will be more then happy to show you my new leather coat!!
We have been able to spend some time at the company headquarters learning how the operation works.
We have been able to test some different ideas FedEx Custom Critical has tried out.
We have attended all of the above events and still met our financial goals.
All I can say is how can next year get any better?
We have plans of attending two truck shows next year and all of the above events if every thing works out according to the plan.
I have to agree with Rich. It's always been my opinion that every day spent above ground is far better than the alternative.
I'm happy with the way this year went. A little more money would have been nice, but the wolf is a long way from the door. I'm glad I went from a van to a straight truck. I may actually earn a living now!
I'm happy with the way this year went. A little more money would have been nice, but the wolf is a long way from the door. I'm glad I went from a van to a straight truck. I may actually earn a living now!
With the help of God and several on here we have met or exceeded our business goals and have a bit of a head start on next year. We have set higher goals for next year and will bust our tushes to make them.
May you all have a Blessed Christmas and a VERY busy New Year.
Layoutshooter
May you all have a Blessed Christmas and a VERY busy New Year.
Layoutshooter
spudhead911
Seasoned Expediter
Spudhead911
I was just wondering, the last time I talked to the people at FedEx I was told you have to be in White Glove to even apply to be DOD qualified. Because you have a dog in your truck you can't be in White Glove. How did you manage to bypass the White Glove requirement to get your DOD clearance. Is FedEx CC playing favorites?
I was just wondering, the last time I talked to the people at FedEx I was told you have to be in White Glove to even apply to be DOD qualified. Because you have a dog in your truck you can't be in White Glove. How did you manage to bypass the White Glove requirement to get your DOD clearance. Is FedEx CC playing favorites?
One thing I don't think FedEx Custom Critical can be accused of is playing favorites. In Express there are just to many checks and balances. We personally believe that when the Nuclear Plants started relaxing many of their restrictions on dogs this helped our cause a lot. We are not White Glove and have not been through that training only Explosives training. There are several surface trucks now with DoD clearances and FedEx Custom Critical is staying very active looking for more. This area has really been booming but many are having a hard time getting cleared or just do not want to take the time to fill out the huge application form.
spudhead911
Seasoned Expediter
Spudhead911
Nuclear power plant loads do not require DOD clearance, but ALL loads that require DOD clearance are White Glove loads. ALL explosive loads are White Glove loads. And yes FedEx does play favorites, as you well know. I understand that some units coming into FedEx might already have their DOD clearance and not be White Glove. If FedEx is letting Express trucks get their DOD clearances then what is the point of having 2 divisions? I also have to wonder how an Express truck that has all the White glove equipment on it and seem to be able to take the time to do all their extra curricular activity can still make it on Express paying loads. I know that if I tried to attend as many functions as you stated you attended last year my truck would be up for auction by the bank
Nuclear power plant loads do not require DOD clearance, but ALL loads that require DOD clearance are White Glove loads. ALL explosive loads are White Glove loads. And yes FedEx does play favorites, as you well know. I understand that some units coming into FedEx might already have their DOD clearance and not be White Glove. If FedEx is letting Express trucks get their DOD clearances then what is the point of having 2 divisions? I also have to wonder how an Express truck that has all the White glove equipment on it and seem to be able to take the time to do all their extra curricular activity can still make it on Express paying loads. I know that if I tried to attend as many functions as you stated you attended last year my truck would be up for auction by the bank