It's a Team's Life

Myth: 19th Century Frog in Boiling Water

Listening to other drivers talk about their carriers or even their trucks brings me to mind of the frog in hot water.   When the person we are talking to is just a chance meeting we usually try to extricate ourselves as it is frustrating to listen to this type of diatribe as there is no direction to solve the problem.

Listening to longtime friends or acquaintances it gets a little harder to hear their frustrations as the bitterness piles on and on and grows with each year.  I listen to some of the latest bitterness and think that five years ago if you would have been hit with the new development you would not have put up with the current dilemma, nor could have you ever imagined putting up with it.

When I was a smoker, I with many others would say when cigarettes reach $2.00 a pack I am quitting, well then it was when they reach $2.25 a pack, and so on, while still continuing to smoke and complain about the price.  Finally, a breaking point was reached and it has nothing to do with the price of cigarettes it was because I was finally becoming uncomfortable smoking as my health was deteriorating.  I was becoming uncomfortable being a smoker.

There are a lot of articles on Learned Helplessness that talk about the phenomenon of giving up and accepting what appears to be our only choice.

What Is Learned Helplessness?

Learned helplessness occurs when an animal is repeatedly subjected to an aversive stimulus that it cannot escape. Eventually, the animal will stop trying to avoid the stimulus and behave as if it is utterly helpless to change the situation. Even when opportunities to escape are presented, this learned helplessness will prevent any action.

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-learned-helplessness-2795326

Becoming comfortable in a situation even as the situation worsens is often more comfortable than thinking of the unknown.  New daily routines to learn and even if the money looks better is it really better?  Running your own business can be scary as nothing is guaranteed.  Is it better to keep trying to make or accept conditions where you are or is it time to cut the ties and move on?  That answer is different for each business owner on how long to wait for this decision.  Waiting too long can put the business into a financial bind where the risk of losing even more income could put you out of business, either way, if ties are not cut is a downward spiral with no light at the bottom.

When considering a change do research by talking to other companies, drivers, and fleet owners, as the last thing you want to do is jump from one fire to another fire.  When another company has basically the same business model as the company you are presently with why move, as this would be comparable to swapping for the same type of problems.

Business is always risky and knowing when to cut ties and move on is a difficult decision.  We always have to analyze our business to be sure we are not like the frog in the pot of hot water.

 

Bob & Linda Caffee

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO

Expediters since January 2005

[email protected]

 

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;

Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;

Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;

Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.