I don't post much, but the events of last week have left me reeling. I own a factoring company. I am not directly involved in transport, but have many transport companies as clients. They are mostly o/o's and smaller carriers with 10 trucks or less, which allows me to get to know their businesses - and share a glimpse into their personal lives. Our business model is a bit different so I maintain the relationship from the time of signing to ongoing account management.
On Friday, a client that has been with me for the past 7 years called me, to say she was just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. If she's lucky, she'll have a 5% chance of survival. Barely 50 years old.
I was speechless.
She told me she's gonna fight. I told her that's what will get her through. I asked what I could do to help. I offered to lend a hand with administration and operation of her company until her young adult kids can get up to speed. I'll do whatever I can. It hasn't been easy for her, but she's a fighter and if anyone can beat seemingly impossible odds, it's her. Yesterday, her daughter called me to say her mom was admitted to the ICU. It's not looking good.
I also spoke to another client of mine last week. He had a stroke WHILE DRIVING his truck on the highway. He had the presence of mind to steer the truck into a guard rail and slow it without causing any damage to other vehicles or injuries to other drivers. This guy is a hero. Two people came to help him out of his truck, prop him up and keep him alert until the ambulance came. The first responders said he pretty much owes his life to those two people who had since disappeared without leaving so much as their contact info. The outlook is much more favourable for this guy, but he says his highway days are over.
This is all so humbling. It's all I can do these days to avoid the news and constant talk of wars, invasions, atrocities, hatred, tariffs, economic hardships, inflation, lay-offs and mass-shootings. But I am NOT a glass-is-half empty kind of guy. I have a great business, a fantastic family and I feel genuinely blessed to be a citizen of this country. My secret to dealing with all the negative stuff to focus on my relationships - both personal and professional - and take care of my health.
Take care of yourselves, people, and of each other. We are all human. We are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, moms and dads. We'll be okay. We'll be just fine.
On Friday, a client that has been with me for the past 7 years called me, to say she was just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. If she's lucky, she'll have a 5% chance of survival. Barely 50 years old.
I was speechless.
She told me she's gonna fight. I told her that's what will get her through. I asked what I could do to help. I offered to lend a hand with administration and operation of her company until her young adult kids can get up to speed. I'll do whatever I can. It hasn't been easy for her, but she's a fighter and if anyone can beat seemingly impossible odds, it's her. Yesterday, her daughter called me to say her mom was admitted to the ICU. It's not looking good.
I also spoke to another client of mine last week. He had a stroke WHILE DRIVING his truck on the highway. He had the presence of mind to steer the truck into a guard rail and slow it without causing any damage to other vehicles or injuries to other drivers. This guy is a hero. Two people came to help him out of his truck, prop him up and keep him alert until the ambulance came. The first responders said he pretty much owes his life to those two people who had since disappeared without leaving so much as their contact info. The outlook is much more favourable for this guy, but he says his highway days are over.
This is all so humbling. It's all I can do these days to avoid the news and constant talk of wars, invasions, atrocities, hatred, tariffs, economic hardships, inflation, lay-offs and mass-shootings. But I am NOT a glass-is-half empty kind of guy. I have a great business, a fantastic family and I feel genuinely blessed to be a citizen of this country. My secret to dealing with all the negative stuff to focus on my relationships - both personal and professional - and take care of my health.
Take care of yourselves, people, and of each other. We are all human. We are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, moms and dads. We'll be okay. We'll be just fine.
