Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/287940
Over Think it 30 www.studentdriverplacement.com April '14 by Dan Baker I t's hard to believe that we are al- ready four months into 2014! I sin- cerely hope you are doing well, and that you are excited about your career as a professional truck driver. I am sure you are learning a lot, and I hope you will remember as much of your les- son material as possible. The more you learn, the be er you'll do. And as you are in the process of learn- ing to be a professional truck driver, I want to ask you a few questions: • Can you remember the names of the last fi ve Heisman Trophy Winners? • Can you remember the names of the last fi ve Miss Americas? • Can you remember the names of the fi ve richest people in the world? • Can you remember the names of the last fi ve Pulitzer Prize Winners? Probably not, huh? But let me ask you this: Can you remember the name of that school teacher that knew your name and took some extra time with you and helped you with your lessons? Can you remember the name of the friend who stood up for you, and had your back when you were in trouble? I'll bet you can. Why? Because we re- member the people who cared. We re- member the people who went out of their way and took the time to help us along the way. It's strange what we remember, isn't it? While you are in driving school, you will learn a lot, but the people you will re- member will be those people who were kind, and understanding, and who took the time to make sure you understood what they were teaching you. There is an old saying that goes, "I don't care how much you know, until I know how much you care." That is so true. If you care about me, I'll give you anything in the world. I'll do anything for you. But if you don't care, you can- not fake it and make it. Why? Because we don't trust a fake. We can spot a fake a hundred miles away, because we in- tuitively know the real thing when we're around it. As you learn all you are learning in truck driving school, do remember that the most important thing you can learn besides your driving skills and safety skills is your people skills. Your ability to get along with other people in a warm, human, friendly kind of way. When you can do that, everything works. Take my word for it, friend, it really does. So, learn your lessons well, and re- member that the most important lesson you'll ever learn about trucking is that if you're in the trucking business, fi rst of all, you're in the people business and then secondly, you're in the trucking business. If you'll develop your people skills along with your driving skills, you'll go a long way toward being a genuine mile-run- ning, money-making mossback driver. I wish you well, my friend. ◆ For more tips from Dan Baker, check out www.danbakertexas.com What You Remember think it over 0414.indd 1 3/20/14 1:54 PM