Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/697470
01 02 03 BY CHERYL BIRON W ork/Life Balance, we have all heard of it, and when we think of it, we o%en think of constant struggle. We say, "How can I ever achieve Work/Life Balance?" But how about thinking of it as Work/Life Integration? Sounds much better, right? I thought so, too, when I was reading an interview with psychologist Ellen Langer in the Harvard Business Review's March 2014 issue (yes, I am really behind in my reading). Langer states that "balance" implies they are two opposing forces, but they are really both about the people experiencing work and life outside of work. When we think about balance, particularly as women, we also think about how we can "have it all"—career, family, time for self. But if we think of it as integration, because we are one person playing many roles, it can become much more manageable and achievable. !e lifestyle of a freight agent can really help us integrate all the roles we play in life. Here are six reason why being a freight agent is the perfect career for Work/Life Integration: 6 Reasons Why Being a Freight Agent Is the Perfect Career for Work/Life Integration 1. Freight agents can de$ne their own success: As a freight agent, at least at our company, you can de$ne what success means to you. !ere is no "corporate" determining what revenue you have to achieve in a given day or week, no quotas. You are an independent contractor, and as such, you can decide how large a book of business you need to live your desired lifestyle. As you are on your way there, you can integrate the things that are important to you, like coaching your child's sports team at 4:30 in the a%ernoon, into your Tuesday by not taking that extra load. Success does not involve the same amount of money and personal time for everyone, so you are free to de$ne and live it for yourself. 2. Freight agents have the freedom to design their own business models: Similar to the point above, as an independent contractor, you can decide if you want to stay a stand-alone agent or if you want to have an agency with support sta# helping with sales, $nding trucks, or following loads. It's all up to you, the sky's the limit. So if you are early on in your career and have young children who need more of your time, you are free to decide accordingly how your business $ts in. Either model could make life easier for you, but you get to decide what is right for you. 3. Freight agents can work from a home o"ce: Not having to report to a physical o"ce has changed my life! No commute, no boss looking over my shoulder demanding things that are not priorities for me. Being home when my kids get home from school, and being able to stay home with a sick child while continuing to work. How much more integration can a person want? Working from a home o"ce does take discipline, though. So if it works better for you to rent a space, it can still be close and convenient without the distractions from home life but also without the boss standing over you, because you're the boss! 18 IT MAGAZINE Vo l . 1 0 , N o . 4