In recent years, I’ve spent my time working alongside senior leadership in the truckload sector, helping them navigate the complex path toward their personal and corporate goals.
Like all of you, I’ve had many mentors. Some were formal guides; others were people I simply “parroted” because I admired their character or business acumen. I still look back on those influences with deep appreciation. However, it was a performance coach who truly shifted the trajectory of my life.
The Shift from Mentee to Leader
Entering a coaching relationship is a vulnerable step. You quickly realize you aren’t alone in your struggles; others have been there and found a way through. A great coach walks a delicate line: they guide and encourage you to find your own solutions, without “one-upping” your challenges or minimizing your experience.
My own journey into coaching was born out of necessity. My personal weakness was a feeling of subservience. I dropped out of school at 16 and began driving for my father at 18. By 23, both my parents were gone, and I was left with three trucks and a lot of questions. I wasn’t looking for sympathy—I was looking for a way forward.
Fast-forward 15 years: I was a partner, President, and COO of a 250-truck fleet. The strain of managing those “moving parts” was immense. It was around that time that I took on a coach who guided me through two life-changing epiphanies.
Epiphany #1: Owning the Room
My coach realized that while I believed in my eventual success, my self-confidence was low. I felt out of place among the “suits.” He helped me see that my common sense was my greatest driver and inner strength.
He pointed out that the bankers and insurance executives I dealt with were often risk-averse—unlike the entrepreneur running the business. This paradigm shift changed everything. I stopped being defensive. I began approaching high-stakes interactions with confidence rather than dread.
Epiphany #2: The Power of Personal Responsibility
The second breakthrough came through a course my coach recommended: Management by Responsibility (also known as PRIDE—Personal Responsibility in Developing Excellence) by Dr. Michael Durst.
The core concept is simple but radical: Taking total responsibility for every exchange in your life is the only way to move forward. I have often told leaders: If your company has high turnover, you must “own” it. You created the environment that led to that result. When you allow the “blame game” to take over—blaming operations, safety, or recruiting—you get stuck in a cycle of drama.
A company only reaches its potential when senior management has the maturity to grasp this. In a “Responsible Level” culture, no one looks for a “bad guy” when things go wrong. Instead, the team is laser-focused on the solution to ensure the problem does not repeat itself.
Do You Need a Coach?
Many people bristle at the idea of needing help. I can only speak from my own experience: having a safe space to discuss challenges and receive honest feedback was life-changing.
If you are feeling the strain of leadership or find your company stuck in the “blame game,” a coaching resource might be the catalyst you need to secure your future objectives.
Safe Trucking,
Ray Haight rayhaight.com
