July in Review: Proactive Leadership in Action
A look back at this month’s leadership stories—and a new series shaped by your feedback launches in August
As we wrap up July, the month’s articles tackled a range of challenges transportation leaders are facing—from service recovery to operational consistency to emergency response. While each story stood on its own, a clear throughline emerged: success favors those who are prepared. Whether managing daily operations or navigating the unexpected, the strongest teams are led by those who act early, not just react fast.
Here’s a quick recap of this month’s featured pieces:
Fix the Failure, Win the Customer
In this piece, also published on the ABA Blog, I explored how companies can turn service failures into loyalty-building moments—if they lead with transparency, accountability, and a sense of urgency.
Fix the Failure, Win the Customer: Leadership Lessons from the Road
Have you ever had a service experience that didn’t go as expected?
Six Ways to Sunday – or Six Ways to Undermine a Great Operation
This article examines how well-intentioned but inconsistent leadership decisions can gradually erode even the best-run operations, and offers guidance on how to address this issue.
Six Ways to Sunday—or Six Ways to Undermine a Great Operation
The examples shared in this article are drawn from past experiences across various points in my career. They are not intended to criticize any individual or organization but to illustrate common challenges and operational lessons that may be useful to others working in similar industries.
Lead Before the Alert
Using the recent Texas floods as a case study, this article highlighted the critical importance of practicing emergency plans and exercising leadership before the crisis begins.
Lead Before the Alert
Over the past 10 days, I’ve watched, as I’m sure many have, with deep sorrow as Central Texas faced catastrophic flooding. As images surfaced—bridges overwhelmed, buildings overtaken, families displaced—the scale of the disaster was sobering. Yet for me, the most haunting part has not been the flooding itself, but the growing list of names—lives lost, f…
Standardization + Differentiation = Sustainable Growth
This piece breaks down the tension between creating consistent processes and offering unique value, and why companies that master both will position themselves for long-term success.
Standardization + Differentiation = Sustainable Growth
In 2023, I completed my master’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. One of the most meaningful courses in the program was Strategic Management. While…
Looking Ahead to August
Next month, I’ll continue to explore leadership-focused themes with articles including:
A Walk, A Geyser, and a Leadership Lesson
Great Companies Make It Easy for Customers
I’ll also debut a series based on responses from a recent reader poll, where I asked:
“What’s the biggest operational challenge facing your transportation business today?”
Top responses included:
Driver recruitment & retention
Lack of real-time performance data
Out-of-control variable costs
Rising insurance costs & safety risks
Thank you for reading and for continuing to be part of this community. If a particular topic resonated with you—or if there’s something you'd like to see explored in a future article—feel free to reach out or leave a comment.
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Here’s to staying ahead of the curve.
—Brian