By Brian Everett, Publisher of Redefining the Road Magazine and WIT Strategist
For years, over-the-road trucking is a traditional industry where entrepreneurial men have put their leadership skills and intelligence to the test. They start their own companies and ultimately develop them into a successful enterprise.
This is still happening, but with an exciting twist. Entrepreneurial women are successfully doing the same thing.
What’s Required to be Successful?
Successful transportation companies are no different than most of those in other industries – but how do you define success? For some business leaders, success is defined by monetary rewards, while others say success is having a positive impact on others. BusinessNewsDaily asked professionals for their thoughts on what makes a business successful:
"Success is running a profitable firm that conducts business with honesty and integrity, makes meaningful contributions to the communities it serves and nurtures high-quality, balanced lives for all employees,” said one business owner. “As business owners, we must think outside of our own doors. We must think about the potential impacts that we have on those around us, as well as future generations.”
“To me, success means making a living of something you absolutely love to do,” said another entrepreneur. “Something that makes you come alive and gets the best out of you. But most importantly, it means going to sleep at night knowing that your talents and abilities were used in a way that made a difference to others.”
But whatever the definition, a successful B2B business usually will demonstrate efficiencies and innovation in its service or product offering, and will provide value to the industry it serves.
Recognize Success: Nominate a Women-Owned Business!
Part of the Women In Trucking Association’s mission is to promote the accomplishments of women in transportation. WIT encourages more women to proactively become leaders in their organizations – and in some cases, to even start their own businesses. Entrepreneurship is a viable means of economic self-sufficiency and many women are choosing an enterprise connected to transportation to be part of their career aspirations.
How to “Make the List” in Redefining the Road Magazine
WIT’s official magazine, Redefining the Road, will feature in its first edition of 2018 a list of “Top Women-Owned Businesses” in transportation. Criteria used to identify qualified applicants will include status as majority ownership by a woman, financial stability and growth, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of the woman owner.
If you are a woman-owned business (or know of one) complete this online form no later than Jan. 19, 2018. Just be prepared to confirm the enterprise has majority control by a woman, is privately held, when and where it was founded, and how the enterprise was originally funded.
Then provide a brief essay on how the enterprise demonstrates efficiencies and innovation in the service/product offering, value to the industry, and/or processes, as well as unusual or unique characteristics about the woman owner or leader of this enterprise or accomplishment she has attained in the last 12-18 months. Both responses should be no longer than 250 words each. There is no fee to apply and self-nominations are acceptable.
So what do you have to lose? Is your company a successful women-owned business, or do you know of one that is? C’mon – make the nomination and help us to recognize success in the industry!