On the Move: Work-Life Harmony in Logistics | EP 7
Welcome to the Veritas Vantage Podcast!
In today’s episode, your hosts Brian Hastings and Justin Maines discuss the challenges of maintaining work-life balance in the 24/7, 365-day-a-year logistics industry. Brian shares insights on the unpredictability of the industry, the importance of being prepared for constant problem-solving, and the high rates of turnover and burnout. He emphasizes the need for a supportive personal network, or a 'home team', to manage the stress and demands of the industry. Justin also touches on strategies for work-life balance, such as being intentional with one's time and prioritizing one's health, marriage, and personal life despite professional demands.
Get ready for discussions on Logistics and Leadership!
The Logistics & Leadership Podcast, powered by Veritas Logistics, redefines logistics and personal growth. Hosted by industry veterans and supply chain leaders Brian Hastings and Justin Maines, it shares their journey from humble beginnings to a $50 million company. Discover invaluable lessons in logistics, mental toughness, and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit. The show delves into personal and professional development, routine, and the power of betting on oneself. From inspiring stories to practical insights, this podcast is a must for aspiring entrepreneurs, logistics professionals, and anyone seeking to push limits and achieve success.
Timestamps:
(00:37) - The Realities of Work-Life Balance in the Logistics Industry
(01:03) - Personal Stories of Balancing Work and Family
(02:02) - The Challenges of High Turnover and Stress in Logistics
(03:14) - Strategies for Achieving Work-Life Balance
(04:25) - The Importance of Support Systems in Managing Work-Life Balance
(09:23) - Intentionality and Discipline for Better Work-Life Balance
(13:12) - Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience
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Watch the pod on: YouTube
Transcript
Brian, how would you define work life balance in relation to the logistics industry?
Brian:It's, it's not good.
Speaker A:It's a tough question.
Brian:Yes, it's tough.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Brian:I mean, I think some, some weeks are better than others.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:But I think with our industry it never stops.
Speaker C:Right?
Brian:It's 24, 7, 365.
Brian:There are always shipments moving across the road as well as across the globe.
Brian:And I think that's, you know, something that if people are interested in coming into the industry, that is an aspect of it you have to roll with the punches with.
Speaker A:So if you're listening in or tuning in on YouTube today, we're going to discuss work life balance in relation to the industry.
Speaker A:But there's going to be a lot of value that comes with work life balance in general.
Speaker A:We'd love to give you some tools on how to improve your work life balance or at least give you more structure to your day to day to offset any stress or chaos that you're experiencing specifically to careers, but also in your personal life.
Speaker A:So, Brian, I want to turn it back to you real quick.
Speaker A:You have a lot going on.
Speaker A:You run a company, you have four kids, a wife that has an unbelievable career as well.
Speaker A:How do you balance, you know, everything that you're dealing with, having such a full plate?
Speaker A:How do you balance all that?
Brian:Yeah, I, it's, it's hard.
Brian:Number one is hard.
Speaker C:Right?
Brian:It's, there's never any perfect formula and I think when you think you have it figured out, you don't.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:A sick kid pops up and something happens and you have to reschedule a client call at 2:00pm Right.
Brian:If that's ever happened to anybody.
Brian:I think it's really hard.
Brian:I think, you know, the biggest thing for us and you know, in our industry, it's very fly by the seat of your pants.
Brian:Stuff happens all the time.
Brian:You have to be available, you have to be able to respond right away.
Brian:And I think if you have those expectations going into it, I think it's a lot better off.
Brian:I don't know if I can give you a, you know, clear cut answer, but, but I think those are things that you try your hardest to be engaged and have that balance in your life.
Speaker A:Specific to logistics and if you're not in the industry, you can still relate, but specific to logistics, you are a professional problem solver.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:You deal with issues every single day.
Speaker A:Turnover is high for a reason.
Speaker A:Is the opportunity there.
Speaker A:Can you make a lot of money?
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:But turnover, burnout, stress, it's all There we've seen turnover with some companies above 100% sure where they're going backwards.
Speaker A:And there's a reason for that is because they don't stress the importance of having a plan of attack, having a routine, how to manage your mental wellbeing to offset a lot of the stress and chaos that comes with the industry.
Speaker A:But with that being said, this industry is not for everyone.
Speaker A:You and I both know that.
Speaker A:We've seen it time and time again where they love the opportunity, but they're not willing to sacrifice and put in the effort and the work that comes with being in this industry.
Brian:Yeah, I think, I mean, I think the industry coarsens you up.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:I think it's kind of like a callous on your hands.
Brian:It's something you get used to over time and it is always evolving and we try to do everything we can to take time off and, you know, be out of the office, but, you know, it's just kind of the nature of the beast with our industry.
Brian:So when we talk about, you know, work, life balance and logistics, have you heard anything?
Brian:Like what, what are some things that companies have been doing to try to help with that?
Brian:You know, not necessarily our company, but just as an industry in general.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I can share a little bit about, you know, what we do to place a bigger emphasis on that.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:But I know you work from home policies, flexible pto.
Speaker A:Hell, some companies offer unlimited pto.
Speaker A:You know, if you're looking, listening to this and you work at Veritas, it's not going to happen, so let's not bring it up again.
Speaker A:But gym membership, so there's a lot of incentives that companies offer to help offset that.
Speaker A:In our industry, it never stops moving.
Speaker A:So you have to, unless you have a team that's helping manage your accounts, it's on you.
Speaker A:I remember several holidays where I met my in law's house.
Speaker A:I missed the entire dinner because I am on the phone dealing with issues.
Speaker A:But clients that you work with expect that.
Speaker A:That's why they pay you a premium.
Speaker A:Being a freight broker, being a partner of theirs.
Speaker A:That's why they pay you, is to handle those types of issues so that they can enjoy dinner with their family.
Speaker A:But that's part of it.
Speaker A:My wife Carly, she's been here since day one in my previous role, but since I've been in the industry and she's well aware of the issues and the stress that comes with this industry.
Speaker A:There's a lot of things that we do as a family and as you know, as a relationship to offset some of the stress that comes with that.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:For you.
Speaker A:Brian, when we talk about marriage, Jess, she's been there too, since day one.
Brian:Yeah.
Brian:Yeah.
Brian:I've known her for a while.
Speaker A:What types of sacrifices do you have to make?
Speaker A:Having a family, having a marriage.
Speaker A:What type of sacrifices do you have to make?
Brian:Yeah.
Brian:I mean, I tell you what, you know, shout out to that girl because she's been with me through thick and thin and, you know, it's one of those.
Brian:I've known her for 16 years, which is crazy.
Brian:Even back when I was, you know, serving tables at Bonefish Grill.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:In Missouri.
Brian:Yeah.
Brian:I mean, she's.
Brian:She's stuck by my side every step of the way.
Brian:I feel like comes to work, life, balance, it's.
Brian:She's always providing that a level head or understanding what that is.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:So.
Brian:And don't get me wrong, like, there was a million night phone calls.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:2Am wake ups, 3am wake ups.
Brian:And those are exhausting.
Brian:But she is better than I can ever imagine.
Brian:And she's awesome.
Brian:And she's been extremely supportive, even with our business.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:So she allowed me to take the leap of faith or allowed us to take the leap of faith and help us in this venture.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:So I think that's where it comes out, is that level of support, that spouse that's there through thick and thin.
Brian:And I know that you have the same with Carly.
Brian:And it's.
Brian:I think we need to praise our wives more.
Brian:More often.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:That's.
Brian:That needs to go on my power list every day.
Brian:So.
Brian:Which it is most weeks, but yeah.
Speaker A:We refer to it as your home team.
Speaker A:Who's closest to you.
Speaker A:It's usually a spouse.
Speaker A:It's usually your close network of family, your friends.
Speaker A:But your home team, you know, if this is a commitment that you're willing to make and you want to pursue this career, you have a.
Speaker A:You have to have a very tight and hit home team.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:There are a lot of sacrifices that come with it.
Speaker A:And having the early conversations with Carly when, you know, this was.
Speaker A:We were.
Speaker A:We were launching.
Speaker A:We're doing it.
Speaker A:We're in the middle of COVID but we're going full throttle.
Speaker A:She was always 100% on board.
Speaker C:Yep.
Speaker A:Like, no matter what, we have this rule.
Speaker A:It's called 100% rule.
Speaker A:If I'm at 30% and just getting my teeth kicked in, yeah, I know.
Speaker A:I'm going home to three kids and a wife.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:She's gonna have to pick up 70% of my slack.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And Vice versa.
Speaker A:We always wanna give our kids 100%.
Brian:Hold on.
Brian:You get your teeth kicked in, in this industry.
Brian:What do you mean, man?
Speaker A:Every other day I would say no, but, but, but she's on board with that.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And she picks up my slack and, you know, since we started, she's been picking up my slack on the home front so I can focus on this.
Speaker C:I know.
Speaker A:And the goal is we'll make time for each other, but you gotta carve out that time.
Speaker A:And I think it boils down to.
Speaker A:When we talk about work life balance, it boils down to what do you want as an individual.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:Because that balance.
Speaker A:There's never gonna be balance.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's unrealistic.
Speaker A:You're always gonna have an imbalance in your life.
Speaker A:If you want to, you know, bust your ass and your career is your number one priority.
Speaker A:Well, say goodbye to your social life.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:That's not balanced.
Brian:Yeah, I think, I think that's any industry too, man.
Brian:Like, if that's real estate or banking or financial services or insurance, like, if you want to go full throttle on career, there's got to be some sacrifice in there, right?
Brian:Yep.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker A:And at the end of the day, it's what it is.
Speaker A:Like, what do you, what do you truly want out of life?
Speaker A:And, you know, it can evolve as well, but what do you want?
Speaker A:And for me, it's my marriage, you know, my kids, this business and my health.
Speaker A:Those are it for me.
Speaker A:But that, that requires sacrifice.
Speaker A:You know, I sacrifice time with my kids.
Brian:Yeah.
Speaker A:So that I can spend a lot more time with them down the road.
Speaker A:But that's, that's temporary sacrifice.
Speaker A:Same thing with my wife.
Speaker A:You know, we carve out Friday nights where there's no phone.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:I'm not worried about work.
Speaker A:I'm going to have a cocktail.
Speaker A:Usually we call it Porcheritas we saw on the front porch and make margaritas.
Brian:There you go.
Speaker A:But, you know, that's my time that we carve out.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And that's the balance that I need.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:You know, again, it's temporary.
Speaker A:It's not long term.
Speaker A:But find that balance is so crucial, especially when it comes to significant others.
Brian:Yeah, man.
Brian:Even with, you know, you mentioned it earlier like this, this industry is tough.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:It takes a certain level of mental toughness.
Brian:So, like the work life balance in logistics, is it possible?
Brian:Yeah, it's possible, but it takes some intention.
Speaker A:Right.
Brian:You have to be intentional about it.
Brian:Anybody that wants a kush job where they're kicking their feet and they can, you know, work from nine to three?
Brian:I'm sorry, man, this, this industry probably isn't the right one for you, right?
Brian:You probably need to choose something else or choose something different.
Brian:Because, I mean, this, you said it earlier, but whoever solves the most problems wins, right?
Brian:And so, and usually, I mean, hello, that's, that's any industry, but the people that solve the most problems, they get paid the most, right?
Brian:So, you know, how do you set yourself up and how do you, you know, get yourself into that position, especially in our industry, which I'm in love with.
Speaker A:I want to back up real quick, Brian.
Speaker A:You mentioned being intentional.
Speaker A:Intentionality, sir, for those who are listening or, you know, maybe.
Speaker A:Maybe you're watching and you're like, man, my life is just like it's falling apart.
Speaker A:I have no balance.
Speaker A:I don't want to do what I want to do.
Speaker A:How can you be intentional each week?
Speaker A:Or what are you very disciplined with each week to give more balance in your life?
Brian:Yeah.
Brian:If, if anybody's out there that, that is, you know, struggling or having a hard time, like, please know, we've, we've been there before, right?
Brian:We've been down to our last, you know, 70 bucks in our bank account.
Brian:I mean, don't mention the overdraft fees, you know, when, when it goes in the negative.
Brian:Right.
Brian:Tips to be, you know, intentional.
Brian:I think it, it boils back to what is it that you want in, you know, from a personal perspective and career and family and faith or fitness, Right?
Brian:Like, what, what do you actually want?
Brian:Right?
Brian:I think you have to ask yourself that, like, okay, I want to lose ten pounds.
Brian:Okay, Well, I know that I have to be intentional about not eating garbage and actually exercising, where I SW a little bit, you know, and not do that one time a week, but do that five times a week.
Brian:And I think it's, you know, writing those things down or knowing what you want.
Speaker C:Right.
Brian:And I think people struggle with that.
Brian:I think people struggle with, okay, what is it that I actually want from a career?
Brian:Maybe you're 22, listening, and maybe you don't know that answer yet.
Brian:We try to help you think about that and think about what it is that you're looking for.
Brian:Do a, you know, fast forward, you know, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months.
Brian:What's that look like?
Brian:What do I actually want?
Speaker C:Right?
Brian:So, yeah, I think, you know, a lot of people unfortunately don't think, and I, hopefully this, you know, our shows and our episodes on the podcast and YouTube can help them do that.
Speaker C:Right?
Brian:Actually think about what you want.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And the one thing I'll add to this is this quote.
Speaker A:I don't know who said this, so if you know, you know, go ahead and tag that person.
Speaker A:But quotes, be wherever your feet are.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:The way I interpret that is if I am working out, I'm working out, I'm locked in, I'm working out.
Speaker A:When I'm at work, I don't leave work, I'm eating lunch at my desk.
Speaker A:I am working because I know I have seven, eight hours depending on kid drop off.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Seven or eight hours to be as productive and impactful as possible.
Speaker A:When I am home, I'm home with my kids present.
Speaker A:My wife checks me a lot.
Speaker A:So I'm doing my best to be present.
Speaker A:But those are where my feet are.
Speaker A:So those are where I'm going to be present.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:You know, if you're listening again, what do you want out of this?
Speaker A:If you want balance and you love vacations, go take vacations.
Speaker A:But your job is not going to line up with that.
Speaker A:Your success is not going to line up with that.
Speaker A:So I challenge you to be where your feet are real quick.
Brian:So I think be where your feet are.
Brian:I know that there's a great follow for those out there.
Brian:I know a great follow.
Brian:Jesse Itzler is one of the best at talking about this topic and he has a huge, I think he calls it like the big ass calendar or something like that where you can map out your year.
Brian:And I mean, hell, you're talking about intentional, right?
Brian:Like that is super intentional.
Brian:Especially with, you know, he has a thing that he calls like Kevin's rule or Keith's rule or something where he has one time a month that he takes one child and they do something like go fishing or camping or they go play football in the backyard and it's like full fledged like they paint the stripes on the field.
Brian:And so like I think that if you're interested or want to learn more about that, I think Jesse Itzler is a great follow.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:We'll drop some of these tools.
Speaker A:Work life balance tools, stress relief tools, planning tools.
Speaker A:In the summary of this episode, feel free to drop, you know, your tools, your own personal tools, your personal routines in the comments or shoot us a dm.
Speaker A:We'd love to hear them on this episode.
Brian:Today we're going to talk about how to overcome adversity and face resiliency head on.
