Bruce Outridge
Artist | Author | Radio & Podcast Producer | Television Host
Earn Cash From Your Writing
Are you an author that enjoys writing and would like to make more money from your craft? Maybe you are working on a book and would like to create a body of work and get paid at the same time? It is very possible to do this with the age of the internet because everyone is looking for content. The best part is it doesn’t matter if it is fiction or non-fiction. There is only one thing that really matters, can you produce content consistently? If the answer is “yes” then you have many opportunities ahead of you.
Authors get paid anywhere from $10 to $1000 for their work depending on their name value, the publication, the type of content, and the requirements of the contract. For most unknown authors you can expect between $10 and $300 being the norm, again depending on publication. Some don’t pay at all but give other types of return for the writing which I will get to in a minute. So how do you get paid for your writing you ask? Go local!
Staying in your local area may be the best way to get paid for your writing. Social media is all the rage right now and looks like it will be here to stay. That means that every business from the bank to the coffee shop is looking for content to put out and market to their customers. Business owners are usually handling many functions in their business and rarely have time to write as well. They still need to market their business however and that is where you come in. Do you have content that fits a business in your local area?
For instance, I have over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry. I was a driver in the industry, owned a truck, and so on. In 2009 when content sharing became a way of marketing a business I began writing blog posts for my website. I was then asked by local trade magazines to write for them and became a columnist. I then started being asked by trucking companies in my area to write for them for their blogs. Some clients lasted a year or so and others went for several years. I currently write for two companies and one magazine by choice.
So the way it works is that I write a blog post for the company each week and load it up on their website or send it to the editor. I get paid a certain amount for each blog post or article, but I retain the copyright. That is the important part that afterwards you still own the content. I promise not to release it anywhere else for at least 90 days. After that you can use those same articles to put together a book that you can sell, use in other media such as videos or podcasts, or rework and use for other articles. Two of the four books I currently have available were created from articles previously written for other uses.
What happens if you are not paid for your writing? Although we all like to be paid in actual cash even if you write for free you are still being paid. Some of the trade magazines that I write for don’t pay in cash but offer 
free advertising and exposure to other clients. There is also the hidden benefit of helping you create your writing style, add content for your latest book, or organize your content to find your voice. When I look at my articles from my first year to my writing now it is a giant step. I don’t think I would have come so far if I didn’t have the pressure to complete an article every week.
So get out there and see who is in your area. Does your church have a newsletter and are looking for content? Do you write at a coffee shop and can possibly submit content to share for their clients as they drink their coffee? There are many opportunities, it is a matter of seeking them out. You may even get paid!
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is an artist, author, consultant, and speaker. He speaks on creativity, confidence, business, and leadership. He is the author of several books on business and leadership and is launching his new podcast called Cashing in on Creativity Podcast. You can learn more at www.bruceoutridge.com
Education is the Key to Being a Smart Trucker
I hear it everyday from carriers that the people coming into the industry are lacking commitment and don’t seem to have the skills necessary for the job. I see it in my classes that many students are trying to cookie cut their career and find the perfect job from day one. We see it as a whole in the industry that things are in a state of flux and organizations are trying to come up with answers that address the needs of the industry. No easy fix for sure! There is one constant component in the whole equation and that is you, the driver, the student, you’re the glue.
Why are you the glue, that important piece of a very complex puzzle? You are the piece that controls everything. As a driver you are in demand in the industry. There is a major recruiting shortage that is getting worse and drivers are needed badly. As a student you want the best job you can get, but getting that job may be harder than you expected because it is not just about driving a truck. As an industry we have been trying to find the right mix of regulations for both drivers and companies working in the industry and that has made the industry more complex over the years. So how does this affect us going forward?
There are many that believe we don’t have a recruiting shortage but lack the necessary driver qualifications in today’s drivers. The industry has changed so much that once it was a dumping ground for people without education, it has now become one of the most regulated and education rich industries around. So how do you succeed in an industry that is changing at the speed of sound? The secret is to educate yourself, network, and take your position seriously.
For the most part people looking into the transportation industry have no love of being in classes or increasing their education. Many believe if they can drive then they have all that is needed to be successful. In fact the most popular reason that people get into this industry is because they went on a long trip, enjoyed the drive, and thought truck driving might be for them. What changes is when they actually get into the training aspect they realize driving is only one part of the position. There are many different components to the job and driving is only 50 percent at best. Keeping yourself educated is the important aspect of being successful in today’s transportation industry. The other 50 percent of the job duties needed to be successful encompasses everything else that a driver does on a daily basis. Educate yourself regularly through videos, publications, podcasts, and other sources that you come across everyday. Find the ones that are best for you and keep up with the industry. What if we took that education component one step further?
Learning from publications, podcasts, and other formats are good for ongoing learning but attending events is one way to really improve your game. Attending an educational event offers you more benefits than just learning by yourself on an online format. You gain knowledge, but you also increase your network, you get a deeper understanding of the content through questions, and you get promotional items that can help you in your daily activities. One such event is the Smart Trucker Seminar Series that has been moving throughout Ontario in 2016. The series started in Mississauga in March, went on to Grimsby, London, Kingston, and is now ending the year out in Oshawa Ontario on November 10th.
So take your career to the next level and secure your position in the changing area of transportation. There is no reason why any person with a valid commercial licence should not be working for decent carriers unless they choose not to drive. Realize that driving is only a portion of your responsibilities and the industry is changing. Don’t be one of the statistics of this industry, be part of the solution. Join us for the next Smart Trucker Seminar in Oshawa Ontario. You can learn more by going to roadtoday.com/smarttrucker or bruceoutridge.com/smarttrucker.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is transportation consultant with over 30 years experience in the industry. He is the host of The Lead Pedal Podcast for drivers ( www.theleadpedalpodcast.com), author of the books Running By The Mile, and Driven to Drive, and is a trainer and consultant for the industry. You can learn more about Bruce and his work at www.bruceoutridge.com
Are You Ready for Winter Weather?
Winter is almost upon us in Southern Ontario and may be in full swing where you are. Professional driver should be prepared for anything in today’s climate. Check out this episode of The Lead Pedal Podcast and start preparing yourself by improving your inspections everyday with your vehicle. I outline some tips in this episode for you.
http://theleadpedalpodcast.com/lp136-find-out-why-improving-your-truck-inspections-at-this-time-of-year-may-save-your-life 
About the Podcast
The Lead Pedal Podcast is hosted and produced by Bruce Outridge who has been in the industry for over 30 years. Bruce offers training on truck related topics, leadership, and business. The podcast has over 100 episodes with a mix of interviews and topics related to the trucking industry. This show is focused on new drivers and owner operators to help them have better careers in the industry. You can learn more about the show and listen to episodes at www.theleadpedalpodcast.com
If you don’t know why you are making your rules then why make them?
Have you ever stopped in a snow storm or refused to drive a certain area as a driver and felt the company didn’t believe you? If you have hopefully you had good reason for doing so? That reason could be the difference between looking like a whiner or 
looking professional. Check out this episode of The Lead Pedal Podcast where I talk about why it is important for you to know why you don’t like to do certain tasks or run certain areas and how to communicate them properly to your team.
http://theleadpedalpodcast.com/lp135-create-your-own-rules-but-know-the-reason-behind-them
About the Podcast
The Lead Pedal Podcast is hosted and produced by Bruce Outridge who has been in the industry for over 30 years. Bruce offers training on truck related topics, leadership, and business. The podcast has over 100 episodes with a mix of interviews and topics related to the trucking industry. This show is focused on new drivers and owner operators to help them have better careers in the industry. You can learn more about the show and listen to episodes at www.theleadpedalpodcast.com
Learn about Drug Collection for Truck Drivers with Fleet Tax Services
In this latest episode of The Lead Pedal podcast I interview Vickie DeVos of Fleet Tax Services about the process for drug collection in the transportation industry for truck drivers.
About the Podcast
The Lead Pedal Podcast is hosted and produced by Bruce Outridge who has been in the industry for over 30 years. Bruce offers training on truck related topics, leadership, and business. The podcast has over 100 episodes with a mix of interviews and topics related to the trucking industry. This show is focused on new drivers and owner operators to help them have better careers in the industry. You can learn more about the show and listen to episodes at www.theleadpedalpodcast.com
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