Shedlund Big Coat earned his nickname through behavior that immediately set off alarm bells—wearing an oversized winter coat in one hundred degree July weather in the American South. This was not just quirky behavior; it was a visual manifestation of something fundamentally disconnected from reality. The transportation industry attracts all types of individuals, and we pride ourselves on giving people opportunities regardless of their backgrounds. However, Shedlund was different in ways that went beyond mere eccentricity.

He was a slender, quiet individual who struggled with basic interpersonal communication. He made people uncomfortable in ways they could not always articulate. His eyes told a story that his words never could—they held something disturbing, something that triggered our deepest survival instincts. Those eyes showed that stereotypes sometimes exist for valid reasons, that our pattern recognition evolved to protect us from danger.

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The story of Joe Gizzy represents one of the most startling examples of how assumptions can mislead us, how first impressions can deceive, and how accountability - or the lack thereof - ultimately determines our fate. His story serves as both a cautionary tale and a teaching moment that illuminates each of the ten rules we will explore together.

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Setting the Stage: Who Was Kenny?

The name says everything you need to know. Meth Addict Kenny was exactly what his nickname suggests—a man deep in the grip of addiction to crack cocaine and methamphetamines. When our organization recruited and hired Kenny, I'll admit something that goes against my usual approach: I was immediately judgmental. And unfortunately, my worst fears came true.

The first time I met Kenny, he looked rough. Imagine a heavy metal rockstar from the 1980s who had consumed far too many drugs over a lifetime—that was Kenny. My first reaction was to turn to our safety director and ask point-blank: "How did this guy pass the drug test?" I couldn't hide my skepticism. "We need drivers," I said, "but you hired this guy?"

Despite my reservations, we went through the standard onboarding process. I met with Kenny, set clear expectations, introduced him to our planner and safety staff, and set him up with a truck. Like many new drivers, Kenny started getting paycheck advances right away. At first, I ignored it—new drivers often need some financial help as they get started. But then the pattern began to emerge, and it wasn't good.

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