I initially started riding my bicycle to UPS way back in the late 90s. My van had broken down and lacking the funds to fix it right away, I decided that my 10-speed was my best option. I hadn’t missed a day of work during my first year; and I wanted to complete a year with no absence from work. It was a 16-mile ride in each direction at that time, but on occasion, my preload supervisor, Debbie Fried, would meet me along the way; and I’d throw my bike into the back of her truck.

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Owning a small business was never in my life plan. I never dreamt of being my own boss or experiencing many of the challenges and rewards you often hear of when you talk to a small business owner.

Becoming a The UPS Store franchisee happened by chance. Before I opened my The UPS Store, I was the executive director at another company and used The UPS Store in Wasilla, Alaska frequently. Joey, the owner at the time, would listen to my wild marketing ideas – I was always asking him, “Can you make me some (insert crazy marketing idea)?” And his answer was always, “Yes.” He always found a way to make it happen. He was inspiring, and sparked the idea that I might want to own my own business.

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It’s important to enjoy what you do for work, and if you can have fun while doing it – even better.  For Gail and Stacey Rogers, work is not only enjoyable, but it truly is fun. In fact, making sure others are having fun is in the job description!

The mother and daughter team own Toys with Love in Chester, New Jersey.  Says Gail, “It’s not just a place for parents and gift givers to shop; it’s a place for kids to come and have fun.” The store’s business is booming – later this year they plan to move to a larger location across the street to expand their product selection.

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Over the last few months, I’ve been to three weddings and two baby showers. It’s an exciting time in the lives of my friends, but it’s hectic as well with all the last minute details to finalize and packages coming to the house, especially as the wedding date/due date nears.

While UPS can’t help finalize last minute details, we can help manage all those packages. With UPS My Choice you’ll no longer need to keep up with tracking numbers – we’ll  do it for you. The day before delivery, you’ll get one alert with information on all the packages that are set to arrive the next day. We’ll even send you a four hour approximate delivery window when possible.

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When I rode my bicycle to school in the seventh grade, I pretended I was my hero at the time – the great Arthur Fonzarelli. As evidenced by my low-end Huffy (and lack of a leather jacket and girlfriends), I was nowhere near as cool as “The Fonz.” Or my classmates who drove a Mongoose or Schwinn.

But let’s make one thing clear: I was no nerd. And I would never – repeat – never wear a helmet as I popped my wheelies and darted in and out of traffic.

Crazy, right?

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A company’s culture can show itself in unique ways. At some companies, you’ll see it in how people talk, or dress, or start a meeting. If you ever visit a UPS facility, even our corporate headquarters, the first place you’ll get a glimpse of the culture is out in the parking lot.

When you first drive in, something may seem a little off. At first, you can’t quite figure out what it is. And then…. It hits you. Look closely at the picture above. Do you see it?

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Despite my medical limitations, I’m an Ironman. In 2003, in just a matter of days I weakened to the point where I could not walk. After four days in the hospital, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disease.

It took months of rehabilitation before I returned to work as a tractor trailer driver for UPS in Dallas. During rehabilitation I asked my doctor if I could compete in an Ironman one day. He replied, “I don’t think that’s possible with the condition you have. I’ve never heard of a GBS patient doing a long endurance event such as an Ironman.” That was all I needed to hear – I was determined to prove him wrong.

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Never turn a blind eye when it comes to safety. UPSer Dan Bledsoe proves you should never turn a deaf ear either.

Dan is a member of our tractor trailer safety team, and recently he heard something he couldn’t believe on a Roanoke, Virginia radio station.

The station was encouraging teens behind the wheel to text in their answers to contest questions.

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If someone had asked me just three months ago if I’d like to achieve every professional goal I’ve set for myself, meet incredible people, and make new friends, and if I’d like to travel around the country and go to exciting events while promoting safety and the industry that I love, I’d say, “That sounds awesome! What’s the catch?”

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Take a stack of driver uniforms and create a new look in the spirit of UPS – that was the task given to 19 students of the Margrethe-Skolen international fashion design school in Denmark. For the second consecutive year, UPS teamed up with a leading fashion institution to support young design talent and show how UPS serves fashion all over the world, bringing designs to catwalks, retailers and wardrobes the world over.

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