Conversations that involve the word “welfare" invoke an impression of an imposed social structure that forcefully seizes money and other resources (through taxation) from the industrious and gives contributions to mostly indolent people who have consciously abdicated their freedom to ensure that the government will provide for their needs and wants.  That negative perception of the term has been driven into the minds of many American citizens because of our government’s inept understanding of our inherent sense of responsibility that teaches us that we have an obligation to take care of the needy.

There is a better way to think about welfare.  The term itself conveys a sense of health, happiness and prosperity.  These ideals are not achieved when an individual or groups of people become dependent upon a system that requires nothing in return for temporal support and that inspires indolence.  Instead, a true welfare system emphasizes self reliance and builds people’s sense of worth by promoting hard work, innovation, education, discipline, frugality, and other time-tested values.

An  Example of Government Welfare
A typical story that illustrates what’s wrong with today’s government welfare program was explained to me by a relative of mine, who had an interesting conversation while working as a bank teller during the time Hurricane Katrina affected the New Orleans area, prompting the government to relocate people throughout the country.  A guy stopped by the bank to use his government-issued debit card to cash in on a welfare claim, compliments of the good old American taxpayers.  He wasn’t interested in getting the necessities, which welfare should provide.  Instead, he asked where the nearest “adult video store” was located so he could drop some taxpayer dollars on pornography.  In this case, as with a large percentage of those who depend upon the government for their livelihood, it is obvious that the recipients abuse a system that is set up for abuse, and the true nature of welfare is hardly fulfilled.

Not Victims
The sense of being helpless that exists among a high percentage of welfare recipients shows that the existing government system doesn’t work.  If you come across an individual who has needed help financially to the extent that he sought assistance from a program and survived the ordeal without losing some amount of his integrity, you likely found a person who opted for a church run or other non-government assistance program, or who at least repented of it.

A Model For Real Welfare
A good example for helping the needy recover from temporal setbacks while not damaging their ability to provide for themselves is the welfare program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Mormon teachings place value on self sufficiency.  Its leadership teaches its members to be diligent in their work, to set aside money for future use, to be ready for personal or widespread disasters, and to give more than they take.

Members of the Church (and non-members as well) who need assistance have the ability to receive food and other necessities with the perception that they will work towards becoming independent as quickly as possible.  The church has food storehouses where individuals and families in trouble can purchase what they need by exchanging service. In this scenario, the individual’s self worth is not diminished as it is when support is provided on a long term basis to people from whom more should be expected.

If you're reading this, you probably own a truck. Or perhaps you just drive one for work. Or you may even be considering which type of headache rack to order standard or custom. Usually the primary focus of headache racks are the many features and benefits. But I'll zero in on the big picture for this article. I want to focus on what a headache rack says about you and your business. Then here goes, the top seven statements are:



1. You are results focused. Since a headache rack is designed for use, it says you care about making the most of your time and effort.

2. You work hard. Do we need to say anything else! Put two pickup truck side by side. One looks like a hard working truck, the other just looks like a truck.

3. You pride yourself on the quality of your work. Another prominently touted feature of a headache rack is that they are designed to protect the back window of your cab. And installing one on your truck definitely helps to protect that window. This indicates you take pride in your "tools" and most likely take pride in your work.


4. You're cool. Probably a little cliche, but it fits. Trucks with custom headache racks especially scream "cool." They turn heads and as an added bonus, the people turning their heads at your truck, the better recognition you build around your brand.

5. You are financially responsible. Yep, believe it or not, spending money on functional truck accessories indicates that you're financially savvy. It's a little different than adding something like diesel smoke stacks behind your cab! The rack says you invest money in accessories that both look nice, add a custom look, and are functional all at the same time.

6. Your customers come first. Generally speaking, professionals who invest in themselves are more likely to invest in others. Think about it this way; you've seen that local "budget" house painter with his 1989 Isuzu two wheel drive pickup cruisin' around town right? You think that guy cares as much about his customers and invests in them as much as the guy with the more functional looking truck?

7. You sacrifice to get the job done right the first time. This is especially true if you've added the rear facing cargo lamps to your custom headache rack! There is only one use for a cargo light and that is for working after dark. Workers that choose to stay on the job late are likely trying to get the job finished.

The bottom line is that investing in your commercial pickup truck, whether you're the owner or the fleet manager is an important part of marketing and branding for your business and services. The key to getting this done right is to choose accessories that not only accent your rig, but also are functional and built as tough as you work. If you work hard your customers should know it and feel it when they see your truck coming. Make sure your truck stays clean and presentable and has the right accessories to perform your job well.