E.L.Sherrill

Leadership isn’t something I learned from a book. I realized it with grease on my hands, a deadline breathing down my neck, and a driver pacing in the lobby waiting for his rig. For more than 25 years, I managed fleets, supervised teams as large as 62 technicians, and kept compliance officers from shutting us down.

 I now run a digital media group with 28+ websites. The tools are different, the noise is cleaner, and nobody yells about oil leaks. But the leadership lessons are the same. Whether you’re running a fleet or a publishing network, people still need direction, problems still need solving, and trust is still the most valuable currency.

 Here are five lessons I carried from the fleet shop to the digital office.

 1. Fix Systems, Not Just Problems

When you’re a tech, it’s tempting to zero in on the repair in front of you. But as a manager, you learn the hard way that a $20 oversight can cost a company thousands.

 Case in point: my first day walking into the A2B shop. No fire extinguishers. No fluid catch pans. No guards on power tools. And smack in the middle of the chaos, a snack table. By day three, OSHA walked in. Luckily, I’d already ordered extinguishers and containment gear and was working on tool guards.

That lesson stuck: don’t just put out fires, build systems so they don’t start in the first place.

 2. Anticipate Before You’re Asked

In fleet operations, downtime can severely impact profits. Waiting until something breaks means you’re already too late. That’s why preventive maintenance programs are gospel.

The same applies in digital publishing. If a site slows down, readers bounce. If SEO slips, traffic dries up. I have learned to foresee issues in audits, enhance security, and update content before emergencies arise.

 Leaders aren’t reactive, they’re proactive.

 3. Documentation Saves More Than Memories

In the fleet world, “if it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen.” Logs, work orders, and compliance paperwork aren’t glamorous, but they keep you out of trouble when the DOT or OSHA shows up.

 Today, that discipline carries into MTDLN Media. Editorial calendars, SOPs, and analytics reports keep my 28 sites running like a tuned engine. Writers know what’s due. Editors know what to check. Vendors know what to deliver.

 Documentation isn’t busywork; it’s the backbone of accountability.

 4. People Make or Break the Shop

I’ve seen million-dollar fleets crippled by poor morale, and I’ve seen small, underfunded shops thrive because the crew had each other’s backs. Leadership isn’t about barking orders; it’s about building trust.

 In digital media, my team is scattered across time zones. They don’t punch a clock or huddle around a breakroom table. But the principle is the same: listen first, lead second. Recognition, clear communication, and respect drive more results than micromanagement ever will.

 5. Adapt or Stall Out

Engines evolve. Regulations shift. Tools change. The shop I started 40 years ago looks nothing like today’s high-tech bays. Adaptability kept me relevant as a tech and later as a manager.

 Then came diabetes. Losing both my legs forced me to adapt in a way I never planned. I couldn’t climb under trucks anymore. But I could build something new. That’s when I leaned into writing and turned it into MTDLN Media.

 Today, algorithms and platforms change as fast as emissions standards used to. The only way forward is adaptability.

Leaders survive by adjusting gears without losing momentum.

 Leadership doesn’t belong to any one industry. Whether you’re running a fleet shop or a digital publishing network, the rules are the same: fix systems, anticipate problems, document everything, build people up, and adapt when life changes.

The shop taught me discipline. The digital world gave me reach. Together, they remind me daily that leadership isn’t about the tools in your hand, it’s about the standards you set and the people you serve.

Author Bio

Earnest L. Sherrill Jr. is a former ASE Master Certified Fleet Manager turned digital media entrepreneur. After losing both legs to diabetes, he pivoted from 25+ years in fleet operations to founding MTDLN Media, a publishing network of 28+ websites. He writes about resilience, leadership, and the business lessons that carry from grease-stained shop floors to digital platforms. When he’s not building brands, you’ll find him sharing stories, coaching teams, and drinking a strong cup of coffee.