The Big Fight

“Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth” --- former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and hall of fame boxer, Mike Tyson.

Good Sunday afternoon all and welcome to this edition, No. 103, of "With That Said" (WTS), an almost-weekly newsletter powered by your friends here at Supply Chain Now . Today's edition is powered by Enrique Alvarez and our friends at Vector Global Logistics , who are moving mountains out across industry. In fact, Enrique & the Vector team were recently recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for their immense dedication to helping others, doing good, giving forward & being the change, as they earned the organization's "Best Corporate Steward Award". Check out Enrique's acceptance speech here via YouTube .

Moving right along. Okay, we just have to ask: how many of our WTS readers were amongst the estimated 60 MILLION viewers that tuned into the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson "fight"? Before you start to feel bad for Mike Tyson's last professional bout and loss, he was reported to haul some $20M in take home pay. Not bad for 16 minutes of work.

Scott Luton tuned in to the show, but claimed: "My own fight with the livestream glitches was more furious than the bout itself. On the bright side, I guess no ears were nibbled off this time. But the reputation of professional boxing certainly took a big blow to the nose."

Jake Paul has been quoted as saying that he could become "the next Muhammad Ali". We'll just leave that alone for now and shift gears to global supply chain, which are a bit more rooted in reality. Most of the time.

Let's dive into some news & a few views:

--- About 55,000 Canada Post / Postes Canada workers went on strike on Friday, which has frozen the processing & delivery of mail and parcels across the country. As reported by CBC , amongst the impact, small business owners everywhere are feeling the pain, especially during the current, all-important holiday shopping season. Kim Dowds, a small business owner based in Ontario, who sells items online from estate sales, was quoted as saying: "Because Canada Post is the only game in town, they (small business owners) are going to have to pause during the most important time of the year for selling." The Canadian government has recently appointed a special mediator to help with negotiations: learn more here via CBC .

--- In a recent article for Supply Chain Management Review Magazine , SCN co-host Karin Bursa writes "supply chain executives need the CFO to be more than just aware of supply chain operations—we want them to be completely engaged, excited, and fully on board with supporting supply chain innovations. Why? When your CFO becomes a supply chain superfan, their buy-in, commitment, and advocacy drive transformative change." Read Karin's full take here .

--- U.S. consumers were feeling their spending mojo in October, as retail sales clocked in at $718.9 billion, which is 2.3% more than October 2023, as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce . But pesky inflation is proving to be more resilient than ever, as Retail Brew reports: "Consumer prices, meanwhile, rose 0.2% month over month and 2.6% YoY, up from the 2.4% annual increase in September...five of the six major grocery categories saw higher prices...across other categories: prices for apparel and appliances fell, while footwear, furniture, and personal care products rose." Read the report here .

--- Will AI take your job? It depends on the nature of your role, aka your job description, says SCN co-host Vin Vashishta in a recent blog article. "In this article, I will break down job descriptions and discuss what AI can do today, what it will be capable of within 2 years, and what’s safe from automation. You’ll see that some roles are so poorly defined that executives will believe they can be automated. However, what exceptional employees really do isn’t captured in most job descriptions. Job descriptions are written for HR screening and job interviews. The capabilities required to succeed in each role are often very different. On the other hand, many jobs considered critical today don’t deliver much value or require complex capabilities. The better businesses understand how people create value, the more these roles will disappear or be automated." Read the rest here .

--- You've likely heard of the burbs. But have you heard about the rise of the "exurbs" in the U.S.? As reported by AP News : "Outlying communities on the outer margins of metro areas — some as far away as 60 miles (97 kilometers) from a city’s center — had some of the fastest-growing populations last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau...The rapid growth of far-flung exurbs is an after-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Census Bureau, as rising housing costs drove people further from cities and remote working allowed many to do their jobs from home at least part of the week." Read more here .

--- Negotiations have stalled between the ILA and USMX, as they have until January 15th, 2025 to finalize a new labor contract. Automation, and how it is applied, appears to be the continued sticking point. As Supply Chain Dive reports: "The ILA said it supports automation that will improve safety and efficiency, but only when a human being remains at the helm. The USMX said they are not seeking technology that would eliminate jobs, but increase protection and capacity." Many supply chain leaders say that U.S. ports must more fully embrace automation to keep up with industry's ever-evolving demands. Read more here .

--- Just what is on the horizon for supply chains in 2025? SCN answers that question in our latest blog article, where we invite business leaders such as Christine Barnhart, CPIM, PMP , John DeSarbo , Evan Junker, MBA, PCM & others to weigh in. Learn more here .

--- Want to learn more about Supply Chain Now programming? Check it out: https://linktr.ee/Supplychainnow

TRANSFORMATION TIPS: Looking for insights on how best to digitally transform your external manufacturing operations? Tune in to Nulogy 's latest on-demand webinar, featuring Michael Copeland, Senior Director of IT at DHL Supply Chain : https://bit.ly/3CvfckG

NEED YOUR INPUT: Take the State of Visibility 2025 survey! Share your insights on real-time visibility and technology adoption in today’s supply chains. Help shape a comprehensive report on trends, challenges, and innovations. Your expertise matters: https://bit.ly/3AXSd14

Now plug in to these resources & perspectives from across the SCN ecosystem:

--- Learn how innovative supply chain solutions are transforming vaccine delivery in low-resource settings on this episode of Logistics With Purpose? ! Join hosts Enrique Alvarez and Kristi Porter as they talk with Kelly Hamblin from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . Discover the critical partnerships that are making a difference in global health and how they’re working towards eradicating diseases like polio. Give it a listen here and learn more about the episode here .

--- In a recent post, SCN co-host Marty Parker shares: "Want to be a happier leader? In today’s video, I explore how to build a fulfilling leadership experience. Happiness at work isn’t just about finding the perfect job; it’s about shaping a culture and environment that cultivates fulfillment. Drawing on Stephen Covey’s advice to “carry your own weather” and Arthur Brooks’ four pillars—faith, family, friends, and work—I discuss how nurturing these relationships and focusing on purpose can lead to greater fulfillment as a leader." Check it out in full here .

--- In his weekly "Good News" message, Scott Luton celebrates Enrique Alvarez & Katherine H. : "I am a notorious user of every character that LinkedIn affords me. Life is too short to be brief. And there are plenty of other things that life is too short for. But gratitude is not one. And as we get closer and closer to my favorite holiday of the year, I am profoundly grateful to work with truly gifted human beings & genuine leaders that make it fun to do what we do: on the good days, the bad days and all points in between. That's Good News that I'll celebrate each day, far beyond Thanksgiving." Read in full here .

--- From the most recent edition of "The Parcel Playbook", which is published by our friends at Sifted : "FedEx and UPS continue offering aggressive discounts to win new business, particularly among SMBs - a trend that’s been ongoing since Spring. FedEx is strategically courting businesses whose packages and networks are a good fit to their own. The carriers are battling for additional per-package revenue as volume drops. They’re facing increased competition from other carriers, and even their own partners, like Walmart, Amazon, and the USPS." Check out "The Parcel Playbook" here .

--- In a recent message, SCN co-host Tandreia Bellamy says: "True leadership is not about exerting control; it’s about using your influence to inspire and empower others to achieve the extraordinary. If you hold onto the outdated notion that leadership is about leading through force, your business will struggle to attract top talent, to build innovative leadership, to maintain profitable clients and to have sustainable growth." Read more here .

--- In a recent blog post, past SCN guest Tjeerd De Jong with SPARQ360 talks about lowering Scope 3 emissions by leveraging more sustainable supplier practices. He writes: "As organizations pursue ambitious sustainability goals, addressing Scope 3 emissions has become essential. Scope 3 emissions—those generated indirectly across a company’s value chain, such as those from suppliers, product transportation, and waste disposal—often represent the largest portion of a company’s carbon footprint. For many companies, these emissions account for more than 70% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Developing sustainable supplier practices is crucial for businesses committed to reducing their environmental impact, cutting costs, and enhancing supply chain resiliency." Read in full here .

--- How can we think about "flow" differently? Here is one way, as shared by SCN co-host Kimberly Reuter : "I will tell you a secret…I have worked with a Coach for over 20 years. Her name is Alicia, and she has guided me through some of the most challenging moments of my life. We also worked on ME a lot. And I have learned that - Our greatest strength is our greatest weakness. It is a universal truth. My tenacity, passion, loyalty, and grit are my greatest gifts. But they are a hair-trigger away from…Hard-headed, stubborn, demanding, and rough." Read more here .

--- Kevin L. Jackson, CISSP?,CCSP? , host of Digital Transformers, LLC , shared a timely message recently: "Information scarcity used to be a problem but today information overload poses a greater threat. Audiences may spread this information without verifying its accuracy often driven by emotional reactions. Be responsible with the information you pass on." Learn more from Kevin here .

--- SPECIAL FRIEND OF THE SHOW: Connect with Victoria V. Carlton , who is moving mountains out in the business world. Is your team stretched to its limits? Struggling to cover all your marketing and communication needs? It might be time to consider partnering with a small agency. Small, but powerful agencies, like Carlton Creative Co. - Marketing Agency offer a unique blend of flexibility, personalized attention, and creative innovation that can transform your marketing efforts. Victoria & the team provide the agility to pivot quickly, deeply understand your business, and deliver tailored solutions that large firms often can't match. Plus, working closely with a dedicated team means your brand's voice is not just heard, but amplified in ways that truly resonate with your audience. Learn more here .

SUPPLY CHAIN REAL ESTATE: In need of warehouse space in the hot markets of El Paso and/or Fort Worth, Texas? Tevon E. Taylor & the Pegasus Logistics Group team have over 200k square feet of available space in El Paso, conveniently located 5 miles from the Ysleta Port of Entry; and 300k+ square feet of temperature controlled space available near the intermodal facility for BNSF, Alliance Airport for FedEx cargo, and DFW for UPS and other airlines. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3YrNrki

STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT 101: In the latest edition of "The Procurement Insider, published by our friends at OMNIA Partners , learn how leveraging group/cooperative purchasing can help you master the art of strategic sourcing: https://bit.ly/40R7qvv

Join us for our upcoming LIVE programming on SCN in the coming weeks!

Come join us starting with "The Buzz" on Monday, where Scott & Marty will share news and analysis from across global business. We'll also welcome in special guest Maria Villablanca , who will share key takeaways from the recent TFEST 2024. Then, make plans to join us in December, starting with these 3 special webinar sessions featuring leaders from CXT Software , 阿斯利康 , OMP , PAXAFE & more. Click on the images below for more information & registration links for each session.

Finally, via YouTube, check out a few of our favorite episodes from across the SCN ecosystem this year. What were some of yours?

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