Show Up!

Show Up!

Show Up! ?In a world that has been decimated by the global pandemic that has affected all of us, Covid has changed the way that companies and people do business.??My field of expertise, supply chain/logistics/transportation has been one of the hardest hit and we are being told by industry experts that “normal” will more likely than not, return until the 3rd/4th Quarter of 2023, with some predictions already taking us into 2024.

?35+ years I’ve been involved in this great industry, I’ve worked more hours in the past 2 years then I had over the past 5, no wonder we (I) get tired, with 70-80+ hour work weeks common, it takes a huge toll on our bodies and our mental ability to even function.??Working for a global manufacturer, conference calls all throughout the day and night, working to insure product gets shipped to meet customer SLA’s, customer demand and fulfillment of company metrics and goals. Love what you do and "Show Up"!

?I received an email from one of my team members last week who had taken some much needed time off for vacation.??Upon her return, she discovered that two other members of my team “took on her workload” and she came into work with a clean slate, no fires to put out, no 100’s or 1000’s of emails to catch up on, no backlog of orders to try and fulfill, ocean containers to book, heavy-weight air shipments to schedule – nothing.?I awarded those 2 team members a spot bonus award for their outstanding hard work and efforts, they both said “Yes”, they both “Showed Up” without fail, without complaint to insure that the work got done and the employee who was on vacation didn’t walk into work facing a daunting task of trying to catch up.? Thank you to these two team members, for your dedication and hard work!??Thank You!!!

?I’ve worked for, consulted to and have been involved with dozens of companies during my 35+ year career.? I have found that in this great field of logistics, daily, every single day, we are going to face challenges.??It’s how we face them is what sets, in my mind, a logistics pro apart from someone just coming in to get a paycheck.??Great people make a company – sure, the products a company manufactures or produces are the “backbone” of the business, but it’s the “People” without fail, that make a company successful.

?In my career, I’ve been involved in millions of shipments globally with a total freight spend north of $30 Billion.??That’s a lot of freight, wouldn’t you say?? All modes of transport; FTL (dry, temp control, frozen); LTL; Flatbed; Heavy-Haul/Specialized; Intermodal; Ocean; Heavy-weight Air; Small Parcel; Tanker; Pipeline; Rail; Expedited; Last Mile – I don’t think (that I can think of) there is a mode I haven’t touched.??I share with my team and the teams that I’ve worked with over the years; find your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life.??I found my passion when I was 15 years old and I’ve woken up 1000’s of mornings since with a fire in my gut to face the day, “Game On” as this, in my mind, is the best part of a business.??Moving product from “Point A” to “Point B” in the most efficient and cost effective way possible.?There are a few things I’ve learned:

?1.???People make the difference.?Surround yourselves with people who are smarter than you.??It’s the Steve Jobs philosophy, the Founder of Apple “We don’t hire good people for us to tell them what to do!??We hire good people for them to tell us what to do”! Take care of your people, they will take care of you and own their results for the business!

2.???Work with logistics providers and people you trust – that get the job done and do what they say they are going to do.

3.???Cheapest price, isn’t always the best choice!??The old adage, you get what you pay for has never been more “real” than in the past 2+ years!

4.???As a leader, I work off the mantra ?“Treat people with decency, kindness & respect.??Most important, be humble”!??If you treat people poorly, you will get the same in return.

?“Show Up” For the company and the people you work with and your rewards will certainly reap the benefits that you are working to achieve.