Times Change, But Some Things Stay the Same

logistics

Growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1990s, I am well aware of the far-reaching impacts of culture, politics, and the clash between them. My dad started his business when the Troubles were at their worst, and I was born at the tail end of them. There are many things that I have seen—and even more stories that I have heard—which are probably not suitable for this platform. However, in order for my dad to operate a (successful) family business throughout such complex societal and economic conditions ultimately meant being able to treat everyone equally and servicing the wider community, irrespective of their allegiances. We could not afford to treat anyone differently as we risked closing ourselves off from a large percentage of our potential customer base. We learned to respect everyone’s culture, views, and affiliations. After all, with a population of just over one million, word travels quickly. And you thought Australia’s logistics industry was tight-knit? Think again.

You may have read, heard, or seen footage of me on LinkedIn that mentions my father, and it has taken me almost nine years to speak about him. He told me to always treat the next person the same as the last; to treat people how you want to be treated. Mutual respect for your fellow man and woman, regardless of where you stand.

Read My Mentor, His Mentee, Our Legacy.

Since arriving in Australia and entering the logistics industry, I have come to realise that this industry has a unique culture of its own. I was told by many in the beginning (and still to this day): “Kyle, don’t burn bridges; it’s a male-dominated industry, there are big egos everywhere” and so on—you probably know how the rest goes. I have heard stories about certain supply chain, logistics, warehousing, and transport companies not working with other businesses for a variety of trivial reasons, possibly due to a ‘bad blood’ years ago, or because of a single negative interaction with someone in the past. Fortunately in Australia, unlike during Ireland’s troubled history, no one has been hurt—at least intentionally—while trying to deliver goods from A to B.

We are all part of a supply chain, whether we know it or not. A supply is a network of all ‘moving parts’ relevant to the production, purchase, and distribution of products—from the manufacturer, to the supplier, to the user. With that in mind, would it not be beneficial to work together to ensure our supply chain runs efficiently given the myriad challenges we are confronted by today with the rise of e-commerce?

On the other end of the spectrum, I have also discovered a wealth of people, from all walks of life, working harmoniously in the supply chain industry. We live in arguably most beautiful country in the country in the world, with boundless opportunities to be taken advantage of—what is meant for you will not go past you. We all have a role to play in ensuring that this industry is one where people want to be a part of; one where the talented and passionate can meet; and one we can all be proud of. After all, manners are easily carried and we should treat everyone how we would like to be treated, as you never know when you will encounter someone again further down the path.

Thanks for your support.