Each year, our Leadership Team has both a Winter & Summer Retreat where we group together to discuss all aspects of our business. From strategizing for the coming year to continuing to challenge and outgrow our comfort zones, we accomplish many great things, create lasting stories, and set our goals.
From our first ever retreat, in February of 2019, one idea that was generated and has stuck was the “Daily Thought”. The purpose was to provide a motivational and/or thought provoking quote each day. I raised my hand to take ownership of this task and am happy to say that we remain true to this goal to this day. Of course, we have changed up ever so slightly. Earlier this year we moved from a Daily Thought to a Weekly Thought. Our reasoning being that we wanted this to be more thoughtful, more impactful (Less is more type of thinking).
I was recently asked to write an end of the year post about our culture; as many of you know, our culture is something that I take both very seriously and personally.
In choosing this week’s thought (listed below) it occurred to me that it would tie together quite nicely with the post.
I put a lot of time & thought into selecting a proper and appropriate thought each week (usually set on Sunday mornings over coffee and sent out on Monday mornings).
This week, with it being the last thought of the year, I wanted something that would let us reflect on not the see-saw-esque year it’s been, but instead on how fortunate we all really are to be part of what is such a unique and amazing company not only in our industry but across all industries.
Internally and Externally, one of our primary goals is to develop, grow and nurture relationships and partnerships. Our culture not only allows this to foster but it demands it.
Every day I am lucky enough to have someone I’ve interacted with make me “Think, Laugh, and Cry”. It does not matter if it is a colleague, a customer or someone else, it happens; and I am damn lucky it does.
Our employees, our customers – They are our Family, our work (not to be sacrilegious) can be our religion (our pillars are our “guiding lights”), and despite the saying….it’s not the Green Bay Packers (sorry Tess) but it’s “Go Bills”.
2022 was another milestone year for Port X Logistics. 2023 doesn’t stand a change with this team!
Last but not the least at all, Jimmy V’s words below hold special meaning to us at Port X Logistics. From personal experiences many of us have had, to our continuing support of the Empire State Ride, the Cancer fight looms large and vital and we are over-joyed that our everyday efforts at simply moving freight, allow us to provide the support we do to the overall efforts.
WEEKLY THOUGHT (YEAR END REFLECTION): “When people say to me how do you get through life or each day, it’s the same thing. To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”
…..” and I always have to think about what’s important in life to me are these three things. Where you started, where you are and where you’re going to be. Those are the three things that I try to do every day.” ~ Jim Valvano
Jim’s 1993 ESPY Speech – YouTube