Leadership at the highest levels is exhilarating—but also isolating. As a CEO or senior executive, you’re expected to have the answers, drive the vision, and inspire the team. But who do you turn to for guidance? Who challenges your thinking, keeps you accountable, and helps you see the blind spots you didn’t know existed?

For many small and growing companies, outsourcing logistics to a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) provider seems like a no-brainer. You get access to industry expertise, infrastructure, and technology without the headache of managing warehouses and transportation. But what happens when your 3PL—your supposed partner—starts calling the shots?

In the fast-paced world of startups and scaling businesses, time and money are two of the most valuable assets. Yet, many founders and executive teams find themselves buried in operational challenges, from inefficient processes to bloated expenses, leaving little room to focus on what truly drives revenue—product innovation and marketing.

This weekend, as I watched my teenagers sleep in until nearly noon, I couldn’t help but marvel at their ability to drift so soundly and effortlessly. It’s been years since I’ve experienced that kind of restful sleep—the kind that leaves you completely recharged.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: climbing the corporate ladder is a challenge for anyone. But doing it as a 6’4”, 270-pound Black man with tattoos is a whole different ballgame. People see you before they hear you. They’ve already decided who you are and what you’re about.

In today’s culture, we are inundated with messages glorifying leadership. Books, podcasts, and seminars relentlessly emphasize the importance of becoming a leader. Leadership is portrayed as the pinnacle of success—the ultimate achievement. Yet, this obsession with leadership has created a fundamental misconception: that everyone can lead, and worse, that everyone should lead.

The 6-hour workday is not just a utopian ideal; it’s a bold strategy that has proven to increase productivity, reduce burnout, and foster happier, healthier teams.

Ah, year-end inventory counts. The time of year when warehouses descend into chaos, managers lose sleep, and teams secretly wonder if they’re being punished for something they did in a past life.

Let’s face it—most startups have champagne dreams but a boxed-wine budget.

Let’s get one thing straight: Buying the shiniest, most expensive automation tools for your operations team without mastering the fundamentals is like an NFL coach drafting a $40 million quarterback who’s never actually been taught how to throw a spiral.

Are you ready to elevate your career in Operations?

Ah yes, KPIs—those magical numbers that promise to unlock operational nirvana, align teams, and impress investors.

Leaving a great company is never easy.