- John’s story
John worked for Ageorgia Logistics as the Operations manager at Tema Port. He joined them after graduation from University of Cape Coast after completing his his National Service with them.
He was then twenty-three years.
Everything at Ageorgia Logistics revolved around John. His bosses feared him, his peers envied him and his subordinates admired him. John, alone, was half the strength of the organisation. At age thirty-five years, he was already the driving force behind Ageorgia Logistics.
It had been expected but when it came John’s departure was like a sledge hammer on a mosquito; John left Ageorgia, with two other guys to form ROCK Freight and became the CEO. About seventy percent of the work force at Ageorgia Logistics joined ROCK Freight and Ageorgia went down immediately.
At ROCK Freight, John immediately plunged into business; driving everything. He plans, organises and leads the organisation in his bedroom before leaving for work every day. He watches every staff in the office, making mental notes of their performance. He rated his clients into Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze; and dealt accordingly with them, applying the utmost customer comfort methodology. He was acutely aware that his clients wanted fast delivery at the cheapest cost. His Emotional Intelligence was always at its sharpest when dealing with everybody who matters in his business.
He created a crack team whose schedule was scouting for importers and exporters, and meets them first thing every morning to discuss what new clients they have brought on board. Whenever he was on a business trip, whether internal or external, he went with at least one of them. He frequently admonished his staff to keep learning new things and testing new ideas.
His prime focus was on the International Commercial Terms (INCOTERMS) of Delivered Duty Paid (DPP); this has pushed ROCK Freight ahead of other logistics companies because this gives the importers the utmost comfort of having their goods delivered at their premises with Customs duty already paid.
ROCK Freight opened branches at Takoradi Port and Kotoka International Airport and John made his two other colleagues to head those two places.
At staff meetings the steel in John was obvious. Though he made the effort to create a relaxed atmosphere they all understood that he wanted results. And they knew that results came with fat bonuses for all at the end of the year.
ROCK Freight has expanded its operations into shipping; dealing with ocean, air and road, with John as CEO still driving it.
- What is a drive?
It is the determination or get-up-and-go attitude that a person exhibits when handling the leadership mantle of any endeavour.
While drive is not something that a person can boast of, its visibility is obvious in anybody who has it.
John’s approach to issues at Ageorgia Logistics set him apart from others. Any worker at the place could see the energy, which he exhibited when he was part of Ageorgia. The company was not his but he was the one driving it.
And when he formed his own company he was always determined to improve, to be creative and to adapt to the changing circumstances of the environment. And it is this drive that has paved way for his success.
- Do you have a Drive?
The thing that is in you that wants you to conquer that woman to become your wife. That thing that makes you go back to the drawing board every night to think of new approaches to capturing the woman when she keeps saying no to you, is what they call Drive.
You have it! Develop it and it will become your asset.
“Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful.”― Jeff Bezos
