You won’t believe this…

In 38 years of working in freight, I’ve only ever been on a vessel once. I know – sounds mad, doesn’t it? Especially when you think about what I do for a living. I’ve spent nearly four decades moving containers across the globe. Ships are my bread and butter. But being on one? A rare opportunity. Truth is, I don’t get down to the ports very often. They’re a fair trek from Birmingham – and like most business owners, I’m usually knee-deep in emails, phone calls, problems to solve, fires to put out. You know the drill.

But last week, I made the effort and I took a drive down to the Port of Felixstowe. Got in the car, pointed it southeast, and hit the road. And you know what? It was just what I needed. The drive gave me proper headspace. A few hours of quiet thinking – no phones, no emails, no distractions. Just me, the motorway, and a bit of Black Sabbath on the stereo.

Once I got there, I took myself for a walk down to the docks. If you’ve ever been, you’ll know – it’s an incredible sight. Massive ships, rows of containers, cranes shifting and stacking like some giant game of Tetris. It’s easy to forget what we’re really dealing with when you spend most of your time behind a desk. But standing there, seeing it all in action – it reminded me why I got into freight in the first place. I also met up with a few old faces – friends, peers, fellow business owners. People I’ve known for years. People I trust and respect. We had proper conversations. Talked about what’s going on in the world of freight. Swapped insights, had a few laughs, and shared ideas about where things are headed.

And it struck me…

We don’t do this enough.

We’re all so plugged into our laptops and phones, we forget how valuable it is to sit face-to-face with someone. To chew the fat, share experiences, and just talk. Not in a Teams meeting. Not over email. But in person. The digital world’s convenient – I’ll give it that – but it’s no substitute for real connection.

I drove back to Birmingham feeling energised. Inspired, even. Had a few fresh ideas bubbling away, and a proper sense of perspective that I hadn’t felt in a while. It reminded me how important it is to get out there. To see what’s happening on the ground. To stay connected with good people.

So here’s my little nudge for the week – When was the last time you stepped out of your usual routine? Got in the car, went somewhere new, and spent time with the people who really get what you do? Might be worth sticking something in the diary.