Check out JUMPSHIFT !

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One of my friends and mentors, Alan Anderson, has just co-authored a book with Michael Sherlock who was one of the founders of Brumby's in Australia. The book is called "JUMPSHIFT" and it is packed with ideas, tools and resources to help any business owner or manager create alignment and direction for their business and team.

I particularly love their ideas about staff members who have what they call "the owners eye". By this they mean people that approach every aspect of their role with the company in the same manner as if they owned the business themselves. Alan and Michael contend that these are the people you really need to reward very well and promote and retain.

I wholeheartedly agree and reading the book prompted me to think about who on my team has "the owners eye". Then I asked myself "Am I looking after them well enough?". To be blunt, those that don't have the owners eye, can go down the road to our competitors if they like and become their problem. They are usually the same team members that you constantly have to ride to comply our customer service standards and company procedures anyway thus taking up precious manangement time and energy. The team members that have it, I am making sure that they know they are sincerely appreciated and valued. Those people are like part of the family almost. JUMPSHIFT has reminded me that having and developing the right team and a high performance culture is EVERYTHING.

This is one example of the type of thinking and great experience that Alan and Michael share. All of their ideas can be easily and quickly applied by anyone.

JUMPSHIFT is a fun, light and informative read.  You can order JUMPSHIFT direct from their website HERE . Alan and Michael are also supporters of Care Australia so $2 from the sale of each book goes to this wonderful charity and serves as a testament to the good blokes that they both are.

If you would like to be personally connected to the authors then leave a comment on this blog and I am sure they will respond.

All for now,

Brad Skelton

The Shipping Bloke

Check out JUMPSHIFT !

(You are getting this note because you subscribed to The Shipping Blokes Blog by Brad Skelton)

One of my friends and mentors, Alan Anderson, has just co-authored a book with Michael Sherlock who was one of the founders of Brumby's in Australia. The book is called "JUMPSHIFT" and it is packed with ideas, tools and resources to help any business owner or manager create alignment and direction for their business and team.

I particularly love their ideas about staff members who have what they call "the owners eye". By this they mean people that approach every aspect of their role with the company in the same manner as if they owned the business themselves. Alan and Michael contend that these are the people you really need to reward very well and promote and retain.

I wholeheartedly agree and reading the book prompted me to think about who on my team has "the owners eye". Then I asked myself "Am I looking after them well enough?". To be blunt, those that don't have the owners eye, can go down the road to our competitors if they like and become their problem. They are usually the same team members that you constantly have to ride to comply our customer service standards and company procedures anyway thus taking up precious manangement time and energy. The team members that have it, I am making sure that they know they are sincerely appreciated and valued. Those people are like part of the family almost. JUMPSHIFT has reminded me that having and developing the right team and a high performance culture is EVERYTHING.

This is one example of the type of thinking and great experience that Alan and Michael share. All of their ideas can be easily and quickly applied by anyone.

JUMPSHIFT is a fun, light and informative read.  You can order JUMPSHIFT direct from their website HERE . Alan and Michael are also supporters of Care Australia so $2 from the sale of each book goes to this wonderful charity and serves as a testament to the good blokes that they both are.

If you would like to be personally connected to the authors then leave a comment on this blog and I am sure they will respond.

All for now,

Brad Skelton

The Shipping Bloke

New Incoterms come into force on 1 January 2011.

(You are getting this note because you subscribed to The Shipping Blokes Blog by Brad Skelton)

The International Chamber of Commerce has recently overhauled the Incoterms used in world trade and there are some substantial changes coming into effect on 1 January 2011. About every ten years the ICC reviews and attempts to make sure Incoterms align with current trends and methods of world transport.

Rather than attempting to explain all the new terms in this blog, you can get a short overview by watching a 4min 28sec presentation on this by clicking here.

For more information please feel free to post a question on this blog or alternatively you can order the ICC's Incoterms 2010 book detailing them all, online by clicking here.

Undoubtedly there will be some short term confusion until everyone involved in world trade gets used to using the new terms. Old habits die hard sometimes...

All for now,

Brad Skelton

The Shipping Bloke

New Incoterms come into force on 1 January 2011.

(You are getting this note because you subscribed to The Shipping Blokes Blog by Brad Skelton)

The International Chamber of Commerce has recently overhauled the Incoterms used in world trade and there are some substantial changes coming into effect on 1 January 2011. About every ten years the ICC reviews and attempts to make sure Incoterms align with current trends and methods of world transport.

Rather than attempting to explain all the new terms in this blog, you can get a short overview by watching a 4min 28sec presentation on this by clicking here.

For more information please feel free to post a question on this blog or alternatively you can order the ICC's Incoterms 2010 book detailing them all, online by clicking here.

Undoubtedly there will be some short term confusion until everyone involved in world trade gets used to using the new terms. Old habits die hard sometimes...

All for now,

Brad Skelton

The Shipping Bloke

ACT for kids

(You are getting this note because you subscribed to The Shipping Blokes Blog by Brad Skelton)

ACT for kids is the charity that my company and I support and they launched their appeal today. This organisation works to treat and protect children from child abuse and is very worthy of support.


Quite a few of my Brisbane based team were at Central Railway Station this morning shaking a can trying to get some donations from the commuters. From all reports they did quite well and enjoyed the experience. Thanks gang!


If you'd like to make a donation you can do so online by clicking here.


Thanks for your support if you click through!


All for now,

Brad Skelton

The Shipping Bloke

ACT for kids

(You are getting this note because you subscribed to The Shipping Blokes Blog by Brad Skelton)

ACT for kids is the charity that my company and I support and they launched their appeal today. This organisation works to treat and protect children from child abuse and is very worthy of support.


Quite a few of my Brisbane based team were at Central Railway Station this morning shaking a can trying to get some donations from the commuters. From all reports they did quite well and enjoyed the experience. Thanks gang!


If you'd like to make a donation you can do so online by clicking here.


Thanks for your support if you click through!


All for now,

Brad Skelton

The Shipping Bloke

Who you gonna call?

(You are getting this note because you subscribed to The Shipping Blokes Blog by Brad Skelton)

I have noticed a significant shift in the market recently with many large, high volume shippers who have previously had direct deals with shipping lines gravitating back toward freight forwarders.

Shipping lines have been fighting to stay profitable and as a result are frequently changing ships, retrenching staff, dropping port calls or still have some fleet laid up resulting in lack of capacity and short shipments. The reality is that many shipping lines service levels have been faltering. I think I can say without exception every client is fed up with dealing with so called "Customer Service" centres on 1800 numbers.

So who you gonna call? Freight forwarders!

Shrewd shippers are using forwarders to help overcome these things. The forwarders are generally better positioned and resourced in meeting the needs of shippers right now and will offer a broader range of options rather than just one carrier. The range of services is usually broader too and in the volatile freight market we have had for quite a while, the forwarders are more attuned to where the deals are.

Best of all...you don't sit on hold in a phone queue waiting for ages to talk to someone and then being told "Go to www." to do that!

All for now,

Brad Skelton

The Shipping Bloke.