March 16th marks 33 years of Diamond Logistics. That’s three decades (plus a bit) of hustling, learning, adapting, and—most importantly—delivering. People often ask me: what’s the secret to success? Well, there’s no magic formula, but here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.
1. Stay Humble
The moment you start thinking you’ve got it all figured out, life has a funny way of proving you wrong. I’ve had my fair share of wake-up calls—times when I’ve gotten a bit too big for my boots and the universe has swiftly handed me a reality check. Confidence is crucial, but ego? Not so much. At Diamond, we’ve always been about Shared Success—being a company people can trust, belong to, and genuinely enjoy working with. And when we’ve drifted from those values, it hasn’t served us well. Sticking to your core principles isn’t just good ethics; it’s good business.
2. Plan… but Expect Detours
You know the saying: ‘Tell God your plans, and He will laugh’? Well, He’s had quite the chuckle at mine. Back in 2014, when I published JFDI, I had a roadmap that aimed for a revenue target by 2017 that, let’s just say, was slightly ambitious (read: about four times where we are now). But here’s the thing—a plan is still essential.
The last five years alone have thrown Brexit, COVID, inflation, and a whole host of other economic rollercoasters our way. Did those things slow us down? Yes. Did they stop us? Absolutely not. Our end goal hasn’t changed; we’re just navigating through a bit of congestion. And trust me, we’ll get there.
3. You Can’t Do It Alone
Your team will drive you mad at times (trust me), but they are also your biggest asset. No successful business is a one-person show. Empower your team, communicate (more than you think you need to), and reward them where you can. And here’s a big one—leaders eat last. When you prioritise your people, they prioritise your business. It’s not rocket science, but it works.
4. Business is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Want to build something truly meaningful? Give it 5-10 years—at least. Overnight success is a myth, and anyone selling you a ‘quick fix’ is probably selling snake oil. Pace yourself, look after your health, take breaks, and fuel yourself properly—both physically and mentally. Focus on the finish line, but don’t forget to enjoy the race.
33 years in, and we’re still running. Thanks to everyone who’s been part of this journey—clients, couriers, partners, and our phenomenal team. Here’s to the next chapter of Diamond Logistics!
