I listened to a discussion about the implications of the Baltimore bridge collapse and was reminded that this disaster has so many implications that span the globe, not just the Patapsco River.
The thought that really resonated was that right now, there are ships being loaded in foreign ports that are scheduled to land in Baltimore in 84 days. Those giant freighters contain nearly 5000 containers, with the stowage all meticulously loaded based on the order in which it needs to be taken off. How they are loaded now depends entirely on when and where they will be unloaded.
When we are faced with a personal or organizational deadline, it’s easy to become narrow in our focus and forget that we are part of an interconnected system where our work impacts other things down the line. The ships need to be cognizant of unloading timetables. The author has to adhere to publishing deadlines. A home buyer needs to allow time for processing approval and closing preparations. A school district needs to have facilities ready for the emerging classes, not just the current ones.
You can’t just blindly load your ship. Consider where your work will sail in a month or year and prepare at the beginning for a smooth handoff to the next step in the system.
Source: Washington Post Live: Baltimore Bridge Collapse with Former White House Port & Supply Chain Envoy John D. Porcari, April 2, 2024
