Teachers, Teams & Tugboats: Leadership Lessons from a Life in Global Logistics - Paperback

by Rich Higgins (Author)

Every accomplished leader has a tugboat, someone who pushed, pulled, or guided them through the storm.

Rich Higgins spent forty years in the demanding world of global logistics, helping teams through trucking deregulation, corporate bankruptcies, multi-billion-dollar mergers, and international sourcing expansions in Asia. But this isn't a book about supply chains or bottom lines.

Teachers, Teams & Tugboats is about the seven mentors who shaped his journey, the "tugboats" who provided guidance, protection, and course correction when he needed it most.

In this candid memoir, you'll discover: How a motor vehicle violation at age 31 nearly destroyed his career, and the friend who drove 110 miles daily to save it; What it's like to work under armed protection when union related decisions turn dangerous; The leadership lessons learned from navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerging stronger; Why the best mentors don't create you in their own image, they help you create yourself; How to recognize and honor the tugboats in your own life before it's too late.

Higgins writes with the honesty of someone who's lived through chaos and came out grateful. His storytelling blends professional insight with personal vulnerability, offering lessons on teamwork, integrity, and the importance of "paying it forward."

This book is for: Mid-to-senior logistics and supply chain professionals; Business leaders, MBA students, and emerging executives; Anyone seeking authentic mentorship wisdom over hollow leadership theory; Readers who appreciate memoirs like Shoe Dog, Principles, and Leaders Eat Last.

More than a career memoir, this is a guide to recognizing the people who make success possible, and a reminder to thank them before the opportunity passes.