“For all of you Stanford students, I wish upon you ample doses of pain and suffering.”
Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, offered that wish to students at his alma mater last week.
“Greatness is not intelligence,” Huang said. “Greatness comes from character. And character isn’t formed out of smart people, it’s formed out of people who suffered.” He also talked about the importance of resilience: “Unfortunately, resilience matters in success. I don’t know how to teach it to you except for I hope suffering happens to you.”
Watch this short video clip for the rest of his comments.
I agree with Huang. My parents, for example, are a good example, especially my father. I’m in the process of translating his journal, which he wrote after he retired, and on the very first page he writes:
“Well, I’m from a very poor family. I remember a lot from my childhood [in rural Cuba]. I was the first of six children. What I remember brings me great sadness compared to the life I live today. As I grew up, I became more and more aware of all the necessities we lacked.”
Pain and suffering defined many of his years in Cuba, and here in the United States too. But it also led him to greatness, which to him wasn’t to become a billionaire, but to get married and start a family, own his own house, and give his children opportunities he never had, like getting a good education.
There was relatively little pain and suffering on the road my parents paved for me and my sister. That was what they wanted for us. But at least in my case, I think it made me less resilient. I realized that during my recent health challenges. It was really the first time in my life where I suffered for an extended period of time and I felt lost and unprepared on how to deal with it.
Unlike Huang, I don’t wish pain and suffering on anyone, but if you live long enough, pain and suffering will ultimately find you. As the saying goes, life happens; it’s how you respond that matters. Rather than pain and suffering, I wish you strength and courage, and much love and support from your family, friends, and community to get through the hard times in life. I speak from experience now.
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Moving on, here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:
- Shein to Market Its Unique Supply-Chain Technology to Global Brands (WSJ – sub. req’d)
- Shipping giants and customers like big-box retail are far apart on price in peak ocean freight contract season (CNBC)
- FedEx and Amazon Discussed Partnership as Competition for Returning Packages Intensifies (WSJ – sub. req’d)
- Uber Freight Scales Powerloop Nationally; Expands Dedicated Fleets as Demand Accelerates
- Princeton TMX Introduces Sustainability Tool Within its TMS
- Coalition puts $1 trillion price tag on electrifying U.S. trucking industry (Fleet Owner)
- Roads That Charge While You Drive: Can This Fuel a Future for EVs? (WSJ – sub. req’d)
- DoorDash and Wing Announce Drone Delivery Pilot in the US
- Judge rules against CTA, OOIDA in AB5 case (Trucking Dive)
- Apptronik and Mercedes-Benz Enter Commercial Agreement That Will Pilot Apptronik’s Apollo Humanoid Robot in Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Facilities
- How Walmart, Target and the White House are tracking consumer demand and inflation in real time (CNBC)
I’m still going through the 1,400+ emails I received during my time away from the office, so I’ll share my commentary next week.
Have a meaningful weekend!
Song of the Week: “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone
