WHERE WORDS FAIL, MUSIC SPEAKS. – Hans Christian Andersen
It’s no secret that we at GAINS love technology; we use it to help our supply chain management customers “Move Forward Faster,” automating global supply chain tasks, speeding up decision-making, and streamlining demand plans all good things! However, there is one area that makes supply chain executives nostalgic for the past more than any other. No, it’s not using Excel spreadsheets to create a demand plan or the latest supply chain management systems of old … it’s our old cassette tapes . Music technology has certainly improved the listening experience, just as supply chain strategy advances have improved our roles. For instance, it would be impractical to take your collection of 45s with you on the treadmill at the gym. It’s much easier to store 3,000 albums of music on your phone than it is in your mom’s basement (Sorry, mom). Read on for some procurement and supply chain fun!
Most major United States music companies discontinued the production of pre-recorded cassettes in the early 2000s in favor of the compact disc, and with good cause; as most people over 30 can attest, rewinding a cassette tape by hand with a #2 pencil is less fun than it sounds. So, what is making the #GAINSgang long for the bygone era of MTV and Beanie Babies ? It’s the mixtape. The move to other more modern media, including mp3 and streaming, took with it the well-thought-out, DIY, personalized mixtape. Typically, a mixtape would be given to mark a significant event in one’s life (the beginning or end of a relationship, a summer road trip, or moving away to college) and play an important role as an inspirational guide in seeing the recipient through the highs and lows.
So, why are we talking about mixtapes in a supply chain management blog?
If you have worked in global supply chain management or logistics management over the last few years, we imagine you could use a little supply chain fun and an occasional pick-me-up. So, feel free to click through to our “Optimized Supply Chain Management Mixtape” and give it a listen; while working on your demand plan, combing over your forecast, finding new cost savings, or tracking that late raw material shipment. We chose songs that we think may resonate with you, the supply chain industry, and hope they serve as a reminder that we are all in this together, things will get better in North America and beyond, and we at GAINS celebrate your hard work as a supply chain leader. So have another cup of coffee, pop in your earbuds, or crank up the stereo if you’re working from home, and know that we will be with you down that “long and winding road.”
See the entire playlist and the lyrics that made us choose them below. Happy Listening to all the supply chain professionals out there. It’s time to take a break from today’s supply chain challenges and cut loose.
GAINS Optimized Playlist for the Supply Chain Analyst in All of Us
“Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz “I have come to save the day And I won’t leave until I’m done So that’s why you’ve got to try You got to breathe and have some fun”
“Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here It’ll be better than before Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone”
“Every day Is a Winding Road “by Sheryl Crow “I’ve been swimming in a sea of anarchy I’ve been living on coffee and nicotine I’ve been wondering if all the things I’ve seen Were ever real, were ever really happening”
“Free Ride” by Edgar Winter “All over the country, I’m seeing it the same Nobody’s winning at this kind of game We gotta do better, it’s time to begin”
“Back In Stride” by Maze “There’s so much going on it’s crazy trouble all around I’ll tell you something I’m not gonna let it get me down I’ve been going through some funky changes changes are the same We like the joy, but we can’t really stand the pain”
“Don’t Look Back Song” by Rick and Morty “I know you tried I know you tried your best And now it’s time to put this all to rest Minutes pass and those days seem long ago …”
“You Can Get It If You Really Want” song by Jimmy Cliff “You can get it if you really want You can get it if you really want You can get it if you really want But you must try, try and try, try and try You’ll succeed at last”
“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake “I don’t know where I’m goin’ But I sure know where I’ve been Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday And I’ve made up my mind I ain’t wasting no more time Here I go again…”
“It Could be Worse” by Andy Mineo “It could be worse Life is hard, I thank God, it could be worse (yeah, yeah) Life is hard, I thank God, it could be worse Way-way, way-way, way-way, way worse”
“The Bones” by Maren Morris “We took a hard left But we’re alright Yeah, life sure can try to put love through it, but We built this right, so nothing’s ever gonna move it”
“And The Beat Goes On” by The Whispers “And the beat goes on Still moving strong on and on” “East Bound and Down” by Jerry Reed “East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’ A-we gonna do what they say can’t be done We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there”
GAINS Optimized Playlist for Supply Chain Planning
“Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz
“I have come to save the day
And I won’t leave until I’m done
So that’s why you’ve got to try
You got to breathe and have some fun”
“Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac
“Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here
It’ll be better than before
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone”
“Every day Is a Winding Road “by Sheryl Crow
“I’ve been swimming in a sea of anarchy
I’ve been living on coffee and nicotine
I’ve been wondering if all the things I’ve seen
Were ever real, were ever really happening”
“Free Ride” by Edgar Winter
“All over the country, I’m seeing it the same
Nobody’s winning at this kind of game
We gotta do better, it’s time to begin”
“Back In Stride” by Maze
“There’s so much going on it’s crazy trouble all around
I’ll tell you something I’m not gonna let it get me down
I’ve been going through some funky changes changes are the same
We like the joy, but we can’t really stand the pain”
“Don’t Look Back Song” by Rick and Morty
“I know you tried
I know you tried your best
And now it’s time to put this all to rest
Minutes pass and those days seem long ago …”
“You Can Get It If You Really Want” song by Jimmy Cliff
“You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You’ll succeed at last”
“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake
“I don’t know where I’m goin’
But I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
Here I go again…”
“It Could be Worse” by Andy Mineo“It could be worse
Life is hard, I thank God, it could be worse (yeah, yeah)
Life is hard, I thank God, it could be worse
Way-way, way-way, way-way, way worse”
“The Bones” by Maren Morris
“We took a hard left
But we’re alright
Yeah, life sure can try to put love through it, but
We built this right, so nothing’s ever gonna move it”
“And The Beat Goes On” by The Whispers
“And the beat goes on
Still moving strong on and on”
“East Bound and Down” by Jerry Reed
“East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’
A-we gonna do what they say can’t be done
We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there”