Matthew Lang

Maybe it’s time to do something about the ways in which shipping containers are transported across our oceans?

Trainers, flip-flops and a selection of other footwear were appearing with a regularity that singled them out from the other tidal deposits.

They were the same brands, in the same styles, and, for some of the trainers at least, the same production dates were printed on a label sewn into the tongue of each shoe. Moreover, every item of footwear appeared to have been unworn.

In the months that followed, Mr Ribeiro retrieved about 60 Nike trainers, along with a host of other brands.

— Why are Nike trainers washing up on beaches?

A single shipping container can contain hundreds of man-made products that if not secured to this ship, can end up being leaked into the world’s oceans. These end up being washed up on our shores, but also will break down in the ocean adding to the already big problem of plastics in our oceans.

My sales strategy was simple and I thought rather brilliant. I drove all over the Pacific Northwest, to various track meets. Between races, I’d chat up the coaches, the runners, the fans and show them my wears. The response was always the same. I couldn’t write orders fast enough.

How Nike sold its first 50,000 shoes

I love reading about how successful companies started. It’s a shame that we’re moving away from this level of dedication and motivation with many startups looking to VC funding instead.

I like this.

Each piece of work is a mere pebble tossed into a flowing river. Maybe your pebble will become bedrock—sticking around for a long time and altering the water’s trajectory. Or, maybe it’ll quickly dissolve into dust when new pebbles come along and crash into it. Both of those outcomes are completely natural and worthy of celebration.

— Nobody really owns product work

Having worked on several different products, I can attest to the highs and lows of seeing your ideas implemented but ultimately replaced over time. The hard truth is that as soon as you commit your work to the product and it’s released, it becomes the target of scrutinisation by both the product team and the people that use the product.

Ultimately your work will be replaced over time, but it’s all towards the greater good of learning what’s best for the product and for those that use it.