What makes someone walk away from a stable corporate career to take a chance on something uncertain?

In Episode 2 of Around the Diamond powered by American Diamond Logistics, Kevin Mench and Steve Wineriter sit down with COO Jim Nichol and CCO Cliff Robbins to break down the real story behind building a logistics company from the ground up—and why betting on yourself can pay off.

Jim shares what it was like leaving a $500 million company to join a $2 million startup, while Cliff explains how he went from being a customer of American Diamond Logistics to becoming part of the leadership team after seeing their technology, execution, and service outperform the competition.

This episode dives into:

The mindset behind taking career risks Why relationships still drive the logistics industry How American Diamond built a true “dream team” culture The importance of adaptability in supply chain and freight What it really takes to scale a company in a constantly changing market

From card tables and fax machines to building a company on the verge of nine-figure growth, this is a conversation about leadership, vision, and doing whatever it takes to win.

If you’re interested in logistics, entrepreneurship, business leadership, or supply chain innovation, this episode gives you a real look behind the curtain.

⏱ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome + Meet the ADL Leadership Team 02:22 – Leaving a $500M Company for a Startup 08:03 – Betting on Yourself and Taking Risks 15:12 – Building the “Dream Team” Culture 22:26 – Why Direct Communication Beats Corporate Structure 22:51 – How ADL Adapts in a Changing Logistics Industry

Check out American Diamond Logistics: https://www.adldelivers.com/ Become an Agent: https://www.adldelivers.com/become-an-agent

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