As lifelong Chicago Bears fans, we couldn’t be more energized about the leadership of our new head coach, Ben Johnson, this season. One phrase he’s emphasized over and over is “complimentary football.” It’s the idea that offense, defense, and special teams aren’t operating in silos. They’re working in sync. Each unit does its job in a way that makes the next unit’s job easier. And recently, our Assistant Fulfillment Manager, Thomas Cervantes, said something that stopped me in my tracks: “What if we practiced complimentary work here at Power Path Logistics?”
In football, complimentary play looks like this:
- The offense sustains long drives, giving the defense time to rest.
- The defense creates turnovers, giving the offense a short field to march down.
- Special teams win field position battles that shift momentum.
- Everyone executes their assignment, trusting the system.
At Power Path Logistics, we don’t suit up for our games but we do operate in high-pressure, high-precision environments where small mistakes ripple fast. In fulfillment, one missed detail can impact inventory, packaging, shipping timelines, and customer trust. Complimentary work means we stop thinking in departments and start thinking in flow. Here’s what that looks like for us
1. Receiving That Thinks Ahead
When receiving verifies counts accurately, labels product clearly, and flags damage immediately, pickers don’t waste time hunting for inventory or correcting discrepancies later. Good receiving makes order fulfillment easier.
2. Picking That Thinks About Packing
When pickers stage orders cleanly, double-check SKUs, and organize product logically, packers move faster and make fewer mistakes. Good picking makes packing easier.
3. Packing That Thinks About the Customer
When packers protect product, use the right materials, and verify shipping methods, customer service doesn’t have to field avoidable complaints. Good packing makes customer relationships stronger.
4. Communication That Thinks Cross-Functionally
When staffing changes are communicated early…
When packaging constraints are shared in advance…
When inventory issues are flagged proactively…
Operations, customer service, and leadership can adjust before there’s a problem. That’s complimentary work!
Why This Matters for Our Customers
Our customers don’t see our internal handoffs, but they do see:
- On-time shipments
- Clean product
- Accurate counts
- Clear communication
- Professional problem-solving
When we practice complimentary work internally, the result externally is reliability–and reliability builds trust.
In football, complimentary play keeps momentum moving forward. In fulfillment, complimentary work keeps orders flowing cleanly from dock to doorstep.
No Silos. One Team.
One of our core values at Power Path Logistics is commitment to excellence. Excellence isn’t just individual performance. It’s how well we connect our performance to the next person’s success.
Another core value is versatility. Complimentary work requires adaptability. Sometimes that means stepping outside your role to support the team. Sometimes it means tightening up your own process so the next person doesn’t have to compensate.
And of course, we believe in integrity. Doing your job completely—even when no one is watching—is the foundation of complimentary work.
The Bears Standard
As fans of the Chicago Bears, we know that culture matters. What Ben Johnson did in his first season to change the Bears’ culture is seismic. When Coach Johnson talks about complimentary football, he’s not just talking about plays, he’s talking about mindset and company culture.
This season at Power Path Logistics, we’re challenging ourselves to ask one simple question before every shift: “Am I doing my job in a way that makes someone else’s easier?” Because when we operate as one team—offense, defense, special teams—we don’t just fulfill orders, we build momentum–and we make our fans happy!
And in Chicago, we know how powerful that can be.
