WHEN Winston Morgan lost his mother at just 16 years old and launched out into the world of work to help provide for his siblings, he hadn’t the slightest clue where life would take him. All he clung to was his mother’s principles on how to navigate life and his desire for a better future for those he loved. Today, Morgan is the warehouse manager at Stationery and Office Supplies Ltd (SOS) and hasn’t yet reached his pinnacle of success. He is living proof that no matter the circumstance, with the right mindset and actions to back it, the possibilities are endless.

“I could have easily gone another route,” said Morgan, as he spoke about his life growing up in Tivoli Gardens with his single-parent mother and three siblings. After his mother’s passing, her funeral was set on the same day as Morgan’s graduation from high school and, for him, reality quickly set in.

“I had to choose. I went to her funeral, that was priority. I concluded I would always have the opportunity, if I so chose, to have other graduations, but I would never have another opportunity for my mom’s funeral. I also recognised the pressure that my older sister was under trying to support her two brothers so I pretty much started working to support my family,” he said.

It was the late 80s when he took up a summer job which allowed him to meet a woman whose husband was the general manager of Tropicare. She secured him a position as a warehouse clerk at the establishment. While employed there, Morgan used his spare time to take several courses on warehouse management to advance his knowledge. He shared, “What kept me motivated those years was my mom and what she had always instilled in us such as to be independent; do not look for handouts; whatever you want, work for i, and get as much education as you possibly can.”

Years would pass and Morgan would go on to work at the distribution centre at Goodyear Jamaica Ltd; at Red Stripe as a warehouse manager; and then at SOS, initially as a warehouse supervisor. In the latter position, SOS’s Managing Director Allan McDaniel found that he could rely on Morgan to efficiently oversee the company’s warehouse installation and operation processes despite the pressures of the responsibilities. As such, in 2022, Morgan was promoted to warehouse manager. He has been with the company for over 20 years.

Asked what he believes caused him to stand out, Morgan referenced his personal principles on being diligent and SOS’s workplace culture which values teamwork and equipping employees with the resources needed to function effectively in their roles. “For me, it was about being principled, disciplined, and never backing down from a challenge, even if it’s something new. Also, I could not have reached where I am without the support of the SOS staff,” he said.

As a warehouse manager, Morgan is aware of the stereotypes associated with his profession. However, he was proud to note that people’s perceptions have never stopped him from doing his job and doing it well. He shared, “Over the years I’ve worked in warehouses, I think it tends to be looked down upon because of the type of persons perceived to be warehouse staff. It’s usually labour-intensive and some people believe that it is not something that requires you to have that ‘level of intelligence’. But a warehouse is a key part of any operation that requires intelligence and insight. It is the heartbeat of such companies. You can buy as many goods as you want, and you can sell the goods you buy, but if it’s not delivered, stored or assembled, then you’ll have no sales.”

Today, Morgan is a husband and father who continues to make the necessary sacrifices for his family. Coming from a childhood where the odds were stacked against him and he could have easily chosen another path, in his adulthood he has capitalised on several opportunities to provide counsel to youth.

“Life is what you make of it. Also, where you’re from doesn’t determine who you are, you determine who you are and where you want to go in life. Most of those from my warehouse team are from the inner city and people tend to judge people based on where they’re from and it’s something that I don’t ascribe to.”

When it comes to his career and future plans, Morgan believes that there is always room for growth no matter how much knowledge or experience he acquires. For now, he is focusing on excelling and growing in his current position so that he can support the dreams of his children.