Jim Casey believed that service has no magic shortcuts, only steady work done the right way, over time.
This episode explores how Casey built UPS by putting service first, resisting easy wins, and proving that the hard, with an honest path is often the fastest one in the end.

Deeply Driven

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#24 Jim Casey: Heart of Service Fuels Business Growth (UPS Founder)

JAN 30, 202638 MIN
Deeply Driven

#24 Jim Casey: Heart of Service Fuels Business Growth (UPS Founder)

JAN 30, 202638 MIN

Description

Jim Casey built one of the largest companies in the world by holding onto a belief so simple it’s easy to overlook: service has no magic shortcuts.In this episode, we look at Jim Casey, the quiet, founder of United Parcel Service, and the lifelong philosophy that guided him from the streets of Seattle to the helm of a global enterprise. Casey started working as a messenger boy at a young age, driven less by ambition than by responsibility. From the very beginning, he learned something that never left him—anyone can move a package, but not everyone can be trusted to serve.Casey understood early that service isn’t glamorous. It’s repetitive. It’s costly. It requires discipline, honesty, and patience—especially on bad days. While competitors chased speed, scale, or clever tactics, Casey obsessed over something quieter: keeping promises, controlling costs, and empowering people to do their work well. He believed that real service compounds slowly, and that trying to rush it usually breaks the very thing you’re trying to build.Throughout his life, Casey repeated the same message to managers and employees alike. Service comes first. Not when it’s easy. Not when it’s profitable. But especially when it’s hard. He warned against shortcuts, tricks, and quick wins, insisting that the long road—done right—was actually the fastest way forward. In his view, putting reward ahead of service was like putting the trailer before the tractor. It might move for a moment, but it won’t get you where you want to go.This episode draws from Casey’s talks, his early experiences, and the culture he instilled at UPS over decades. It’s a reminder that the most enduring businesses aren’t built on hacks or slogans, but on habits—small things done well, day after day, year after year.If you’re building a business, leading a team, or simply trying to do meaningful work, Jim Casey’s life offers a timeless lesson: service isn’t magic—but it works. And when you commit to it fully, even the hard way becomes the right way.Past Episodes Mentioned#1 Henry Ford My Life and Work (What I Learned)#9 Sam Zemurray - The Banana Man (What I Learned)Kent Taylor and his Texas Roadhouse DreamSam Walton: Simple Ideas & Deep Business Impacts#16 How Jim Casey Turned Service Into UPS's SuperpowerE18 Harry Snyder: In-N-Out and the Power of “Keep It Real Simple”Deeply Driven Books (Amazon Affiliate) - 100% of commissions will be donated to help support Children’s Literacy!https://amzn.to/45R6rxC If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. It would greatly help the show and we thank you in advance for all your tremendous support. Deeply Driven NewsletterWelcome! Deeply Driven WebsiteDeeply Driven XDeeply Driven (@DeeplyDrivenOne) / X Substackhttps://larryslearning.substack.com/  Thanks for listening friends!