The Box That Changed the World. A small idea, combined with simple technology, doubled global GDP, boosted productivity, and created millions of jobs.

1. The Man and His Idea

Malcom McLean was born into a farming family in North Carolina in 1914. During the Great Depression, he helped support his family by starting a small trucking company to move farmers’ goods. By 1940, his grit and resourcefulness had grown the business to thirty trucks.

Years on the road showed McLean how broken shipping was. He watched dockworkers unload goods piece by piece from trucks, then reload them onto ships — an exhausting, slow, and costly ritual.

This system, known as break-bulk shipping, meant goods packed in crates, sacks, or barrels took days or even weeks to move. Labor was manual, ports were congested, and theft was common.

McLean wondered: “Wouldn’t it be great if my trailer could simply be lifted up and placed on the ship?”

2. The Breakthrough

In 1956, McLean launched the first modern containerized ship. His key innovation: standardized steel boxes ( 20-foot and 40-foot units) that could move seamlessly between ship, train, and truck without ever being unpacked.

The world had never seen such efficiency.

3. The Impact

1. Costs collapsed: Loading a ship fell from $5.86 per ton to just 16¢ per ton.

2. Trade soared: The share of global trade in GDP more than doubled, from 24% in 1960 to about 60% today.

3. GDP lifted: Countries adopting containerization saw GDP per capita rise by 10–20% within two decades, simply from the trade shock.

4. Global supply chains emerged: For the first time, it became viable to outsource production across continents. Factories in Asia could serve consumers in the West at scale.

Some thoughts for you to take away

1. A single spark of human intelligence can change the world.
2. Make it a habit to learn something new every week.
3. Set aside time in your routine just for thinking.

Blogging is something I enjoy, and I share my thoughts on my blog most weekends. Explore all my blogs at https://lnkd.in/ejq7CWaQ.

I am also experimenting with cross-posting my blogs on Substack (@iamnoguru) and on my personal website (iamnoguru).

I enjoyed letting my mind wander over the weekend, and I hope you did too.

Take it easy until next time.

Blogging is something I enjoy, and I share my thoughts on my blog most weekends.

Read all my “Notes to Self” at view all blogs.