The Future Is Human

When Dirk Beveridge started We Supply America four and a half years ago, he didn't have a business plan, a model, or even a clear map. What he had was conviction-and a camera.

"I left with no business plan, no experience making documentaries, and no idea what I was doing," Beveridge laughed. "I thought I was going out to champion the noble calling of distribution-and we did do that. But what I discovered is that the real story was something much deeper."

That deeper story wasn't about warehouses, systems, or sales-it was about people. After decades as a consultant, author, and speaker in distribution and manufacturing, Beveridge had already helped hundreds of companies innovate. But after 40 years of walking through the front doors of businesses, he decided to see things differently.

"When I started We Supply America, I pulled the RV up to the back doors-where the real work happens," he said. "That changed everything. When is the last time you walked into your business through a different door? Because when you do, you see things differently. You see your business, your people, and your purpose in a whole new light."

In five years, Beveridge has logged more than 54,000 miles-over twice around the planet-visiting more than 100 distributors and manufacturers across the country. He's filmed, listened, and documented stories that reflect not just an industry, but a shared humanity.

From just getting by to living fully alive

Beveridge's own evolution mirrors the change he's championing. "If my father were alive today, he'd be rolling over in his grave," he joked. "I don't have black socks pulled up to my knees or an IBM blue suit anymore. The world has changed." The most profound shift, he argues, isn't fashion or technology-it's philosophy. "For a long time, we were told to be loyal to the company. Today, we need to be loyal to ourselves-authentic to ourselves. Because when we grow, that ripples into our teams, our cultures, our performance, and everything we do."

He sees this as more than a management trend; it's a cultural awakening. "From the Industrial Revolution on, we've dehumanized work. We've made people cogs in a machine. Look at the layoffs-tens of thousands treated as numbers. We have a moral opportunity now to rehumanize business, to lead with purpose and heart."

The FAM: A movement built on people, not logos

What began as an industry documentary became a platform for something greater-a movement he and partner Bethany Heppler call the Fully Alive Movement, or the FAM. "We asked ourselves: What did we learn from all those miles, all those stories? It wasn't the logos I remembered-it was the people," Beveridge said. "People like Chico in St. Louis, who once saw no light at the end of the tunnel. Or Adela, who trusted her inner voice and took a leap into a better-paying position in the distribution center, becoming an inspiration to everyone around her."

The FAM's mission is bold: To empower one million people in distribution and manufacturing to live fully alive-not just on the job, but in life. Beveridge's weekly FAM newsletter, delivered on Sundays, invites readers to pause, reflect, and reset for the week ahead. "It's about helping people move from just getting by to living fully alive," he said. "Because when we elevate the individual, we elevate the entire organization." He's now taking that message to stages and workshops across the country, helping leaders and teams explore how purpose, authenticity, and personal growth drive real performance. In 2026, the FAM community will officially launch, connecting individuals who "want to work harder on themselves than on their jobs."

A message that resonates across ranks

Beveridge shared that his readership includes everyone from warehouse associates to CEOs-including, unexpectedly, a retired three-star general and commercial airline pilot. "He wrote to me after one of the newsletters and said, 'Dirk, I don't know why I'm so low. I don't know why I don't have the energy. I'm asking, what is the point?'" That moment reinforced a core truth: No one is immune to disconnection. "Title, income, location-this need to rise from just getting by to living fully alive is universal," Beveridge said.

A challenge to business leaders

While his message resonates on a personal level, the call-to-action lands squarely with leaders. "You're not just running a business," he said. "You're shaping lives." He urges independent, family-owned, and employee-owned firms to embrace their humanity and rethink what leadership means. "So many of your businesses have generational stories, deep roots, and community ties. You're stewards of more than operations. You're stewards of livelihoods, of families, of human potential."

To make that real, Beveridge suggests simple but intentional actions-what he calls "Epicurean gardens" for the modern workplace. In ancient Greece, formal learning was largely restricted to the noble, wealthy aristocracy-the roughly 20% of Athenian citizens welcomed into Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. That left the remaining 80% without the opportunity to develop themselves. Later, Epicurus changed the model: He taught in an open garden that welcomed everyone, allowing 100% of Athenians to learn, grow, and evolve.

"The same thing happens in our businesses today. We invest in leadership training for 20% of our people, but 80% never get that opportunity."

His challenge: "What's your version of an Epicurean garden? Maybe it's a book club, a mentorship circle, or even a company life coach. Maybe it's bringing someone like me in to lead a workshop. Whatever it is, help not just 20%, but 100% of your people flourish-at work and in life."

The human revolution ahead

Beveridge believes we're living through a pivotal moment in business history-a chance to replace profit-only mindsets with human-centered leadership. "We're being called to strip away false narratives," he said. "Our people are yearning for it. Leaders are yearning for it. The future is human."

He paused, then added, "I'll never retire. There's too much left to bring out. Too many lives left to touch."

That, perhaps, is the essence of We Supply America and the Fully Alive Movement: A belief that success isn't measured only by growth charts or revenue, but by how alive people feel doing the work that sustains us all.

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