The Corporate Challenge Before the Corporate Challenge

(Or: How Ordering T-Shirts Became a Marathon)

Somewhere in January 2026, "iemand" in the office said the dangerous words:

“We should enter the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge.”

And just like that, the #ICPCLAN was signed up.

Race entry — tick.

Now anyone who has ever participated in anything remotely corporate knows that the real event is not the run itself.

The real event is the T-shirts.

Because if you're going to run 5.6 km with colleagues, it might as well be done in coordinated cotton.

Phase 1: The Optimism Stage

Naturally, I jumped into action and put together a concept design for the shirts.

The last batch we ordered for the #ICPCLAN looked fantastic — but apparently some members of the clan felt the fit was… how shall we say… aspirational. A little snug. A little optimistic. Possibly designed for Olympic athletes rather than normal humans.

So this time, armed with my concept design and a determination to avoid the “painted-on Lycra” look, I approached a new supplier.

Quote received.
Money paid.
All done by end of January 2026.

I clearly instructed the supplier:

“We need the shirts by end of February so we are ready for the race on 12 March.”

Plenty of time.

What could possibly go wrong?

Phase 2: The First Warning Signs

Communication with the supplier was… let's say… leisurely.

At first it was slow.
Then slower.

Looking back, this was probably the moment I should have realised:

This race was going to start long before race day.

End of February came.
End of February went.

No shirts.

With days to spare before the race, my level of concern began increasing at roughly the same pace that the supplier's communication began decreasing.

My messages: frequent.
Their responses: mysterious and intermittent.

Phase 3: Reinforcements Arrive

At this point I did what any sensible finance person would do.

I escalated to procurement.

Our Senior Buyer, Marius, was officially roped into the situation. Poor man.

Together we began what can best be described as a coordinated telephone campaign.

Then on 10 March, the supplier delivered the update of the year:

“Your order is in process on the machine.”

Which, translated into plain English, means:

The shirts had not even started yet.

They assured us not to worry though — they would air freight the shirts from Durban, and we would have them by 11 March.

At this point my confidence level was approximately zero.

Phase 4: The Phone Relay

On 11 March, Marius and I essentially took turns calling the supplier throughout the day like two relay runners.

Call.
Wait.
Call again.
Wait some more.

Finally we were told:

The driver was going to the airport at 5pm.

Now anyone who has dealt with couriers knows that “the driver is going to the airport” is not a logistics update.

It is a philosophical concept.

Phase 5: Enter HR (and a Miracle)

At this stage we decided we were not leaving anything to chance.

The plan:

Fetch the shirts directly from the airport.

Of course, there was only one small complication.

I had absolutely no idea how one actually accesses the mysterious deliveries area of OR Tambo International Airport.

Thankfully HR stepped in.

Not because this falls under normal HR duties.

But because — and this is where the story gets good — her husband owns a courier company and was willing to make a plan and collect the shipment from the airport for us.

This was the moment the entire operation shifted from “corporate chaos” to “mission rescue.”

Race Day Morning

On 12 March, race day itself, I spent the morning doing what all elite runners do before a race:

Staring anxiously at my phone.

Then at 10:00 AM, the message finally arrived.

A photo.

A glorious, beautiful, stress-relieving photo.

The shirts were safely at the office.

Lessons Learned

1. Ordering corporate T-shirts is not a procurement exercise. It is a high-performance endurance sport.

2. Communication delays are the hills of the corporate challenge.

3. Every good team needs:

   • A persistent CFO

   • A patient Senior Buyer

   • And HR with courier connections.

Now all that remains is the actual race.

Frankly, after the T-shirt marathon, the 5.6 km should be easy.

#ICPCLAN ready.