The Fred Factor FROM THE PUBLISHER
Meet
Fred.In his powerful new book THE FRED FACTOR, motivational speaker Mark
Sanborn recounts the true story of Fred, the mail carrier who passionately loves
his job and who genuinely cares about the people he serves. Because of that, he
is constantly going the extra mile handling the mail - and sometimes watching
over the houses - of the people on his route, treating everyone he meets as a
friend. Where others might see delivering mail as monotonous drudgery, Fred sees
an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those he serves.We've
all encountered people like Fred in our lives. In THE FRED FACTOR, Mark Sanborn
illuminates the simple steps each of us can take to transform our own lives
from the ordinary - into the extraordinary. Sanborn, through stories about Fred
and others like him, reveals the four basic principles that will help us bring
fresh energy and creativity to our life and work: how to make a real difference
everyday, how to become more successful by building strong relationships, how to
create real value for others without spending a penny, and how to constantly
reinvent yourself.By following these principles, and by learning from and
teaching other "Freds," you, too, can excel in your career and make your life
extraodinary. As Mark Sanborn makes clear, each of us has the potential be a
Fred.THE FRED FACTOR shows you how.
About the Author:
MARK SANBORN is an international known author, motivational
speaker, and the president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea studio for
leadership development. He gives nearly one hundred presentations each year on
leadership, team building, customer service, and mastering change. Mark and his
family live near Denver, Colorado.
SYNOPSIS
Seize the chance
to be extraordinary.Who has made the biggest difference in your life?
Whose words and actions have uplifted and motivated you to excel? Chances are it
was someone like Fred the postman--so outstanding in his service that Mark
Sanborn realized this mail carrier could be an example for any person wanting to
be extraordinary.The "Fred factor" is summarized by four principles that
will release fresh energy, enthusiasm, and creativity in your career and
life:* Make a Difference* Build Relationships* Create Value*
Reinvent YourselfYou, too, can apply The Fred Factor to enrich the lives of
customers, co-workers, friends, and family members, as well as reach new levels
of personal success yourself. Sanborn also shows how to discover and develop
other "Freds.Why not become a "Fred" yourself? You will turn the
ordinary moments of life into extraordinary opportunities to make a difference
in the world.
FROM THE CRITICS
Soundview Executive Book Summaries
How to Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary
Fred is the ordinary-looking postal carrier with a small moustache who delivers mail to motivational speaker Mark Sanborn's house in the Washington Park area of Denver. But he is no ordinary U.S. Postal Service worker. According to Sanborn, he is the kind of worker who exemplifies everything that is "right" with customer service and business in general, and is "a gold-plated example of what personalized service looks like and a role model for anyone who wants to make a difference in his or her work."
Not only did Sanborn get the best postal service he had ever experienced when he moved to Fred's route, but he also got a perfect example of superior service to illustrate his presentations to business leaders throughout the United States. According to Sanborn, anyone can be a Fred and live an extraordinary life as well.
Four Fred Principles
After examining the factors that make Fred the Postman such an extraordinarily committed service person, Sanborn honed them down to four principles that can be applied to improve anyone's life and work. These principles are:
Everyone makes a difference. Some might see delivering mail as monotonous drudgery, but Fred sees the task as an opportunity to make the lives of his customers more enjoyable. Regardless of whether an employer hinders exceptional performance, ignores it, or does not adequately recognize it, only the employee can choose to do his or her job in an extraordinary way. Sanborn writes, "Nobody can prevent you from choosing to be exceptional." Success is built on relationships. Indifferent people deliver impersonal service. Sanborn writes that service becomes personalized when a relationship exists between the provider of the service and the customer. The quality of the relationship determines the quality of the product or service. Leaders succeed when they recognize that their employees are human, and employees like Fred the Postman succeed when they recognize their work involves interacting with other human beings. You must continually create value for others, and it doesn't have to cost a penny. Replace money with imagination. Sanborn explains that the object is to outthink your competition rather than outspend them. The most critical skill that contributes to employability is the ability to create value for customers and colleagues without spending money to do it. Substitute creativity for capital. Mediocrity is your silent opponent and can diminish the quality of your performance as well as the meaning you derive from it. You can reinvent yourself regularly. If Fred the Postman can excel at bringing creativity and commitment to putting mail in a box, you are probably capable of doing as much or more to reinvent your work and rejuvenate your efforts. Sanborn believes that "no matter what job you hold, what industry you work in, or where you live, every morning you wake up with a clean slate. You can make your business, as well as your life, anything you choose it to be."
Fred Sightings
Sanborn points out that Freds can be found everywhere, and there are more Freds out there than he once thought. One Fred is a woman at a hotel who helped Sanborn out in a pinch by taking his coffee-stained pants home with her overnight to personally wash and press for his departure the next day.
Another Fred he describes is a flight attendant who made a 6:15 a.m. flight from Denver to San Francisco more enjoyable for passengers by lightening the usual announcements with her unique sense of humor: "If you are having a hard time getting your ears to pop, I suggest you yawn widely. And if you are having a hard time yawning, ask me to tell you about my love life." Sanborn explains that she took some risks and had some fun, and as a result, her "customers" the passengers had fun, too.
Another Fred who Sanborn describes is a hotel worker who lent him $30 when he had no cab fare for his ride home. Sanborn explains that this Fred knows that the way to move through life joyfully and successfully is by focusing on what you give rather than what you get. Freds do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
Sanborn explains that if you want more Freds in the world, be a Fred. Throughout the rest of The Fred Factor, he describes how every individual can make a difference, and offers numerous difference-making strategies to help readers influence the world in a positive way.
Why We Like This Book
The Fred Factor presents a compassionate look at how every action we take can be made more significant if we take the time to reinvent our work and rejuvenate our efforts. By providing a look at the normal people who do extraordinary things in their daily activities, Sanborn presents heart-warming business lessons that expose the value and endless possibilities for improving life and work that come from loving others. Copyright © 2004 Soundview Executive Book Summaries
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Brian Tracy
The Fred Factor is a powerful, poignant parable of success. It's about going the extra mile and always doing more than is expected. It is revolutionary, yet simple. It is life changing. — author of Focal Point and Goals: How to Get Everything You Want-Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible
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