Fred Factor | Freducation!

 -----------------------------------  Favorite Quotes  -----------------------------------

"The Fact is that everybody is already making a difference every day.  The key question is, What kind of difference is each of us making?"

"The things you do, both small and large, cumulatively create a lifestyle that becomes apparent to anybody paying attention.  It is that kind of example that most influences others."

When you don't see much meaning in what you do, you won't bring much value to what you do."

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry.  He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'"  

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"There are no unimportant jobs, just people who feel unimportant doing their jobs."

-----------------------------------   Book Summary  -----------------------------------

This short book focuses on a mailman Mark Sanborn met, a man named Fred. When the author first met Fred, Fred took an effort to get to know his new customer, and find ways to do a better job as a mailman. This book about the value of doing a better job, how to build relationships, and why we should take initiative. In short by going the extra mile we'll have a better life, and others will benefit.

It is a good book, and a short book. It is well written. The book is entertaining and at the same time makes many good points.

The first of four sections covers how the author met Fred the mailman, and how very quickly the author realized that Fred was a superstar mail carrier. The basics of what a "Fred" is are explored, and then the author mentions sightings of other "Freds."

The second section explains how you can become a Fred. Basically you need to build relationships with others so you know them well enough to then be able to be create, take initiative and make a difference.

The third section gives pointers on how you can help others grow into being Freds. The basic steps are to:

1) Find - how do you recognize a Fred

2) Reward - how should Freds be rewarded

3) Educate - how help people improve their Fredness

4) Demonstrate - model the correct behavior

The final section recounts the value and importance of being a Fred.

This is a book worth reading. It provides a good reminder and motivation to go the extra mile and do a better job.  I will always remember a statement I once heard, "There are no traffic jams on the second mile...everyone got off on the first exit!