Book Review
The Fred Factor
By Mark Sandborn
The 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 lessons that expose the value and endless possibilities for improving life and work that come from caring about others.
A summary
In this powerful book the author 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.
The Four Principles of The Fred Factor are:
Everyone makes a difference – The only question at the end of the day is “What kind of difference did you make?”
Everything is built on relationships – Go beyond simply interacting with customers and colleagues to build relationships.
You must continually create value for others, and it doesn’t have to cost a penny – You can replace money with imagination. The objective is to outthink your competition rather than outspend them.
You can reinvent yourself regularly – No matter what job you hold, what industry you work in or where you live in the world, you wake up every morning “tabula rasa,” with a blank slate, and you can make your business and your life anything you choose.
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. The principles will help you turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
You should go through life taking every opportunity to make the difference, To do this the author suggests: Identify When You’ll Make A Difference – You’re making a difference because you want to and you can, not because you have to. Target The People To Whom You’ll Make The Difference – Be intent on providing exceptional service to everybody, but for some you will want to do extraordinary things for.
Be The Difference – Consider the differences that will enrich and add value to what you do for others. Make time in your schedule to determine how you can change your ordinary actions into extraordinary ones.
Conclusion
You, 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. Why not become a “Fred” yourself? You will turn the ordinary moments of life into extraordinary opportunities to make a difference in the world.
I’ll finish this section, with a piece from the book that I find stimulating
DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNING INTENDING TO CHANGE THE WORLD!!! Begin each day planning to change the world. It only takes a small act to make a big difference. ‘Make each day your masterpiece’:
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