The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary [Hardcover]

Mark Sanborn (Author), John C. Maxwell (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2004

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“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.”
--Brian Tracy, author of Focal Point and Goals: How to Get Everything You Want—Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible

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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Currency; 1st edition (April 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385513518
• ISBN-13: 978-0385513517
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Motivational
  • #84 in Books > Self-Help > Success

More About the Author

I am a Buckeye and now live in the Denver area! I was born in Ohio, grew up on a farm and graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University but I love the Rocky Mountains. My business, Sanborn & Associates, Inc. is an idea studio for leadership development. I am a past president of The National Speakers Association. My book The Fred Factor was a WSJ, Business Week and NY Times bestseller. I have spoken to over 2400 audiences in every state and nearly a dozen countries. My passion is developing leaders. whether or not they have a title (which is why I wrote You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader). In 2007 I was the recipient of the Cavett Award. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy writing it. I enjoy communicating with readers and sharing ideas, so please contact me at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice review of the value of going the extra mail, May 20, 2005

By 

Henry Cate III (CA. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary (Hardcover)

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.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't take much to stand out, August 7, 2004

By 

Paul (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary (Hardcover)

Ever had a waiter ask, "Somethin' to drink?" while you look at your menu? How about a hotel clerk that says "Help you" like a question or a secretary who says "may I ask what this is in reference to?" when you try to call someone? The fact is, we hear so many monotone responses so often that "excuse me" "nice to meet you" and "have a nice day" seem to have no meaning at all. But then there's Fred, the guy who looks you in the eye, goes the extra mile, and adds a personal touch to the service he provides you. In today's ever-so-competitive markets, you'd think the personal touch approach would be second nature. The thing is, it's not, and this probably won't change. Sanborn isn't trying to teach clever people a shortcut--he's simply trying to remind us that genuine effort and a personal approach will never go out of style.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The HEART of business., August 25, 2004

By 

J. Calloway (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary (Hardcover)

What I love about The Fred Factor is that it counters the notion that to succeed in business means somehow abandoning your values. Mark Sanborn makes a case that success in business, or life, for that matter, is a matter of embracing the values of service, caring, and doing the right thing. This is a book that should be standard issue for every employee of every company. Outstanding!