The Fred Factor

by Random House

Product Details

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• ASIN: B001E3YERM
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,784 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen)

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
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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)

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!