"The Fred Factor" by Mark Sanborn

The Fred Factor (Apr. 20, 2004) by Mark Sanborn.*

Who is Fred? The author’s Fred, Fred Shea, the first Fred, was a mail carrier (Sanborn was one of his customers).** What is the significance of a Fred? That is up to you -- not just to strive to be a Fred but to recognize other Freds. The simple answer is that a Fred is anyone who is taking pride in one’s work – no matter the profession – and turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. That does not mean running yourself ragged to go above and beyond at full throttle, giving 200%, and wearing yourself so thin that you get stress hives. No. It can be as simple as offering someone encouragement in a time of need or standing out in the winter cold for ten more seconds to hold the door open for someone.

            The author, Mark Sanborn, is a motivational speaker. His former mail carrier inspired him to “be a Fred.” The book has distinct focuses on defining Freds, how to become one and even how to develop other Freds. It’s a book of advice, encouragement and leading by example.

            Of the many examples, one shines out at me. He was relaying the story of a man who was dying of cancer. Even at his most frail, just days before passing, he said to a visitor, “How can I serve you?” And this leads me to a memory from college where one of my hall-mates had a handwritten sign in her room right above her door that read, “Servant’s Entrance.” To her, it signified being a servant and child of God and reminding herself to be as such when she left her dorm room each day, but it is fitting to this slim book as well. For anyone in customer service or who works with people on a frequent basis, to be a servant isn’t a chore. It can also be about making the best better, continually reinventing yourself to serve others more effectively and transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.

            I don’t tend to read books “like this.” And by that I mean books that focus on motivation and encouragement (but also non-fiction literature in general). I appreciate the insight that Sanborn has. Anyone who ever deals with people should read this book. To be a Fred isn’t a mundane thing, but a remarkable one. To have Fred moments isn’t tedious but noteworthy. To witness Fred moments isn’t lackluster but inspiring. Life is a work in progress, so why not work to be a Fred while you’re going about it all?

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I was loaned this book by my boss. I was not required to write a positive review, nor a review of any kind. The opinions are expressly my own and do not reflect the opinions of my boss, the author, the publisher or any entities associated with any of the aforementioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

** Fred Shea retired in 2013. [Google linked me to a post on the author’s Facebook page.]