Book review: The Fred Factor

I am trying to instill in my children a broader vision of education. Part of this effort is I have them read a variety of useful books. My oldest daughter recently read The Fred Factor. This is her review of the book:

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The book The Fred Factor is about making everything you do significant. It opens with the example of a postal worker named Fred. Then The Fred Factor expands on how to be a ‘Fred.’ The book ends with how to help others become ‘Freds.’ This is a fun and easy book to read.

The Fred that the book is named after is the author Mark Sanborn’s postman. He first proves himself a ‘Fred’ by introducing himself to Sanborn and the offering to hold Mr. Sanborn’s post when he leaves town. Then Fred the Postman proved himself extraordinary by fixing a package mix-up committed not by Fred’s company but by the UPS. For the next ten years Sanborn received excellent service. The Fred Factor was started by a simple postman; see how he made a difference. Not only in Mark Sanborn’s life but those lives this book has and will touch.

How to be a Fred in four steps. Step one is the mindset that everyone makes a difference, even a postman. People can make a difference anytime and to anyone. The next step is to build relationships. When you read the book you’ll see how a relationship with a postman brightened Sanborn‘s day. Step three is to try and create something that others value, a sort of modern day Philosopher’s Stone. The last step is to constantly expand your skills. These steps teach a person how to be a Fred.

Four steps to create Freds. The first Find them, The Fred Factor instructs one on how to find Freds by creating a place that attracts them, how to recognize a dormant Fred, and how to hire them. Next step Reward them, this step is self explanatory, if you want Freds to stay around you should reward them. The third step is to Educate them. The last step is to Demonstrate. When you are a Fred Freds are more likely to find you. Four simple steps that just happen to spell Fred.

This book is really engaging and simple to follow. It would a satisfactory book for anyone. It should be mandatory for any one entering a management level job.