The Fred Factor - Book Review

Lately I've approached leadership books with trepidation.  So, as I started reading this short book I was suspicious of a quick fix that was more self-serving than servant-leadership.  I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  I LOVED THIS BOOK!  I think Mark Sanborn has brought the spotlight to bear on the importance of the individual who is fully engaged in living a life of excellence through serving others without any hope of gain beyond the personal knowledge and self-fulfillment that comes from knowing we are doing the right thing.

Here  are some of my favorite quotes:

• "Ultimately, though, only the employee can choose to do his or her job in an extraordinary way, regardless of the circumstances." p.9
• "Nobody can prevent you from choosing to be exceptional.  At the end of the day, the only question that matters is, What kind of difference did you make?" p.9
• "What we haven't been told nearly enough is that people give work dignity  There are no  unimportant jobs, just people who feel unimportant doing their jobs." p. 10
• "While position never determines performance, ultimately performance determines position in life." p. 10
• "...the most important job skill of the twenty-first century:  the ability to create value for customers without spending more money to do it." p.12
• "Fred has beaten a silent opponent that threatens his potential, just as it threatens yours and mine.  That competitor is mediocrity, a willingness to do just enough and nothing more to get by." p.14
• "...you don't do the right thing just because you have to do it.  You do it because it is the right thing to do." p. 23
• "The fact is that everybody is already making a difference every day.  The key question is, What kind of difference is each of us making?" p. 35
• "Freds, however, don't use people as a means to an end; they use relationships to build a foundation for success." p. 43
• "Jimmy Buffett once said (and I paraphrase): It takes just about the same amount of time to be a nice guy as it does to be a jerk." p.49
• "Freds create extra value by doing more than is necessary and exceeding our expectations - most of the time for no extra pay." p.51
• "The most powerful tool you have for spreading the Fred Factor throughout your organization is yur own behavior - the example of your life and the effect it has on others." p. 90
• "So here's my working definition of generosity of spirit; It is the commitment to treat a person with dignity and kindness regardless of how you feel about him or her." p 107

If you have not read this book yet -GO NOW AND BUY IT AND READ IT!  and then share it with as many others as you can.