Dear Friend of Fred:

Welcome to the first issue of The Fred Factor ezine! You are receiving this ezine because of your interest in my bestselling book The Fred Factor: How Passion In Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary. This periodic ezine will share ideas, techniques and stories that will assist you in making a positive difference in the lives of those you live and work with. It will build on the four principles of The Fred Factor as well as provide you new information you've not seen before.

We'll look at ways you can spread the message of Fred, and the commitment to make the ordinary extraordinary, throughout your business, organization and community.

You'll also find some neat f^ree stuff and special offers in this ezine as well.

I hope you'll consider this ezine an opportunity for dialogue and and a place to share your comments and stories. My mission is to be a difference maker to the difference makers, so I hope you'll find encouragement and support for the path you've chosen to follow.

Best always,

Mark

PS - Two notes, if you like what you're reading and think others will too then please don't hesitate to pass this issue you along using the "Forward to a Friend" feature at the bottom of this newsletter. If, on the other hand, you have no time or interest in this communication please don't hesitate to use the "Unsubscribe" link also at the bottom. We guarantee that you will be immediately taken off of our list. But why don't you wait an issue or two before making that decision. We think you'll enjoy what you read.

Article
Don't Be a Derf

What is the opposite of a "Fred"?

I found out recently when I was visiting Berean Christian Bookstore in Canton, Ohio. That particular store is an extraordinary example of excellence in book retailing: beautiful facility, innovate merchandising concepts and nice, helpful employees who are committed to the principles of The Fred Factor.

Many of you have wondered if Fred the Postman really exists (yes, Virginia, there is a Fred) and what he looks like. Well now you know ... he's the better looking one standing in the front of the picture. You know how it goes, "Behind every great mailman there's a..."

One of the employees, Maria, asked me, "Do you know what the opposite of a Fred is?" While I know what the opposite of Fred-like behavior looks like, I'd never put a name to the kind of person who might act that way.

"The opposite of a Fred," said Maria, "is a Derf! That is Fred spelled backwards."

I recently had a reader write me and say that she works at a company that "sucks the Fredness right out of you!"

So I started thinking about these anti-Fred people and organizations. They practice the Derf Factor.

And what might The Derf Factor be? The principles would look something like this:

First, nobody can make any real difference so why try?

Secondly, relationships are messy-leave me alone.

Third, you can find the easiest way to do anything with the least amount of effort if you think long enough.

And finally, each day it is just the same old same old.

Thinking in terms of the opposite of the principles of The Fred Factor is almost funny in its negativity. What keeps this little exercise from being comedic is that we all meet people who live those principles. They might not verbalize it, but their behavior suggests a conscious or unconscious belief in them.

I don't know of anybody who wants to be a Derf. The alternative of being a Fred is much more enjoyable, not just for the person who is the "Fred", but for those they live and work with.

Nominate a Fred

Help us acknowledge the Freds that we all encounter on a daily basis whether through work or in our lives outside of work. Please use the nomination form found here to tell us your Fred's story. And please, tell a story not just, "I nominate Joe because he's a great guy," but tell us what actions of Joe's make him a Fred. This kind of information will help us all become more Fred-like by providing us specific ideas and actions that we can model in our own lives. It's a Fred-like activity in and of itself!

Fred Inspires...

Here's Pam's story not about a Fred in her life but about how the Fred Factor is helping her not only be a Fred but to look for and develop Freds.

I will be attending an advanced leadership class in a few weeks and wanted to say thank you for writing this book. I have renewed energy and actually look for ways to "re-invent" myself on a daily basis. I find it takes less energy to be a positive thinker than a negative thinker. I am now looking for ways to find "FRED" in co-workers, customers, family, friends, etc. People have told me that I am so upbeat that it is almost "suspicious". I love it. I want others to have the excitement that I feel. My biggest challenge is to motivate the pessimists. My favorite quote is from Martin Luther King Jr. who once said..."not everyone can be famous but everyone can be great. What makes us great is the service we provide". I remember that quote every day because I want to provide the best posibble service every day to my employees, customers, family and fellow Postmasters. thank you for making me feel like I can truly make a difference.

Pam
USPS

Thanks Pam! We suspect that you are, indeed, a Fred!

Fred Stuff

Spread Fred with great Fred products from the Sanborn Store.

The best selling book that started it all.	MEM-Cards for Fred in a Flash. The best of Fred captured in a deck of 28 playing sized cards.	The DVD Training Kit that will help you take your inner Fred to the next level with this self-guided course great for individuals or teams.	The Recognition Certificate is professionally printed and suitable for framing; recognize your Freds with this high quality award.
These and other great Fred products are available in The Sanborn Store.

Bonus Materials

• Download a PDF version of The Fred Factor Principles.
• Listen to (or download) Mark's interview on The Fred Factor with noted Atlanta Sportscaster, Bob Rathbun. (Listed as Audio Lesson)
• Recognize the Fred's in your life with our downloadable, and F*ree, Fred Factor Recognition Certficate (PDF). Or, you can purchase high quality, suitable for framing certificates from the Sanborn Store.

Fred News

• The Fred Factor remains on the BusinessWeek bestseller list at Number 11 for the month of March.
• Read how the City of Fort Collins has transformed itself into Fredville, USA.

If you see items about Fred or simply see Fred-like 'citings' in the local news, please send them our way. Thanks.