How observant Mark Sanborn was, noticing the difference his mail carrier, Fred Shea, made by applying his eye for detail, heart for people, mind for creativity, and hands for service to each customer’s specific needs! How empathic and industrious Shea was! How blessed by it all we are!
Motivational speaker and author Sanborn’s 2004 book is entitled “The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary.” It details ways Shea exceeded expectations in accommodating Sanborn’s frequent business trips. The author subsequently spoke to the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. The summer conference later featured Shea himself! This year, Sanborn returns!
Here are Freds in my life, each representing one of the four Fred Factor principles:
No. 4: “You can reinvent yourself regularly…” Alison Gregory is an extremely versatile Graves County administrator. As Graves High’s LEAD Academy principal, she provided students an alternative path to graduation apart from the traditional class setting. As Graves County Middle School assistant principal for instruction, she brought teachers of different subject areas together in cohesive teams. Now, as principal of Symsonia Elementary, she’s adapted her hands for service to contribute through another role.
No. 3: “You must continually create value for others, and it doesn't have to cost a penny…” Cafeteria manager Debbie Dew has spent her entire career of 26 years so far working at Symsonia. By her very nature, she represents all four principles well! Her mind for creativity emerges when she decorates the cafeteria for every season, dresses up for all spirit days, volunteers at all after-school events, and wears a homemade pink cow shirt on International Milk Day!
Her principal says, “Debbie finds a way to connect with every student and staff member. Every day she greets everyone with a smile. She knows every student's name and their parents’ names because she also had them in school! She knows what type of milk every kid drinks and sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to each student on their birthday. She greets every student who comes through her line and even asks about their lives outside school. And, she always makes sure her staff works as a team!”
No. 2: “Everything is built on relationships…” Denny Foy just might be the most popular person in the Graves County Schools! Students and adults alike welcome him into their schools! He has a heart for people and people have a heart for him! His skill as a computer technician helps, but his personality puts him over the top! His self-deprecating humor is endearing, good-hearted, and just plain fun! More than once, I’ve said, “Denny, I can’t help but like you and I don’t know anybody who doesn’t!” His usual reply is something like, “I can give you a list of references to disprove that theory and that list starts with my wife!” Nothing could be further from the truth! As a variation on the old Sara Lee commercials, nobody doesn’t like Denny Foy!
No. 1: “Everyone makes a difference…” This seems to imply that whatever a person’s actual job title, that person can influence others. I want to illustrate how stereotyping can cause us to miss great resources. We need to develop an eye for detail. Most Wednesday evenings, I teach a speech class at the Shawnee Community College campus in Metropolis, Ill. One day I noticed our new custodian, a quiet, thin gentleman with some gray in his hair and beard. We chatted briefly each time we met. I eventually learned that Darryl F. Jones is an accomplished artist! He brought in a book of his print samples, asked which I liked best and gave me a large, beautiful print! He says he can see my students and I hit it off because of the way we interact. He encourages me to write a book. I loaned him a CD of “Paper Clips,” the wonderful documentary about the Holocaust class history project at Whitwell (Tenn.) Middle School that I show to my SCC classes. He watched it at home and returned it with a handwritten note, including a poem he wrote: “Whether you be king or queen, rich or poor, whatever skin color… There is greatness in all people! All you have to do is observe and listen! With your heart!” I told him, Darryl, you are the most intellectual custodian I’ve ever met! He replied, “There are many more than you realize!”
Question of the Week
Who in your life offers others unique Fred-like service and how?