"Freds" are odd ducks.  See the definition of "The Fred Factor".

They're larger than life, unexpected, quirky, startlingly honest, open, sincere and helpful.

They love to do favors for people, and they thrive on appreciation.

They revel in doing goofy things like:

• Live cheap to have excess capacity to help others
• Help friends move furniture and households for the free exercise
• Shovel neighbors driveways for the sheer joy of being outside in the fresh air
• Mentor teens at work camp projects to rebuild houses for poor people
• Teach friends and family about computers, people and life
• Form companies w/mottos like "Glad to be of service!"
• Nurse dying family members in their home or in his own home
• Set nieces and nephews in races to grow their college funds
• Donate thousands of hours per year to worthwhile organizations
• Talk fearlessly to all parties (worker bees, managers, CEOs, chairman of the board) to benefit a project
• Explain to managers that they necessarily have "Manager's Disease" (ask me sometime) and what to do about it
• Coach people looking for work, reviewing their resumes and helping them build skills
• Connect employers with potential employees and consultants
• Tell people "You don't really have to pay me.  I'll do it for free if I feel appreciated enough."
• Leave a 30-100% tip for waiters just to make their day
• Donate $100 or $1,000 when asked for $10
• Mail out daily tips and techniques
• Write a "Fred User Guide", providing the "keys to the kingdom" -- how best to take full advantage of a Fred

Extraordinary is fun.  Ordinary is boring.  Expected is downright tedious.

So how do you maximize the benefits of the "Fred Factor"?

• Allow Fred to be extraordinary and exceed expectations
  • Never try to force Fred to be ordinary.  It won't work.  Freds don't have much ordinary in them.  Extraordinary will just pop out somewhere unexpected.
• Ask for favors that you really need
  • Even if they are above and beyond
  • Joyfully accept the alternate favors that Fred sometimes offers instead
• Express appreciation
  • LinkedIn referrals that don't lower the bar of Fred's current rave reviews
  • Emails that Fred can show off to friends and family, or add to his accumulated recommendations page
  • Buy lunch for Fred
• Be open, sincere, and honest, never sarcastic.
  • Freds don't do sarcasm.
• Read all emails from Fred
  • Especially when you're in the salutation or on the TO list, not just the CC list.
  • See "write effective emails"
• Reply to all emails from Fred
  • Fred can't see you nodding, scowling, or looking confused
  • Can be just: "OK" or "Thanks" or "Will do" or "I disagree, call me", but always reply.
  • See "always reply to email"

And some counter-examples.  Here's how to minimize the benefit of the "Fred Factor", and eventually chase Fred away entirely:

• Decide in advance that Fred has nothing valuable to say
  • Don't bother reading his emails
• Ask him to send you fewer emails
• Make decisions about his project without consulting him
• Ask for favors that you don't really need and won't appreciate
• Be unappreciative or disrespectful
  • Tell him, after he does you a favor, that it was not that important after all
  • Complain about how he does you favors
  • Tell him he's not worth the cost when you buy his services

If this inspires you, buy the book.  I bought a bunch of copies myself:

• http://www.marksanborn.com/store/fred-factor/

Personally, I aspire to always be a Fred, and I am supported in this by some of my favorite people in the whole world: Tom Brophy, George van Rossum, Carol Stluka and the entire Stluka clan, Mick Eng, Emily Webb, Sharon Flank, Erma Diaz, Steve Day, Lynne Samson, Gina McEwen, Orlando Rios, Bob Bonstingl, Mike McKeown, Sandra Stocker, Ginny Pyster, Dave Forbes, Gail Dichter, Aaron Temin, Michelle Bazie, Alex Yankelevich, Alex Kutovoy, Mike Hoffman, John Quillen, Tracey Welson-Rossman, Jim Blackwood, John Patriarca, Bob Durbin, Deb Coppage, Joyce Walsh, Donna Brophy, Bob Shank, and most of the van Rossum clan.

If you agree that I am a Fred, please endorse me at LinkedIn as having the skill "The Fred Factor":

• http://linkedin.com/in/FredStluka

Proud to be a Fred,
--Fred Stluka

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