Changing How the World Does Business: Fedex's Incredible Journey to Success # the Inside Story

FedEx is more than a household word; it is a household verb replacing the word "delivery" as in, "No worries, we'll FedEx this so they'll have it tomorrow." The story of this colorful company's history and the personalities that brought it to fruition is captivating - filled as it is with cliffhangers, dodged disasters and near failure. In the early days of Federal Express, nothing was a sure thing. Founder Fred Smith and his management team had to elude financial ruin while inventing an entirely new industry. Author and former FedEx general manager Roger Frock fondly recounts the tumultuous early days of the company, although you may wish he had shared more of his insight into the personality of Smith, who remains an elusive unknown. We recommend this book to those who enjoy rags-to-riches corporate stories or to anyone who relies on FedEx to deliver goods that "absolutely, positively have to be there overnight."

With apologies to Tracy Kidder! Mr. Frock's saga, and it can be described only as that, chronicles the birth, development and maturity of FedEX, one of the most successful businesses in US business history. Fred Smith and the team he assembled to develop a really unique idea -- overnight small package delivery to anywhere in the United States -- demonstrated how vision, teamwork, integrity, and creativity CAN overcome daunting challenges. We almost take FedEx for granted now, but Mr. Frock, one of the original senior management team, tells how this was achieved. And the book is one of those page turners, unique really, because we all know how the story ends. But I literally could not put it down. Some impressions: Mr. Frock tells the story well, making even some of the techical stuff understandable. I really enjoyed his sense of wonder and amazement he expresses at the challenges the company met and overcame. He places people and their personal achivements right where they belong in a story like this -- right in the middle. Mike Collins, the astronaut who orbited the moon while Armstrong and Aldrin landed, once expressed his feelings as the mission went forward: I think we are actually going to pull this off. It is easy to see Roger reaching some tough goal in the business saying that... Another is the characterization of the formiable FedEx founder, Fred Smith. As Mr. Frock notes when most of senior management team was set to resign when it appeared Mr. Smith himself would be forced to resign in Board dispute: Was our decision to resign the right one? Absolutely! We felt great allegiance to our leader... But even Fred slipped once...but you need to read the bood to find out why. (And why he bet the FedEx checking account in a visit to Vegas...) Finally, the last section of the book is FedEx's view of the people part of any successful business: an open door policy, security, fair treatment, and employees evaluating management. There are more, but as the story is told, one realizes these principles were actively applied to the the people who made (and make up) the organization. A great story, well told. Highest marks.

I joined Federal Express in August 1974 and remained with the company until January 1999. I had the privilege of working for Roger Frock beginning in 1975. He has truly brought to life many of the events, people and tribulations that made FedEx great. The road to success was very uneven, but we never seemed to lose the faith in our leadership. While Roger credits Fred Smith with strong leadership, it was the team of Frock, Fitzgerald, Fagan, Basch, Brandon, Wilmott and many others who could thrive with only one rule; Do What is Right...right for the customer, right for the company and right for the employees. Today FedEx has volumes of rules, but the early days were built aound a vision. Execution took courage, tenacity, ingenuity and loyalty. Fred Smith and the senior mangement team (mentioned above) inculcated all of the attributes in a small and somewhat ragtag group of employees. I only wish Roger had brought out some of the humor of the early days. Pay was low, but we laughed alot and played practical jokes on each other. Bravo Zulu (Well Done) Roger for a well written book, simple in style, yet so demonstrative of the events and people.

Having been a former employee of Federal Express,as early as 1975, I am familiar in a most personal manner with the exciting journey of Federal Express from it's start up to global giant. Roger Frock's book offered me the opportunity to travel back in time and refresh and recall the near unrealistic sojourn of this remarkable entity that has become a dinner table word all over the planet. The book reveals the amazing details here to for untold, mind boggling obstacles and extraordinary creativity and dedication, commitment, humor and insight so dramatically part of those individuals who became the key players in this world changing endeavor. There is no other book written about FedEx by an original senior officer of the company, nor one that reveals the heart and soul of this much admired and successful company as does Changing the Way the World Does Business. It lifts one's spirit and one can feel the magnetic pull to "learn more" as one puruses its pages. Entrepreneurial personalities, clerks, big and small business, beginners, and established executives, the book is a haven of enlightenment for what it takes to become a success. What I found in addition to all of this is the self-evident humility that is evident in the ethical values that were and are so eloquently obvious within the gentleman himself who authored this incredible story of the truth of how FedEx did what it did and has become what it has become while shining a light on those ethical values that were forever at play in the creation itself. A rare thing in this day and age and much needed in my opinion. The book is sheer pleasure and satisfaction. Definitely a five star plus rating.

This is MUST READ for every member of any organization. Owners, managers, employees, the principles are the same. Roger has given the insider view of FedEx but the reader must decide how much of what kind made it a success. Was it the vision of Fred Smith or the hard work of the dedicated employees? Was it both? What tipped the scales? This will take it's place among the reference manuals of "how to" and "how not to". I challange the HR departments to pay attention and learn. This is employee dedication that doesn't respond to money and can't be bought. The abject loyalty between the executives, managers and employees are the only thing that held this leaky boat afloat. What a delicate balance between vision and dedication. Gutsy in it's most pristine form.