Smith Could “C” the Future

Frederick W. Smith attended Yale University and wrote a paper on the opinion of overnight package delivery. Smith’s professor did not agree with his futuristic possibility and only gave Smith a C for the paper.

How many times have we let someone’s conception dissuade us from doing what we want to do? How many times have we given our power away by letting one person’s belief terminate us from achieving our goals? Smith did not let his college professor end him. After he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Smith implemented his overnight package delivery service in 1971. The name of his business was Federal boom.

1. Smith never gave up on his passion for his view for an unmet need

During Fed Ex’s first two years, the business lost $27 million and almost went bankrupt. Smith came end to losing $80 million that he raised from investors, including personal money from his brothers and sisters. Smith was able to renegotiate some loans.

Many of us have financial challenges. Smith was about to lose tens of millions of dollars that he raised to implement his passion for an unmet need: overnight package delivery. Smith knew he was able to acknowledge the classical marketing question: what is the unmet need? Smith answered the query very well and persevered.

2. “Naivete was also a stout share. I didn’t know that I couldn’t do this.”

Smith was quoted as saying in a 1998 interview. How many of us place so many demands on ourselves and are always thinking that the worst will happen? Is it the panic of the unknown? Are we that considerable attached to our comfort zone? Also in a 1998 interview, Smith said that “…the currency of exchange in Fed Ex was unprejudiced money, it wasn’t people’s arms and legs, or lives.” This quote was in reference to Smith’s experience in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. Apparently, Smith’s philosophy was that losing money was not like losing lives. How many of us deal with situations in which lives are at stake? Medical professionals can experience situations in which they need to assign lives. Can losing money ever compare to losing lives?

3. Smith never lost his confidence

Smith did not want to let down people who signed up with him to get Fed Ex happen. His philosophy went encourage to his Marine Corps days. He had said, “I knew I had achieve this thing together properly and that it was going to be all proper.” Have you graduated from college? If so, you do together a concept and succeeded. Smith was confident about his passion and stuck to his thought. He did not let the threat of losing tens of millions of dollars and going bankrupt finish him from losing his confidence. Have any of us faced as remarkable financial trouble as Smith did? Smith also did not let a grade of C on his paper at Yale deter his confidence.

4. Smith took advantage of his learning resources and had spacious mentors

Frederick Smith said “The Marine Corps is the best when it comes to teaching people how to lead other folks.” Smith made the most out of his military training, which was a foundation for his ultimate success at forming and maintaining Fed Ex. What have we learned from our experiences and how can we better exercise them? Who are some of the people that have greatly influenced us? Staff Sergeant Jack Jackson and Father Vince Capodanno were two people who had a tall influence on Smith. Sergeant Jackson was Smith’s platoon sergeant in the Corps. When Smith first met Sergeant Jackson, he had grown a mustache and smoked cigars. Smith wanted to watch older than 22 years extinct. Sergeant Jackson told Smith, "Well, the first thing, shave off that ridiculous mustache, and quite smoking the cigars -- because you perceive absurd -- and be yourself." Sergeant Jackson told Smith the he “looked like a smooth-faced kid trying to be something that (he) wasn't.” Smith said what Sergeant Jackson said stuck with him to this day.

Father Capodanno was Smith’s battalion chaplain, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1966, Father Capodanno was assigned to Vietnam, with the Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment. On September 4, 1967 he was killed in action, in Que Son Valley. He was giving last rites to wounded and dying Americans in the heat of battle. Father Capodanno showed the utmost in self-sacrifice. Most people, including Smith, though it was an honor to have known such a substantial man.

Smith suggested that young people engage advantage of the gigantic access to information that we have, especially the Internet. succor from others can befriend us in our quest to conclude our goals. relieve from others can befriend us overcome barriers, remarkable like the “C” that Smith received on his paper for his Federal issue belief. Many of you hold so many gargantuan ideas. Don’t let naysayers discourage you.