Smith Could ?the Future

Title:Smith Could ?the FutureWord Count:825Summary:Frederick W. Smith attended Yale University andwrote a paper on the concept of overnight packagedelivery. Smith professor did not agree with hisfuturistic possibility and only gave Smith a C forthe paper.How many times have we let someone opinion

dissuade us from doing what we want to do? How manytimes have we given our power away by letting oneperson opinion stop us from achieving our goals?Smith did not let his college professor stop him.After he was honorably discharged from the MarineCorps, Smith implemented his overnight packagedelivery service in 1971. The name of his businesswas Federal Express.Keywords:Persistence, Motivation, Inspiration, Patience,Goal Setting,Careers, EntrepreneurArticle Body:Frederick W. Smith attended Yale University andwrote a paper on the concept of overnight packagedelivery. Smith professor did not agree with hisfuturistic possibility and only gave Smith a C forthe paper.

How many times have we let someone opiniondissuade us from doing what we want to do? How manytimes have we given our power away by letting oneperson opinion stop us from achieving our goals?Smith did not let his college professor stop him.After he was honorably discharged from the MarineCorps, Smith implemented his overnight packagedelivery service in 1971. The name of his businesswas Federal Express.1. Smith never gave up on his passion for hisconcept for an unmet needDuring Fed Ex first two years, the business lost$27 million and almost went bankrupt. Smith cameclose to losing $80 million that he raised frominvestors, including personal money from hisbrothers and sisters. Smith was able torenegotiate some loans.Many of us have financial challenges. Smith wasabout to lose tens of millions of dollars that he

raised to implement his passion for an unmet need:overnight package delivery. Smith knew he wasable to answer the classical marketing question:what is the unmet need? Smith answered thequestion very well and persevered.2. aivete was also a big part. I didnot know thatI couldnot do this.?Smith was quoted as saying in a 1998 interview.How many of us put so many demands on ourselvesand are always thinking that the worst will happen?Is it the fear of the unknown? Are we that muchattached to our comfort zone? Also in a 1998interview, Smith said that the currency ofexchange in Fed Ex was just money, it wasnotpeople arms and legs, or lives.?This quote was inreference to Smith experience in the Marine Corpsin Vietnam. Apparently, Smith philosophy was thatlosing money was not like losing lives. How manyof us deal with situations in which lives are atstake? Medical professionals can experiencesituations in which they need to save lives. Can

losing money ever compare to losing lives?3. Smith never lost his confidenceSmith did not want to let down people who signedup with him to make Fed Ex happen. His philosophywent back to his Marine Corps days. He had said,揑 knew I had put this thing together properly andthat it was going to be all right.?Have yougraduated from college? If so, you put togethera plan and succeeded. Smith was confident abouthis passion and stuck to his plan. He did not letthe threat of losing tens of millions of dollarsand going bankrupt stop him from losing hisconfidence. Have any of us faced as much financialdifficulty as Smith did? Smith also did not leta grade of C on his paper at Yale deter hisconfidence.4. Smith took advantage of his learning resourcesand had great mentors

Frederick Smith said the Marine Corps is the bestwhen it comes to teaching people how to lead otherfolks.?Smith made the most out of his militarytraining, which was a foundation for his ultimatesuccess at forming and maintaining Fed Ex. Whathave we learned from our experiences and how canwe better utilize them? Who are some of the peoplethat have greatly influenced us? Staff SergeantJack Jackson and Father Vince Capodanno were twopeople who had a big influence on Smith. SergeantJackson was Smith platoon sergeant in the Corps.When Smith first met Sergeant Jackson, he hadgrown a mustache and smoked cigars. Smith wantedto look older than 22 years old. Sergeant Jacksontold Smith, \"Well, the first thing, shave off thatridiculous mustache, and quite smoking the cigars-- because you look absurd -- and be yourself.\"Sergeant Jackson told Smith the he looked like asmooth-faced kid trying to be something that (he)wasn't.?Smith said what Sergeant Jackson saidstuck with him to this day.

Father Capodanno was Smith battalion chaplain,who received the Congressional Medal of Honor. In1966, Father Capodanno was assigned to Vietnam,with the Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment.On September 4, 1967 he was killed in action, inQue Son Valley. He was giving last rites towounded and dying Americans in the heat of battle.Father Capodanno showed the utmost inself-sacrifice. Most people, including Smith,though it was an honor to have known such a greatman.Smith suggested that young people take advantageof the tremendous access to information that wehave, especially the Internet. Support fromothers can help us in our quest to accomplish ourgoals. Support from others can help us overcomebarriers, much like the ?that Smith received onhis paper for his Federal Express idea. Many ofyou possess so many great ideas. Donot letnaysayers discourage you.