Charlie Rose Science Series
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Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
by Thomas L. Friedman
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by Thomas L. Friedman
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05/23/2008
Fred Smith
An hour with with Fred Smith, Founder & CEO, FedEx
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A conversation with Fred Smith, Founder & CEO, FedEx
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Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
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Audio available through Audible.com.
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Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
i worked at fedex for 20 years and 6 months i was fired for getting 10 bags of pellets to heat my home for my son and i (i was on my lunch break) i always thought this was a fair company but i was wrong even my letters to mr smith were returned to me..20 YEARS OF MY LIFE NEVER A WARNING LETTER,NEVER PUNCHED IN A SECOND LATE, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CONDUCT ALL I WAS DOING IS TRYING TO PROVIDE HEAT FOR MY SON AND I..OH ONE MORE THING EVERYONE INCLUDING THE MANAGERS USED THE FEDEX VANS AND I PROVED IT. ANY MANAGER CAN CHECK THIS OUT 49126
I have worked for a few nice companies. Most of them in the trucking industry. FedEx is one of the best companies I have ever worked for hands down. I say that to myself everyday. I have stressful days from time to time but that is the nature of the business. It keeps me on my toes. No matter what is going on, I will forever be grateful to have worked for such a great company, from the top down. The company policy is to take care of your people and that means the people who work here and the people who make our business what it is "The customer". FedEx takes care of them all. I had decided years ago to commit to becoming a teacher. FedEx has helped be finance my goals and has supported me immensely to attend college. I am nearing the end education and the end my career at FedEx. I started to question why I would leave such a wonderful place to work to become a teacher. I want to thank FedEx for everything it has given me not just the money I have earned but the chance to be proud and say "I work for FedEx" and truly be proud this is where I work.
I can tell you there is a loyalty to such a wonderful company as FedEx.Before coming to FedEx I worked for 3 other Fortune 500 companies before coming to FedEx and feel so blessed daily to work at such a special place with such special people.Fred Smith is a great leader who truly cares about his employees and making things better for them and our customers.FedEx is always looking for a better way to improve our processes.The Purple Promise is not just a quote-tens of thousands of FedEx employees live it everyday.
First, to W. Tapia, your comments prove that your knowledge is limited. FedEx did not gain success from being a copycat business of UPS. When FedEx was pioneered in 1973, UPS only moved packages, very slowly, across the roads and tracks. FedEx revolutionized the movement of goods, with their concept of "Absolutely, Positively, Overnight". It was the development of a new era in which business were able to move goods across the country, and later across the world with speed and reliability. The rest is history. THere is no need to repeat what has been said by many others about the highly regarded character of Fred Smith and the company that he built. As a 24 year employee, I am blessed to have a career at this company.
I worked for FedEx for 5 years (96 - 2000) and believe that it was the best corporate work experience in my lifetime. The leadership, the training, and the organization is a wonder to behold. 100's of planes taking off and landing in absolute precision every single night, world wide. Innovation that is world beating: tracking, internet shipping, courier held scanning systems, hub sorting systems, etc.. None of that would mater, one bit, however, if the people did not provide the customer service needed to acquire and retain customers. One example I use in conversations with friends. At one company I worked at I could email my VP and never hear back from him. Today, almost 8 years after I left FedEx, I can email the SVP of Marketing and get a response in 24 hours. That is responsiveness. That is leadership. Bottom line? If I need to ship something, I go immediately to FedEx to ship it and generate my label via FedEx.com's shipping application. Regards, Shaun Dakin 96-2000 eCommerce Marketing
I really like the show. I live in Silicon Valley and have seen many companies started and make it big from a close observation point. I wish Charlie Rose had asked Fred Smith more about the early stages of the company, how he saw the opportunity, what his initial assumptions were,..how he raised the money, who were his investors.... What setbacks he had, how he overcame & grew the company... What was his thinking, how he chose the first set of team members,.... His advice for new entrepreuners... More of a entrepreuner and founder part of his life,... Where does he see the future of global delivery commerce... It is good to know his opinions on Obama, Clinton, Hillary but I would have benefited more from listening to early part of his life.
I am proud to be a FedEx retiree with 22 years service. The benefits and opportunities provided as an employee and now as a retiree are superior to most companies. Mr. Smith was and is a great leader whose vision and wisdom would benefit our country as it has benefited the company he founded and leads.
Thanks to Charlie Rose for allowing the rest of America to learn that which we at FedEx already know. Fred Smith is a Great Leader, He sets the example others should follow. his model for business has created a work enviroment that is friendly and family oriented. for 29 years I have enjoyed his philosophy, his generosity and his drive to succeed. He has provided stability in a unstable economic time, more than once has Fred held on to Employees rather than take the easy way out and let them go. This above all to me is his best asset. he believes in us as much as we believe in him. Because of Fred and the Team he has built, FedEx Will not go the way of REA, Emery, Airborne, Gelco. and countless others that did not share his vision.
I am absolutely impressed, indeed astounded, at the number of informed contributors who speak so highly of this company. This is very rare and in fact there may not be another company that comes as close as this one to being exceptional in every way. He has it right and so many others have it wrong.
I fly for the competition - UPS but I enjoyed this interview a whole lot. I hope McCain will listen to Fred on the energy issues in particular but also on many other issues. The guy's very sharp.
I am not all surprised the John McCain is interested in having Fred Smith in his cabinet. I have worked for FedEx since 1996 in the UAE and am a big admirer of the great leadership of Fred Smith. Mr. Smith's notion about the rise of China and how important it is to the world, because of it's contribution to lifting people out of poverty, is exactly why FedEx is so great.
That was a fascinating hour I just spent watching this interview. I have worked for FedEx since 1996 and have really enjoyed and benefited from the experience. As a Canadian working in the US on a Permanent Resident basis, and having had the good fortune to have traveled around the world on FedEx airplanes, meeting many wonderful fellow employees along the way, I have great appreciation for the Company and Mr. Smith as the creative force behind it. The Air/Ground division I work for is actually quite laid-back and a lot of fun!
I ALSO ENJOYED MY POSITION AT FEDEX UNTIL I TRANSFERED FROM THE MILWAUKEE RAMP TO WAUKESHA TO WORK WERE LIFE BECAME A LIVING HELL DAY IN AND OUT. I WAS WRONGFULLY TERMINATED BUT PRIOR HARRASSED EVERY DAY UNTIL THEY FOUND A REASON THEY THOUGHT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO GET ME OUT FOR GOOD.I LOST MY LICENSE FOR TO MONTHS WAS SUSPENDED FOR 3MONTHS THEN TERMINATED. I WAS DENIED MY UNEMPLOYEMENT AND THE RIGHT TO STAY A FEDEX WORKER.
In the FedEx Manager's guide it is clearly stated The worst thing a company can do to it's employees is not make a profit. Mr. Smith has built a company I am proud to work for. It has provided many families a great way of life including mine. FedEx recognized the new pension laws and rather than eliminate pensions the company enhanced our current plan which is fully funded and secure. Our new 401K match is excellent. The fact that I will have a 20 year traditional pension fully funded and am now building a new portable pension that doesn't stop after 25 years is very comforting to my future retirement. The old pension stopped after 25 years. The new pension allows people like me who will be 46 years old with 25 years of service to continue building a pension. Take a hard look at other big companies like IBM. FedEx is a great place to work. All I can say is if you have a car you don't like buy a new car, if you have a house you don't like buy a new house, if you have a job you don't like make a career change. FedEx has done a wonderful job taking care of it's employees by making a profit and pleasing shareholders. Mr. Smith has made a significant positive impact in my life and I am happy and proud to be on his team.
The country would be very fortunate to have Fred Smith serve a member of the the President's cabinet. Such honest and pragmatic positions on imprtant issues are very hard to find. No wonder FedEx is such a great company.
I remain eternally thankful to Mr. Smith for founding FedEx, providing me with a rewarding career, and having the business savvy to grow FedEx into what I believe is the best run company in the world. FedEx has allowed me to raise and support my family, and earn an advanced degree. I have worked at FedEx for 25 years and remain as committed to our success today as the first day I joined the company. FedEx is a microcosm of everything that is right about America; and although not perfect, it is the quintessential model of what every organization should be! Thank you, Fred. BRAVO ZULU!
Extremely informative interview touching on many areas of daily concern! Mr. Smith, 17 wonderful years in sales with FedEx, 8 yrs. of retirement, I still have purple blood in my veins!!! I am so thankful and proud to have worked for this wonderful company. Thank you!!
Awesome interview, glad to be part of the team
Comment by William Tapia on Monday, May 26 at 04:29 PM this is in response to you William. Are you kidding? FedEx is always the first company in when something bad happens. And we do it for free moron. People like you, who probably never give a dime to anyone other than yourself, don't have a clue. I have worked for this company for 21 years now and no large corporation has ever treated it's employees better. And to the other idiot that said our retirement was cut in half, wrong. Just because you might have to help take care of your own future wah wah wah. Get a life and or get a new job with some small company that makes no effort to help you with retirement. You do know FedEx pays into SS, your retirement account, matches your 401K to the tune of 6% a year. Gosh
Long time employees pensions been cut in half? I've been at FedEx going on 35 years and am currently an hourly employee. My pension hasn't been cut at all. I will collect from 2 plans when I retire and lost nothing when the second was implemented. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else.
I have been a dedicated FedEx employee since 1986. I have also been the recipient of the FedEx PSP philosophy. FedEx has paid over 30,000 dollars for my Bachelors degree and I in turn have been a dedicated employee.I work in the Northeast and since FedEx is mostly non union(except for pilots)this becomes a heavy issue in my region. What did FedEx do when Aircraft maint employees complained about pay and other issues? Well they only made them the highest paid in the industry. Well this is still not enough for some people. Some people won't be happy until they are collecting their pay check sitting in their lazy boy with thier feet up.
Great interview Fred - BZ It was a lot like sitting down with you. Not as exciting as seeing you at our sales rallies, but much more personal. I feel great about you and the company, but after 8 years of being a sales rep, I may feel the good days of FedEx are behind me, and the leadership in my area is inempt and does not represent the PSP or the greatness of our company.
BZ Mr. Smith on the interview. 13 years next year with FedEx and glad to be here. Best company, best job and customer I have ever had.
Modern America is about 200-300 years old. It consists of Native Americans and immigrants who came to this country from all over. For most of them either high or low skill US has been like home. Most of these immigrants buy house and bank in US. Therefore, Mr. Max money stays in US. Mr. Profit Service People, Fred Smith is CEO of the company not your Math/Physics/English teacher. Our secondary education system is failing us. Look at the car we make in this country after 2-3 years the American cars break down. Look at the Honda or Toyota, even though I am an American I have to admit their cars are solid. As far as foreign workers concern, we take what we want and we reject what we do not want. Take a look most talented instructor at most of the college and universities, where do they come from. Outsiders do most of the low skill jobs in California. We use and abuse them I mean not just cooperates I mean the individuals either in the farm, restaurants, anything else you can come up with. Then we just cry and complain about. It reminds me of Old Rome. As an American, I am proud but I have to admit the fact. FedEx might not be the perfect company, but it is one the most well respected company in US and oversea. The people who work in the front line or customer service are American. They are one of the best I have seen. Therefore, Mr. PSP or Profit Service People do not try to get peopleâ??s head in the sand. If you have valid case about education, then take it to the people in charge of secondary education in US. Mr. Profit Service People wake up and smell the coffee. FedEx is a great company. Fred Smith is the Founder of the company.
Modern America is about 200-300 years old. It consists of Native Americans and immigrants who came to this country from all over. For most of them either high or low skill US has been like home. Most of these immigrants buy house and bank in US. Therefore, Mr. Max money stays in US. Mr. Profit Service People, Fred Smith is CEO of the company not your Math/Physics/English teacher. Our secondary education system is failing us. Look at the car we make in this country after 2-3 years the American cars break down. Look at the Honda or Toyota, even though I am an American I have to admit their cars are solid. As far as foreign workers concern, we take what we want and we reject what we do not want. Take a look most talented instructor at most of the college and universities, where do they come from. Outsiders do most of the low skill jobs in California. We use and abuse them I mean not just cooperates I mean the individuals either in the farm, restaurants, anything else you can come up with. Then we just cry and complain about. It reminds me of Old Rome. As an American, I am proud but I have to admit the fact. FedEx might not be the perfect company, but it is one the most well respected company in US and oversea. The people who work in the front line or customer service are American. They are one of the best I have seen. Therefore, Mr. PSP or Profit Service People do not try to get peopleâ??s head in the sand. If you have valid case about education, then take it to the people in charge of secondary education in US. Mr. Profit Service People wake up and smell the coffee. FedEx is a great company. Fred Smith is the Founder of the company.
Anyone who works for FedEx knows that PSP (People Service Profit) is formed in a circle. The three feed off of each other....so it doesnt matter if you place profit first or last. People (customers, employees) feed service which feeds profit. Profit feeds people which feeds service. Service feeds profit which feeds people....etc ect. FedEx is a great company to work for (23 years and counting)
Having worked for FedEx for 24 years, I was proud to hear Mr. Smith's thoughts on doing business in the 21st Century. We are writing the history books. The business and global situations we are facing never before existed, to this degree, and therefore require fresh approaches.
That inteveiw was very interesting... Fred Smith is a great man, i am proud to be a Fedex employee... the only thing i didn't like was that Cahrlie Rose kept asking Mr. Smith questions and then cutting him off.
As a 25 year old, six year employee of FedEx, I am proud to say I work for this company. FedEx provides stability for employees in a time of economic instability. Where else can someone fresh out of high school start off with a job that pays over $11 an hour with benefits in 90 days? Another thing, where else can people work and say that they are in no danger of being laid off? I started in the Hub at age 19, and took advantage of the opportunities for advancement given to me by the company and at age 23, I transferred out of the Hub to Customer Relations Support. People can badmouth FedEx and Mr. Smith all you want, but his creation has given me a chance to make something out of myself. I took advantage of tuition reimbursement to go to college and will be graduating on June 29th with my first degree. The bottom line is simple, you don't have to agree with his politics to know that his company has helped me and thousands of others who WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIVES!!! The key is drive, ambition, and devotion--which is what Mr. Smith embodies. While a lot of companies have just as many, if not more incentives than FedEx, stability is the greatest incentive of them all for me.
For PSP comment: Get with the times. Bush signed into congress that all companies now must be able to fully fund their entire pension each year. Can you name 5 companies that even fully funded employee pensions now? FedEx does take care of their employees! Has anyone been laid off in these times when oil prices have crippled companies and even made some close their doors. Did every employee get an increase in March? How many companies are giving yearly increases these days? Stop relying on a company to take care of your retirement and fund your own 401K. Wake up and smell the coffee!! This country is in serious trouble and FedEx is still taking care of their employees. Hopefully you dont work for FedEx and if you do then you shoul quit if you are that miserable!!
Profit Service People is the new saying at FedEx. FedEx just cut all long time employees pensions in half. That's right half! Thanks for taking care of your bottom line FedEx. A lot of employees don't talk about it because their heads are in the sand. The employees are the biggest part of the company's success and this is how they get paid back. FedEx is a great company to work for as long as you are in the upper 1% of the company. Thanks for stabbing us in the back!!! FedEx employees took a huge pay cut because they must put all their money in their 401K. American employees will never retire because pensions are gone and companies did not compensate enough to the 401Ks. Medical insurance is not affordable for retirees!!! Corporate greed is running our county... Americans are being sold out for profits from emerging markets. Wake up America!!! Front line employees are not motivated!! They just got ripped off. FedEx cashes in on highly educated foreign people because they work cheap!! Educate Americans and pay them the way they should be paid!!
Fred Smith is a true visionary and I'm proud to work for FedEx
WITH COMPANIES ACROSS AMERICA LAYING PEOPLE OFF FEDEX HAS NOT ONCE SINCE BEING A 11 YEAR EMPLOYEE DONE IT,FRED SMITH IS KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES,BRAVO
Excellent interview. Fred Smith has a truely <b>global</b> view of the economy and understands what it will take to thrive in the new world. FedEx is such a big company and yet so nimble and up-to-date on technology and world economy. I love working for FedEx and I Fred Smith is one of my favorite personalities. I think all the politicians in the US must pay close attention to Mr. Smith's views and take advice from him.
FOR MAX: Are you living in the 90's? The starting pay in the Memphis HUB is $11.55 per hr. including the best benefits around.
While I may not always agree with Mr. Smith's political views, I am fortunate to work for the company he founded. Mr. Smith is intelligent and innovative and truly cares about his employees.
Your interview with Fred Smith was excellent. It is my understanding in Mr. Smith's earlier years, he flew for Elvis Presley. The next time he is on your program, you should ask him about those experiences. I enjoy watching Charlie Rose.
FRED SMITH...What a man, what an idea, what his vision has done for me personally. Don't get me wrong, FedEx has issues like any other very large company, but what I have been able to achieve with almost 16 years under my belt would have never been possible without the groundwork that Mr. Smith laid down for this company. Customer service is the key to what this company has been able to achieve and that has only been possible because of the employees. FedEx does take care of it's people and gives back to the community. Thank You Fred...
First Point, "profit" is NOT a dirty word. Profit is necessary to pay the bills, including the payroll. Second Point, it is well known that if you are ex-military and have the gumption to ask for a job at FedEx Express, you will get one. If you are a non-serving Marine, and don't have a job at FedEx Express, it is because you are too lazy to apply for one and just need something to grouse about, or you can't pass the substance screening. And, the starting wage for part time employees in the MEM Hub is $8.50 per hour, with full medical insurance after 90 days, titution reimbursement, and many other benefits. See the First Point, above, to gain insight how FedEx can afford to do this. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Benefits and payroll cost money, that money comes from profit. If there are no profits, there will be fewer or no employees, making less or no wages, with less or no benefits. Last Point, I have never worked for a company owned or run by poor people. Hate the rich all you want, but they employ most of the wage earners in this country. Regardless of your opinion, the various governments in the United States, the U.S. Postal Service, and PBS can not employ every wage earner in the U.S. So, go ask poor people for a job, and be sure to let them know that you will not accept minimum wage, you want at least twice that. Oh, and health care benefits too. See how that works out for you. Fred Smith for years was the lowest paid CEO of the Fortune 100, he receives a lower salary than many elected officials and heads of charities. Profit is funneled into the company to pay wages and benefits. FedEx operated for over 20 years before ever paying a stock dividend. So moan and complain all you want about the rich and large corporations, but without Fred Smith and FedEx, over 200,000 employees would be unemployed or working somewhere else. With very few in better employment situations. And if you don't believe it, survey the 80% of front line and middle management in Hub Operations at FedEx Express in the MEM Hub who are not qualified to run a fry vat at McDonalds.
Being employed as a Manager at UPS for 24 years, I have since left to work for FedEx Ground. What a night and day difference in companies. Fed Ex understands how to take care of its employee's. Fred Smith is a visionary.
I don't think we have to choose between being a second rate power and investing in something other than our military. You've heard it before, but we have 5% of the world's population. Yet we do over 50% of the world military spending. Certainly we can shift some of this into initiatives that strengthen America from the inside out through education, efficiency and solidarity. Anything else will result in a hollow nations of guns and deficits.
You'd have to be living under a rock, not to know of all the positives that FedEx has done. I was a victim of Katrina and thanks to FedEx, I was able to maintain my dignity, provided with a place to stay, allowed to work at another facility and continue to provide for my family. FedEx accounted for all of it's employees during the storm, the same thing happened during 911. FedEx is an active supporter of United Way and March of Dimes. Now, I may not agree with his political views, but I certainy respect that a Republican regime will mirror his business endeavors. I think he is a brilliant man and is benevolent and fiercely loyal to his country. Anybody who questions that is not familiar with his bio.
May 23, 2008. Heart to Heart International Inc. and FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), will deliver the first private airlift of relief supplies to China following a massive earthquake in Sichuan Province. A FedEx MD-11 cargo plane carrying nearly 70 tons of humanitarian aid will depart Kansas City today at 2:20 p.m. (CDT). The cargo is valued at approximately $1.5 million (U.S. wholesale) FedEx Disaster Relief Update May 22, 2008 Myanmar and China FedEx is donating more than $300,000 in cash and $500,000 of in-kind shipping to support relief efforts in China and Myanmar. Just in the last week. The 2 donations above. FedEx definitely gives back. It also hosts a Golf Tournament for St. Judes every year. Just a few of the many donations.
There are a lot of negative comments about FedEx here, but as a FedEx employee, I can tell you that FedEx's People-Service-Profit philosophy does put its employees first - and FedEx definitely gives back to the community as a corporation, and we're encouraged as employees to give back, as well. We focus on local charities and issues and are very active in local school programs. Here are a couple of recent examples: FedEx Corp. has given a four-year grant totaling $1 million to Teach For America to support TFA's goals to grow in scale and diversity. Teach For America is a national corps of college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity for all children. Federal Express presented Valley Crest Elementary School (Salt Lake City) with a check for $10,000 Wednesday (4/9/08) to help the school improve safety conditions for child pedestrians. The money is expected to be used to redesign an inefficient parking lot at the school, which sits in the center of bustling development. Hopefully you also saw the comment about FedEx being the leading transportation company in the development and use of alternative fuel vehicles and having nearly completely replaced it's fleet of over 600 planes with more fuel-efficient jets. 99% of the FedEx Ground Couriers *wanted* to be in business for themselves, so FedEx continued that RPS model when we purchased their company. That was *their* choice - but of course you can't make everyone happy, so a few unhappy employees are possibly going to mess up the deal for the 99%. ...and in case you're wondering, I'm not a newbie at FedEx. I've been one of Fred's kids since the late 80's. FedEx is an awesome place to work because the employees are put first, so that they will have a positive attitude - and *want* to delight our customers and give back to the community. I worked at quite a few companies before I found FedEx - and I knew a great place to be when I found it!
I guess when you are pulling in a modest $6.17mill. it makes sense to abandon entitlement programs. Yeah what have the poor, the eldely, the disabled, the single mothers,the families that have economically destroyed by cancer or disease done for the bottom line of a corporation like Fedex?Yeah after all Fred Smith put in his four years in the marines, why should he care if his brother marines are homeless. Why should he care if his brother marines are committing suicide. It doesn't affect the bottom line of Fedex. Yeah I agree with you Fred Smith America would be alot better if we were all indentued slaves to corporations like yours.
I am a huge fan of the Charlie Rose Show. This particular program was of interest to me because Smith is in the real world of making ends meet. I am truly appalled by some of the comments by people who are viewers of PBS. Smith was probably the most informative guest Charlie has had in many years. I know the "Southern Drawl" and the fact this this guest was both a Marine and a man of commerce would turn off many PBS viewers. After reading some of the comments of Smith and Fed Ex...I now realize it is impossible to polish some turds. This guy created more jobs than 99% of the "self-rightous" people who appear "at" Charlie's table. But he is hated with passion by some. That is a real eye-opener. That also is very scary. Charlie is part of the best, and this is who watches? Holy smokes. Roy Fassel
Re: Fred Smith with FEDEX has had huge success with his copycat business after UPS. What is surprising to me is that a third company has not come along to dethrone both companies. Both UPS and FEDEX, now wholesaleing their services to big corporations, provide poor service in suburban areas and are derelict in rural areas like mine, The Mojave Desert. But more important, much more important, have they "given back" in any significant way? If they have, let's hear about it.
A great interview by Mr. Rose. In terms of Fred Smith view of free trade, the long term positives only benefit the people on top of the global value chain. Generalized statements of "everyone wins" are for those who are naive about the global economy. @ the end, the winners take all.
Great interview with one of the most important business pioneers of the 20th century. Yes, FedEx is facing lawsuits - from employees who would rather use a lawyer to make money rather than working hard. FedEx is also the leading transportation company in the development and use of alternative fuel vehicles and has nearly completely replaced it's fleet of over 600 planes with more fuel-efficient jets. How many of you cry-baby liberals who hate big business are ordering your crap online and waiting for the FedEx truck to bring you your new hiking boots or cell phone?
Brilliant... It is too bad really successful businessmen do not usually make the best politicians, but if we could have political leaders that are as effective in their craft as the Fred Smiths of this world we would not be having worries regarding America's place in the world, regardless of how rapidly other parts of the world are growing. No matter what hand one is dealt, some ways of playing it are better than others. The whole world lost a lot in the way this one was played. We desperately need men and women with 'balls' and brains, who are not cowed by the likes of any of these well-known adversaries. If a nation is not confident enough to talk to the likes of Ahmadinejad, I do not see how it can instill enough confidence on the part of the other countries to accept it as their leader. We need leaders with enough self-confidence to engage adversaries, including sitting down and talking with them, without fear; leaders who are not wussy or self-doubting to the point of being paralyzed and rendered impotent by their vanity, or specious arguments about appearances (of moral equivalence). Too much is at stake for such prepubescent vanities. Sometimes we become childlike as we ageâ?¦ however, most of us do not really want to go back to the world of our childhood: be it the 30s, 40s or the period of the cold war. We want bold, forward-thinking, inclusive leadership that builds the world and mankind up, rather than dragging it into the gutter of endless war so characteristic of European history before the advent of the EU. Fixation on saber-rattling, hunting a la Hagee, or bombing other people's children only breeds a desire for a deterrent on the part of others. We would do the same. In fact, we are, given our current WMD modernization programs and the quest for missile defense systems. Exhaust talking first; it is far cheaper than a single tomahawk missile. Talk indeed, but listen also; we often forget to do the latter. There are enough bright people in the USA and the west to chart a more intelligent course than some of the degenerate prescriptions peddled by neocons. We are perfectly capable of talking or communicating - Fredâ??s company is a top performer, including producing some of the best ads on TV, to the point that people around the world say 'can you fedex that to me' even when a competitor is used... in the same manner that everyone understands what to google is, even if a different search engine is used. We just need political leaders who are just as effective in harnessing American creativity, innovation, marketing, etc., in the political arena to find solutions to some of the challenges we face.
I am a huge fan of the show and watch you religiously, but your May 23rd show, holding up Fred Smith as an example of greatness and a potential national leader rang hollow. In your interview with Smith he attributed his success in business to learning from his service in the Marine Corps and how he greatly he valued that experience. He said that the Marine Corps distinguishes itself from the other military services by watching out for the â??front line troopsâ??, that the Marine Corps by focusing on and adhering to a bottom up culture taught him important lessons he brought to building a business. He claims to have brought this example of looking out for the little guy to building Fedex. However, I wonder if you are aware of the way Mr. Smith and Fedex actually structure their relationships with employees. There are numerous news reports about lawsuits brought by the Fedex Express and Fedex Ground drivers being classified as â??independent contractorsâ?? to the great advantage of the company. According to the company, this strategy provides an opportunity for drivers to own their routes and handle their work as entrepreneurs, earning as much as $ 80,000.00 per year. However, the cost advantages to Fedex of reporting driver wages on 1099 forms rather than W-2 forms, (through not paying employment, social security, or Medicare taxes to the government), requiring drivers to own their trucks by lease/purchasing from the company and pay for all associated expenses related to covering a particular delivery route are the real issue. This has led to sour relations with their drivers and in the case of an unforeseen medical problem or personal setback, the worker is out of a job and afforded no company benefits. This piece is from the New York Times about a driver that lost everything because of cancer, who when she requested a leave of absence to fight the disease, was instead terminated. http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080420/ZNYT01/804200771/1537 And also take a look at this article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as an example of what I describe generally, as lawsuits work their way through the courts (with Fedex generally losing). http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=751792 For all the claims of his influence as a respected business leader in the country, and potential for possibly running the Pentagon should McCain win the Presidency that came through in your interview, in the spirit of fair play and equal time, I would suggest that you provide your viewers with the other side of the story
This was one of the best and BRIGHTEST interviewed by Charlie Rose in a long time. I agreed with virtually everything he said, except about talking with the head of Iran. Charlie Rose tried to intimidate him to question his views and getting Mr. Smith to agree with him. He was partially successful as we all saw. Smith was against, yet FOR talking at the highest level. He and Charlie know (and admitted) that the US has been talking to Iran (and Syria) at lower levels, most especially about Iraq. I ask, what will be gained, will Ahmed and the mullahs stop their very inflammatory and scary rhetoric, considering Iran and Israel (and the US) have never fought one another)? The US AND the world community are against Iran having nukes. Iran doesn't need nuclear power, with it's vast reserves of oil. No oil exporter needs nuclear power. Iran has turned down Russia's offer of enriched uranium. It's excuse is pure b.s. When the British official spoke to Hitler..(and they were cordial and friendly to one another), Britain legitimized Hitler's Reich and ultimate goal of creating a "New World Order". Over 70m people were killed, hundreds of millions injured and entire countries raped in the process. Hitler's plans were to kill off the minority Slavs, Russians, Jews and blacks, among others AND to enslave much of the remaining world to allow for the expansion of Germanic speaking peoples and their Aryan supporters. Hitler planned to attack the United States eventually using long range bombers..and rockets. There is a similarity between Hitler and Ahmed. Both warned they would destroy the Jewish people..and one almost succeeded. Ahmed's goose stepping Revolutionary Guards say it all. Shihad Missiles paraded in Tehran, all will be aimed at Tel Aviv, US forces in Iraq, our fleet in the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and parts of Europe. Charlie Rose is wrong when he minimizes Iran's power. Once nuclear, a few bombs can achieve for Ahmed, what it took 6 years for Hitler. That is the menace of Iran..as well as supplying terrorist cells with nuclear components., which will put every American city in danger. One nuclear explosion in New York City will kill more Americans in 1 minute than all the years of fighting Japan and German and their allies. What is to be gained I ask of "Talking" to Iran, UNLESS they specifically stop their threats, stop arming Hezbollah and Hamas, AND most importantly stop their enrichment of uranium. Does Charlie Rose really believe that talking will somehow convince Iran to stop it's pursuit? Somehow I don't believe he is that naive. We know that he has given a forum in the past to the UN Iranian ambassador and others with whom we (US) disagree strongly and do not recognize. It seems to me that he has an agenda, which, if he were to succeed, will lead to a far worse situation for everyone., including FedEx. It's one thing for Mr. Smith to talk about world trade, economics, and the business climate., quite another to make (through the use of this program) foreign policy for the U.S.
This was the first time in a very long time I heard anyone dare to say something positive about George W. Bush. Bush's alleged contributions to America and humanity can easily be shoved under the rug, can't they, given the degree to which the world has collapsed under his "leadership"? Mr. Smith would have done better to hold his tongue. Smith's sanguine opinion of Mr. McCain was also absurd.
I agreed with everything Fred Smith had to say. However, I doubt most PBS listeners are on the same page with Mr. Smith. It is just the nature of the type of listener that PBS draws.
Charlie, you asked Fred Smith what is wrong with talking to our enemies and bad actors like Iran. What's wrong with that? I'm not certain that Mr. Smith gave you a good reply. The problem for Barack Obama is that he represents high level talks between heads of state rather casually, like a chat over drinks. He's too young to remember the tremendous excitement of the summit meetings between Soviet premiers and American presidents. when the fate of the world was at stake. If you're going to stroll into high level talks without preconditions, you must also have low expectations. I'm not sure that Mr. Obama understands that. I enjoyed your interview with Fred Smith.
Excellent interview, but i was dissapointed that Charlie Rose and Fred Smith didn't discuss the global energy market and the role of Fedex in the contribution to pollution and golobal warming. I understand it shouldn't be the main topic of the converstation but it is still an impotrant point within the Fedex structure just an observation. I'm an engineering student at Berkeley just turned 19, an occasional viewer of Charlie Rose show. I hope other people had this point cross their minds for the sake of me and my generation. Thanks for the inspriratiol alternative subject matter. -Nick H -nickhembree@gmail.com
Not having a cap set on payroll tax would result in strengthening social security benefits. Mr. Smith sees an erosion or lowering of benefits and certainly would never offer an equal percentage of payment into Social Security by all. Though he founded and runs a fantastic company, he does not appear to want to play fair on this issue.
charlie rose and fred smith agree that visas should be more easily available to foreign talent. Why not build a domestic talent pool (raising living standards, reducing unemployment) and let foreign doctors, engineers,IT personnel nurture their own native economies? Their countries of origin,which have subsidized their education and training, are equally desperate to retain skilled labour. If emerging nations could thus raise their own standard of living, their citizens would not need/want to leave in order to access a better life. Easing entry requirements helps American corporations but does it help people?
The US as a second rate power may be the only thing that saves our arrogant ass down the road. Humility and diplomacy might open new vistas. Hope we try it.
Well, free-trade would be attractive to someone whose business is based on transportation, whether it really is good for the world or the ppl in it, or not. Company, for him, apparently, equals country. If the 3rd world needed to be able to work at a pittance for the 1st and 2nd worlds to advance, it doesn't say very much for our consideration of them even so. FedEx not only doubles the amount of pollution a single postal system would produce, it skims USPS business making a two-tier postal service. Would a two-tier health care system be as good? A two-tiered education system? Laissez-faire is also not conducive to technological innovation. Good treatment of employees is, but I suspect they don't make nearly as much as he does. The problem with Adam Smith's idea is that on the one hand specialization is supposed to increase innovation, but, on the other he knew it would make men narrow-minded and feckless, so he felt it necessary to offer several remedies for it, one of which was education. And in practice we see it leading to re-feudalization rather than diversity, or to a diversity increasingly removed from real needs and the common good, more like a pyramid-scheme than J B Say. I think the present Mr Smith should, also, take a look at other higher education systems, before repeating cliches about ours, and, besides, draining students away from their own countries does nothing to help the latter, with whom we presumably want to trade. Or is it that we just want their raw materials?