Changing How the World Does Business

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30 People Are the Wind beneath Our Wings

Federal Express was not just a good idea—it was and still is about dedicated people. The company was conceived and guided by Fred Smith, nurtured by an entrepreneurial management team that established its form and structure, and nursed into being by dedicated employees. All of us struggled to help the company grow. We nudged it along with love, enthusiasm, passion, excitement, and strength of will. During the formative years, the organization was fortunate to have an exceptional management team—but the real force behind Federal’s success then and now is the passionate, tireless, resourceful, innovative, motivated, and never-say-die employees who support the managers.

As we struggled through the early ...