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posts made in August 2012
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The other day I went back-to-school-shopping with my seven and eight year-olds. While I think they were happy to get cool new sneakers, their enthusiasm faded as we moved towards school supplies like folders, paper, pens and pencils. It didn’t take long before I could see the look of “Can we just get this over with?” written on their faces.
First, you start with one part Communications with an equal part of Marketing. Next you follow that by adding a heaping of Information Technology (IT), a dash of Human Resources and Customer Service. Then you top it off with some Finance and Operations. You mix all the ingredients together and voilà you have a social business blend. Of course, ingredients and the amounts can vary depending upon the company.
 At FedEx, every shipment has its own unique story. It could be someone’s wedding gown, life-saving medical supplies…and sometimes, a bear! Earlier this month, I was privileged to be part of the team that rescued a black bear-grizzly hybrid named “Ben.” As a relatively new FedEx team member, I’d heard the many stories of how FedEx had helped rescue abused animals from deplorable conditions. Now, I had the chance to help give Ben a quality of life he had never before experienced.
Our customers’ expectations and needs evolve constantly, and so must we. The Roman statesman Marcus Aurelius summed it up best: “Nothing happens without change.” That’s why our operating companies relentlessly adjust their networks to meet traffic flows and levels. Each network is discrete so it can optimize its business without compromise. Hence our competitive advantage of speed and flexibility: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight are superior networks with industry-leading service levels. Superior networks translate into superior solutions for customers. That’s real value.
Texans are known for being fiercely independent. That sort of self-sufficiency comes naturally for a state as large as all of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois combined. But with all bragging aside, we Texans know a thing or two about self-reliance, especially when it comes to our land.
I’m proud to announce that this is the 37th year that FedEx has been involved with the United Way organization. We continue to grow our involvement every year. Whether it’s loaning team members to United Way organizations, making corporate contributions or raising awareness of United Way activities, United Way and FedEx have a long and rich history.
Parents are packing their students’ belongings and preparing to send them off to college. It is a time of mixed emotions. The excitement of stocking their new dorm room with linens, towels, lamps, hangers, and even a mini-fridge is likely in contrast with knowing that a season in your family’s life is ending. It is certainly a time for reflection and thought. Some of this “thought” should be towards packing up what is now a standard issue item for college students: a notebook (laptop) computer.
 When I was in college, my very first program in my Fortran computer programming class was done with punched card readers. For young readers, this was a device wherein the programmer sat at the machine, typed out each line of code on a single punched paper card, assembled the many cards in their proper order, and ran them through the compiler for the computer. And, then, did it again. And, maybe again.
 The long-term future for global trade remains solid, and we are committed to providing solutions for businesses — large and small — to effectively compete in this important market.
While summer break may be too short for many students, the end of summer is a welcome change for retailers eager to learn whether students “hitting the books” will result in more parents hitting the store aisles. In line with a general slowdown that occurs during the restful summer months, economic activity also feels a “summer pause,” a “quiet” that can be as loud and jarring as fingers on a chalkboard for many retailers. Fortunately for them, the early back-to-school predictions could mean good marks in their future sales logs.
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