HandwrittenThanks.com

This advice to graduating college students by Jennifer M. Hinkel, Focus Editor, could server us all well. Ms. Hinkel says, “Writing a thank-you note may be a lost art to some college students… Write thank-you notes early and often, whether you are starting out in your job search or nourishing new contacts and finding new clients. Thanking everyone along the way in a prompt and proper fashion is a simple way to demonstrate business etiquette, show your gratitude in a tangible manner and make yourself stand out from the rest of the competitive masses.” See the whole article.

So easy to overlook, yet it’s the little things that produce the greatest return on investment (ROI.)

You don’t have to have a big budget to stand out above your competition and show you care about your customers.

It’s actually easy, because customers don’t expect to be treated well. We’re so used to being on hold with customer service lines and getting the third degree when we want to return an item, that something as simple as an unexpected greeting card thanking them for their business can mean so much and keep them coming back.

Simple touches can make you, your product, and service stand out:

• Send a “handwritten thanks for your order” greeting card
• Include a gift (it doesn’t have to be expensive, but don’t give them junk!)
• Take a photo of you and your staff and put on the card

Today, competition is fierce. It’s suicidal to only try to compete by offering the lowest prices in your industry. It so much easier and effective to set yourself apart from everyone else with a personalized “handwritten” thank you note. By doing these simple things, you will turn one time customers into a customer for life! And you don’t have to be the cheapest in the industry!

The Guinness Book of World Records says Joe Girard sold more cars for 12 consecutive years on a 1-on-1 basis than anyone else. His secret - nearly 13,000 handwritten greeting cards per month to his customers, celebrating anything from Halloween to Groundhog Day.

Tom Hopkins following his mother’s example of simple acts of gratitude began his career sending 10 handwritten thank you notes every day resulting in a 100% referral real estate business.

I’m not going to promise that you’ll get in the Guinness Book, or sell more than Tom Hopkins by sending out handwritten thank you notes. But, it seems like a good idea.

Tags: handwritten notes, Joe Girard, Tom Hopkins

Maharshi Bala Brahmachari Mahesh Yogi Maharaj
(January 12, 1917 - February 5, 2008)
of
Uttar Kasi, Himalayas
the Great Spiritual Development Conference of Kerala
October, 1955

Bal Brhmachari Mahsh
later known as
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
November 20, 1955

Oh ye of the peaceless and suffering humanity!

My happiness desires to root out your suffering. Will you extend your arms and allow me to lift you up from the mire of misery and peacelessness?

Come on, here is the call of peace and joy for you. Here is an invitation, a cordial invitation for you all to come and enjoy the Blissful Grace and All Powerful Blessings of my Lord the Great Swami Brahmanand Saraswati, the Great among the greats of the Himalayas. I have found a treasure in the Dust of His Lotus Feet and now I invite you to share it with me and make yourself happy.

Come on; I invite you to get into the Blissful Realm of His Universal Benevolence. See, the path is straight and entry is free. Come on with faith and you will find that the very cause of your peacelessness and misery will be eradicated and you will be adorned with lasting peace and real happiness in your day to day life.

Feel not disappointment in life and shirk not from your responsibilities in despair. Whatever are your circumstances, rich or poor, if you are not in peace and if you want peace and happiness, come on with faith and you will have it. Here is the message of hope for you. Here is the Divine Call of rescue for you. Peace and joy of living await you. Do not reject it. Come on and have it.

The sun of Guru Deva’s Blessings is now upon the horizon. Wake up from the deep slumber of apathy and agony and enjoy all glories of life material and divine.

Bal Brahmachari Maharishi
20.11.55

This is the begining of HandwrittenThanks.com. I’m starting this blog to talk about:

• the power of the handwritten note that you might leave on the mirror for someone special in your life
• the power of a heart felt card you send to someone who needs to hear from you
• the power of the handwritten greeting card to a friend, a customer, or anyone in your life; and
• the constant struggle I have between using a handwritten organization system vs. my computerized approaches

It’s about the struggle between using technology vs. pencil and paper and how it affects our lives. It’s about compromise. It’s about finding balance. It’s about finding the right balance of technology and the tactile world of a fountain pen, mechanical pencil, high quality paper, gum erasers, and ink stained shirt pockets.

As I begin this blog today, this exploration today, I don’t expect to find the perfect solution for all or even the perfect end all solution for me. I’ve been on this search for a long time now and my path is cluttered with attempts to get organized. As I look into my rear view mirror at the path behind me I see pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, Palm Pilots, digitizing pens, custom created software solutions in R:Base, Dbase, Lotus 1-2-3, Franklin Planners, and on, and on, beyond the horizon behind me…

It would be folly for me to assume that I am going to find the Holy Grail that works for me in every case, forever and ever.

My intention in this blog is to share some of my experiences, what I’ve learned, and wish I’d learned. I hope you enjoy and become a part of this community I’m hoping to create.

Welcome!

Tags: handwritten notes