handwritten thank you's
Nobody writes them anymore.
That's why they work.
A rare format stands out in a sea of the same.
Three per week.
Send them on the same day like clockwork.
Put a reminder in your calendar.
Four sentences.
- Thank someone for the thing they did.
- Tell them one detail about how it went or what it meant.
- Mention one new thing you're up to.
- Sign it with your name and phone number.
What to Include
A physical card or a postcard.
Write in pen.
Blue or black.
Don't type it.
Your handwriting is the point.
Address it by hand.
Stamp it yourself.
Drop it in a mailbox.
Why This Works
Kindness comes back.
When someone does something for you and you write them a thank-you, their brain files you under "people who remember."
That file gets opened the next time a slot opens up.
Scarcity of medium multiplies it.
In a world of email, a handwritten note stands out.
It gets shown to coworkers.
It sits on the desk.
It goes on the fridge.
It becomes a small story they tell about you.
You're not buying goodwill.
You're investing in real relationships.
The next time your name crosses their desk, they remember the note before they remember anything else.
The Execution
Buy a pack of cards this week.
Stamps too.
Pull out your calendar.
Find three names from the last thirty days worth thanking.
Write them Sunday night.
Mail them Monday.
Do it again next month.
Twelve months from now, you'll have 156 people in the industry who remember you as someone different from everyone else.