Procrastination sucks. But, it still happens to me sometimes.
It was Friday and I had to throw together some last minute signage for a trade show on Saturday. Usually Kinkos can turn small jobs around in the same day. So imagine my surprise when the employee said we “MAY be able to have it finished today”.
Oh crap…. I was in shock. I explained to the lady that I have a show tomorrow. I gave her my version of the pathetic Puss in Boots face from Shrek #2. That didn’t work, apparently this wasn’t her first rodeo.
Should I storm out and go to OfficeMax or Staples. Or maybe just slap her like Leona Helmsley and tell her that it needs to be finished today! In the end, I did what I call “leaving it up to the universe”. It’s my fault I’m in this mess so what’s meant to be will be.
My signs were finished that day and everything was peachy. The next week I sent the lady that did my signs a thank you card and she called me. I missed her call but she left an emotional message and said no one had ever given her a thank you card before.
My first thought, I was touched beyond words that she took the time to call me for something as simple as a card. My second thought was, WTF? No one has sent her a thank you card before?
After being a little appalled I was happy I sent her the card. I’m also happy I read a book by Tommy Wyatt and Curtis Lewsey called Appreciation Marketing. The book is about sending gratitude via cards, letters, and hand-written notes. You can send texts and emails too but the physical thank you’s are more fun for me because they’re more rare.
Appreciation marketing changed so many things in my life. For starters I now receive thank you’s all the time. I remember one time I sent a thank you card to a restaurant and I got free food. Twice. The owner was just so excited.
Keep in mind I don’t give to receive but it’s crazy to see how much gratitude you get back when you send it out regularly.
Try it for 10 days! Go to Walgreens or a craft store and buy a pack of cards and envelopes, and a book of stamps, or use a card sending service like Send Out Cards. Send a thank you card everyday for 10 days. Write your clients, your parents, family, the businesses you frequent, or old elementary school teachers.
Just send gratitude. No inserting business cards, or talk about how you want referrals or any of that.
Just watch how your life is affected just as much as the person receiving your thank you.
Adam
P.S. Here’s a link to the book: https://www.amazon.com/Appreciation-Marketing-Achieve-Greatness-Gratitude/dp/1936677075