The Power of a Note(II)
What does it take to write letters that lift spirits and warm hearts? Only a willingness to express our appreciation. The most successful practitioners include what I call the four ”S’s” of not writing.
1) they are sincere. No one wants false praise.
2) They are usually short. If you can’t say what you want to say in three sentences, you’re probably straining.
3) They are specific. Complimenting a business colleague by telling him “good speech” is too vague; “great story about Warren Buffet’s investment strategy” is precise.
4) They are spontaneous. This gives them the freshness and enthusiasm that will linger in the reader’s mind long afterward.
It’s difficult to be spontaneous when you have to hunt for letter-writing materials, so I keep paper, envelopes and stamps close at had, even when I travel. Fancy stationery isn’t necessary; it’s the thought that counts.
So, who around you deserves a note of thanks or approval? A neighbor, your librarian, a relative
, your mayor, your mate, a teacher, your doctor? You don’t need to be poetic. If you need a reason, look for milestone, the anniversary of a special event you shared, or a birthday or holiday. For the last 25 years, for example, I’ve prepared an annual Christmas letter for long-distance friends, and I often add a hand-written word of thanks or congratulations. Acknowledging some success or good fortune that has happened during the year seems particularly appropriate considering the spirit of the Christmas season.
Be generous with your praise. Superlatives like “greatest” “smartest” “prettiest” make us all feel good. Even if your praise is a little ahead of reality, remember that expectations are often the parents of drams fulfilled.
Today I got a warm, complimentary letter from my old boss and mentor, Norman Vincent Pearle. His little note to me was full of uplifting phrases, and it sent me to my type-writer to compose a few overdue letters of my own. I don’t know if they will make anybody else’s day, but they made mine. As my friend Don Wolfe sad, making others feel good about themselves makes me feel good too.