Joel, why are thank you notes so important?

Thank you notes are one of the little things that so few people take the time to do! Their importance was made clear to me years ago when I received a letter from someone who had attended one of my seminars for Dean Witter, Ross Hawkins. Ross heard me talk about the importance of writing thank you notes, and he decided to put the idea into action. He began writing notes to clients, friends and associates. He was amazed to find how much they were appreciated, though they took him only minutes to prepare. One of the notes he wrote was to his own father, telling him how much he appreciated him. It was only a few months later that his father suddenly passed away. Ross was unable to be at his side at the final moment, but he found comfort in knowing that his dad had indeed received his thank you note, before it was too late! Soon after I received that letter from Ross, I began writing many more thank you notes myself. Among others, I wrote to my own mother. In fact, I made it a point to write her a note on a postcard every time I travelled out of town, which in my work is about once every week. Just a quick “Hi Mom, I’m in Atlanta. Thinking of you. Love, Joel.” Often I’d be back home and already have visited my mom before the postcard got there, but it didn’t matter. I knew she enjoyed receiving them.

When my mom passed away unexpectedly years later, Judy and I went over to her home to pack up her things. We were surprised to find an old shoebox in one of the kitchen cabinets. And inside was, you guessed it, all the postcards I had been sending her all those many years. She had saved every one!

It’s such a little thing, but remember, it’s the little things that really make the difference! Once again, I was reminded of the importance of this “little thing” when I received the following letter: “Dear Joel, My name is Sam Ball. I attended your seminar on Coyote Power. My one best AH-HA was to write thank you notes to loved ones, so the next day after the seminar I went into the gift shop at the hotel, purchased some stationery and stamps, and sat down and wrote a letter to my grandmother. She was 89 years old at that time. I then took your idea and made it a habit to write to her anytime I was out of town on business. She thoroughly enjoyed my letters. “As time went on she had to move into a nursing home. I then started to write to her every Monday morning, until she died at the age of 91. I just wanted to thank you, because I not only became much closer to my grandmother, but I made her last few years on earth much happier ones. I also never felt better about myself! Joel, I will continue to write letters to friends and loved ones, thanks to you and your words of encouragement. I also use this principle in my business relationships and it has helped those relationships as well. Sincerely, Sam Ball.”