Send a letter. Postcards from Cuba

I love to get mail. The other day I got this postcard from my niece who was on one of the first cruise ships to visit Cuba after travel restrictions were lifted. Today I got a letter in the mail this afternoon from my daughter who is off at college. There is nothing like getting a hand-written, addressed, and stamped letter that someone took the time and the effort to send to you. Emails, texts and the like may be immediate, but there is a greater sense of permanence to the physical that gets stronger even as it becomes rarer.

In business, a hand-written thank you note to a prospective customer or a newly established contact in your network makes you less forgettable. If you are interviewing, it makes you stand out from other applicants and may help some minor hiccups fade away. I know there have been several occasions where I had a follow up interview with an applicant largely because I received a personal thank you note in the mail a couple of days later.

For family and friends, it’s a nice, completely out of the blue reminder to someone that you are thinking about them. This is especially true for our older generations who, even though they may be very comfortable with current technology, still enjoy receiving a postcard or letter in the mail. Several years ago I started sending postcards to homebound members at our church when I traveled for work. I would regularly get notes and comments from them or their family members, even the ones who weren’t able to take calls or visitors. And of course, a condolence card is always appropriate. I received dozens when mom passed away and I still have them and look at them from time to time.

So write a card or a letter. It just takes a few minutes. It will make you more memorable, you’ll feel good when you drop it in the mailbox, and it’s sure to brighten a day on the other end.

#sendaletter