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Handwritten card, What Is Old May Be New Again

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Allison James Estates & Homes 3225912

It’s Monday morning. There’s no time to talk, it’s time to get to work. Of course the first thing I do is jump on my phone, check the news, social media, reply to texts, and listen to my voicemail during my morning walk.

I can hear the noise of the newest post from a coworker, see that someone checked into Starbucks, receive a “Like” from my Mother, a message from a vendor. Completely and utterly surrounded by technology and updates from the entire world.

An hour has passed, and I have not even taken my eyes off the screen. I sit in my office with a headset, 3 computer screens, an iPad, and my phone. Everything is technology based with no personal touch. No paper, no pen, no pencil. We don’t use these things anymore… “why bother”, some may wonder. I guess this is why they call us “The Millennials”.

I receive tons of mail every day. Cookie cutter direct mailers with perfect print typing and a generic stamp. I don’t even pay attention to these and I rarely open them before they hit the shred bin. They’re generic as can be and clearly a solicitation of some sort.  It’s not my Birthday, it’s not Christmas, and I don’t have a fan club (yet), why would someone mail me something?

Today was different; I noticed a handwritten card in the stack of the usual “junk mail.” In today’s world, it’s a nostalgic rarity to receive a personal letter or card. There’s something magical about imperfect handwriting, a unique stamp, and wet ink. The idea that someone took time out of their day to think of me; sit down at a desk, write on paper, and stuff an envelope is heartwarming. I also feel I owe a duty of respect to read, understand, and connect with the message within this letter.

After reading the card twice, I immediately began looking around my office for the perfect spot to display this card.  This kind gesture had just made my day; I felt like I won a trophy or an award.

Handwritten notes are time consuming and all but “outdated.” They have been replaced by the convenience and cost effectiveness of technology. Being an owner of a modern Real Estate Brokerage, I am constantly surrounded by technology.  It’s easy to become overwhelmed with trying to stay up to date on the latest and greatest tools, apps, and systems “to get you more leads”.

At the end of the day, there is no replacement for an old fashioned handwritten card. It can make such a big impact to the people around us; clients, coworkers, family and friends alike.

Next time you go to send an email, ask yourself if mailing a personal card would be relevant to the situation. You may find yourself thinking “I don’t have time.”  What a good excuse to get out of a task! The reality is, it takes less than 5 minutes to write a card.  The hardest task is purchasing the stamps and cards.

You don’t need to be tech savvy to make an impact in the real estate industry. Sometimes we need to go back to our roots. What is old may be new again.

Dig up a card, find a pen, and make a difference. It may end up on someone’s refrigerator, displayed over a fireplace mantle, on a desk, or even kept in a cute shoe box full of sentimental items for years to come.

 

http://ajiuniversity.com/2016/03/30/what-is-old-may-be-new-again/

Comments (1)

Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Jessica Crumbaugh These is much to be said about using hand-written cards as a medium to capture the attention of the addresee. Good post!

Mar 31, 2016 03:07 AM