Gratitude


The power of a Thank You Card

The power of a Thank You Card

Expertise and Professionalism – sometimes they’re just not enough, but a Thank You Card can really make the difference.

Not long ago I met Eric. Eric is an up and coming young chartered accountant who has recently branched out on his own. He is at the stage of development and growth where he has enough clients to make it all worthwhile and risk moving into better premises and looking more professional, but with one little problem. You see, he had picked up the vibe that one of his key client companies, a partnership actually, were looking at other pastures so to speak.

His real problem had been that while their relationship had always been amenable, there has always been an undertow of tension and coldness, probably due to differences in their personalities. He knew they were happy with his expertise and professionalism but they just didn’t seem to gel.

Eric had learnt that one of the partners had a birthday coming up, and so with a little prompting from me, he sent him a birthday card and to the other partner, a thank you card, simply saying that he valued their association and having them as clients.

And remember, at this critical juncture, he couldn’t really afford to be losing any clients.

A few days later he got a call from the birthday partner thanking him for his birthday card and acknowledging the thank you card, and also how much they appreciated getting them. Things seemed to be improving.

Thank You Card

Well. At the next scheduled meeting with his clients, Eric was quite taken aback. What had happened here? They were most welcoming; he was greeted with a firm, warm and friendly handshake. He was then told how he was the only person outside of family that had acknowledged the partners birthday. Even his business partner had forgotten until he saw him opening his card.

They also thanked him for his gratitude and the thank you card. They told him they had been looking around for another firm to work with, but they now wanted to stay put. Wow, a little card, expressing a little bit of thanks saved a valuable client and built a stronger relationship. More than worth the effort I’d say! Wouldn’t you?   

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Ron and Sue

Good Luck – Could Gratitude be the key to good luck?

Is there more to success than just good luck?

Could Gratitude be the key to good luck?

In town, there lives a man who is very well known in the community. He is a community leader, has a successful business and he has been married for over forty years to his beautiful and only wife. He has a family who love and respect him and actually like to spend time with him. He gives generously of his time and money. Many say his success is due to good luck.  

He believes he is extremely fortunate and that life and God have looked after him very well, so he says that he likes to give back and he does this all the time and he does it well, he doesn’t hold back.

He has a little weakness though; he loves to buy raffle tickets. When he buys them he doesn’t buy just one or two, he’ll buy 20 or 30 or he’ll buy the book. Now, this is important, so take note, he doesn’t buy that many to improve his chances of winning, he really doesn’t care whether he wins or not, he doesn’t do it to big note himself or show-off, NO, instead he buys them to support the cause, it’s to pay back, to express his appreciation and as an active demonstration of his gratitude.  (more…)

Ron and Sue

Is Gratitude Important to Success in Business?

Is Gratitude Important to success?

I am currently reading a book all about Gratitude. It has a simple title “Gratitude” however it shares several authors, all women and I suspect it was written with women as its prime audience. I am about three quarters of the way through and thoroughly enjoying every word of it. Each of them contributes to each chapter by taking look at different ways of applying gratitude and the difference it has made in their lives and by extension how it affects our lives and outcomes.

In all of their stories, built on their real life experiences there is the compelling theme that the degree of your gratitude determines the extent to which your life works for the best. Not surprisingly, reducing our level of gratitude seems to carry us in the opposite direction.

Even in the hard times, it is worthwhile seeking out some little thing to be grateful for. For it seems that this very act has a way of blossoming, bringing in some light and a more positive outlook that leads to a better outcome. Life begins to work again.

Throughout my business career I have made it a point to do my best to live with gratitude, not only in the good times, but also during the hard times. During my time as a sales trainer and currently as a marketing consultant, I have valued the virtues of gratitude and its contribution to success.Is gratitude important to success?

Gratitude is an extension of the golden rule and is governed by the law of cause and effect, meaning the more you give it out – the more you get an equivalent in return.

Gratitude, deeply felt and expressed has a magic quality of bringing more joy into your life and business activities. It contributes to and builds your self-worth. It generally increases your profit.

What a marvellous way to run a business! In fact nearly all of the great sales trainers and marketing and business consultants have expressed the need for gratitude in running any successful enterprise. They have encouraged the use of thank-you notes and cards and other means to actively convey your gratitude.

A study of the great men and women of business and society will reveal a deep level of gratitude in their lives and a desire to make it known.

So, Is Gratitude Important to success? I’ll let you be the judge.

Ron and Sue