Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thankfulness is indeed a virtue. William Bennett (1943-)
In these days of the instant message, Twitter, email and Facebook, there are those of us who still value the handwritten letter or note. The handwritten note has tremendous value over the simple emoji used in an instant message. To receive a letter or note is as important to the writer as it is for the recipient who receives the note. It is the physical element of communication that bonds the two.
For me I invested in my own personal fold over note cards. Over the years, I have noticed that men generally go for a flat card with name at the top. You will see the purpose of the fold over card. If you are creating your own I recommend a simple logo or name on the front and blank inside. I have invested into my own cards to reflect the brand of my company. If you prefer to purchase a card, keep to a brand or style. That could then be part of your own brand. I view the note card as a valuable asset. In history, paper was viewed as an expensive commodity. Therefore receiving a note was an important line of communication. In our world of throw away consumables, there is a lasting quality of the personal note.
The act of writing a note, the carving out time to focus writing to someone is a practice long in history. Famous writers throughout history knew the importance of the personal note. Being present in what you want to convey to your audience it important. An idea to help you along is to shut out any distracts, organize your thoughts and having a special pen will assist you with your writing.
To a beginner note writer the task of writing a letter may seem daunting. The blank sheet is the problem for writers and artists throughout the world. A recent article by Liz Ryan of Forbes writes a great article on writing a thank you letter or note after an interview. This will help with the structure of your note.
Additional recommendations are form me: I recommend the fold over card. The recipient may want to display the card on their desk. Flat cards may just go back into the envelope. I will recommend writing only on the lower half of the sheet. You want to thank someone for their time, mentorship or what have you, but you need to be aware of their busy schedule. Keep it simple. (I will not add the last “s” acronym mnemonic) If you have anxiety in gathering your thoughts, practice on a throw away sheet.
If you do screw up, just use one strike through the error. The note is to convey your gratitude toward this person, not to be perfect bit of calligraphy. (Save the calligraphy for an invitation). We all make mistakes when handwriting out our notes. Just a fact of life. If the mistake is beyond repair, I suggest you start with a new card.
However, do not throw the card with the mistake out. You can repurpose that card. Have a blade knife like an X-Acto handy in your office. Take a straight edge or ruler. Cut across and remove the lower half. You now have a single note card. Name and or logo on the front with a blank back. You can now use that card to for later. The use for a single card can be used for a gift tag or for a more informal thank you/personal note
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oops
straight edge ruler and X-Acto knife
toss the bad bit into the recycle bin