Saying Thanks
With this year’s holiday season quickly drawing to a close, we all know that we’re supposed to pull out paper and pen and write thank you notes for the gifts we have received. If you haven’t already done so, a Los Angeles superior court judge may provide you with an extra reason to do so today.
Several years ago, John Kralik—then a lawyer, now a judge—thought his life had reached bottom. His legal practice was teetering; he had been divorced not once but twice; relationships with his three children were strained. During the course of a New Years Day walk he challenged himself to write a thank-you note a day for a full year.
Kralik has written about his experience in 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Gratitude Changed My Life. According to Kralik, the experience taught him to appreciate others and their actions. As he became more grateful, more great things occurred. “If I was thankful for clients paying their bills, they seemed to pay faster. If I was thankful for cases, they seemed to come more.”
Whenever you set out to write a thank-you note or express your gratitude, keep the following in mind:
1. Thank-you notes are the perfect example of high touch beating out high tech. A handwritten note places a piece of you in the presence of the recipient.
2. Keep the note short and simple. You only need to write one or two sentences describing the importance of the gift to you.
3. If the gift isn’t right, please don’t ask for a receipt so that you can exchange it. Every gift possesses inherent value. If you can’t use it, donate it to someone who can.
I like to encourage interns, summer associates and new hires to set aside some time at the end of each week to think about the one or two people who really helped them during the previous five days and then pen those people a thank-you note. Especially when you are starting work, expressions of gratitude can pay off.
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