Writer’s Note: We continue our focus this week on uplifting stories, meant to make you smile. Today, we are reposting something I wrote almost exactly one year ago, about an email I received from my son. I hope this post works as intended, and that it puts a smile on your face. Enjoy!
Every once in a while, something unexpected happens that just makes your day so much better. I had one of those “somethings” yesterday. I am on the road again this week, away from my family, which is never fun. I landed and made my way to the hotel, got settled and unpacked, and prepared to do a little work before an early to bed.
I got a text from my wife that simply said “check your email!”
So, of course I immediately did. And this is what was waiting for me.
“Hello daddy. This is my first email ever. How was your flight? Love, Zachary“
(Heart melting…)
My wife and I have recently decided that we would start (carefully) introducing our son to the online world. We got him a Chrome Book, so he can sync up with some of his work from school. We got him his first email address so he can start writing to his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. And we put in place a long list of parental controls.
But that is not the point of this post. The point today is that communication tools like email serve a variety of purposes. My colleagues and I tend to focus on the business applications. But sometimes, the most effective and impactful emails are the simple ones where we reach out to people we care about and just say “hello.” And when that “hello” comes from your ten year old son in the first email he has ever written, well… that is magic. That’s the good stuff.
Take a moment and send a note to someone you care about, someone you have not spoken to in a while. Make a connection. You will almost certainly make someone’s day.
Good luck.
—
Does your team:
– Overwhelm the audience with too much detail?
– Make things too complicated?
– Fail to ask for what they want or need?
Does your organization:
– Waste time because of poor internal communication?
– Take too long to make decisions?
– Struggle to clarify and frame discussions?
Do your leaders:
– Exhibit poor executive presence?
– Lean on incomplete communication skills?
– Fail to align the organization?
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