Time to Reflect and Refresh: Transitioning into 2010

What a year – one that most of us would not want to repeat. While 2009 certainly offered challenges, there were most assuredly events and people who made a positive impact for your business or for you personally. Reflecting on the positive generates thankfulness. Expressing thankfulness refreshes and creates new energy for the receiver and the giver. Your company may not be in the “smile business”, but why not start out 2010 by doing things that generate both emotional and physical smiles for your employees and customers. Showing your appreciation in kind little ways will help fuel grateful attitudes in the New Year.
Staff and customers always respond favorably to random acts of attention that are surprisingly received from the people that touch them throughout normal life (medical professionals, bankers, hair stylists, realtors, postal workers etc.). Admit it. Receiving something unexpected regardless of its value brightens the day. The traditional holiday greeting card only gets buried in a mountain of other mail, now that the new year is here consider doing something unique as tangible evidence of your appreciation. Reflect on what really matters, translate it, and share it.
A hand-written note to the families of your staff can express the value of their loved one’s hard work, dedication, and tender care of your customers and will have a long-lasting impact. The proud employee will truly feel appreciated and eager to face the New Year with a refreshed attitude and keener sense of commitment to you and the your customers – regardless of the economy.
Thanking your customers can also be done with a new twist that will touch their hearts - especially needed in our current environment. Consider an honorary gift (given in their name) as a way to show appreciation. For instance, brighten the smiles of U.S. soldiers serving overseas by shipping personal care packages along with small gifts and thank you notes on behalf of your customers. A special “Creating Smiles in the New Year” card can be sent to clients to communicate the initiative that was done as a symbol of your appreciation for them. Including your customers in this reflective and random act of kindness will help them feel like they’ve been part of something that matters and may refresh them enough to pass it forward and share kindness with others.
Mailboxes are filled everyday with bills and unwanted solicitations. What a pleasure it is to be the giver of a surprise “thank you”, regardless how small, to an unsuspecting staff member, customer, or soldier who may be a complete stranger. It brings as much joy to the giver as the receiver.
Best wishes for a New Year filled with Miles of smiles!