Have you ever noticed how powerful it is when you are at a business, whether paying or browsing, when someone from that business looks you right in the eye and thanks you sincerely for choosing to grace their doors with your business?
Today I was at my Rotary Club meeting and someone at our table mentioned giving 5,000 recently to a local charity; it was the proceeds from an event this person organized. What stuck most in his mind is that he never received a thank you. There is no doubt in my mind that in future years his event will benefit a more appreciative group.
In our Sutton office we are very active in community outreach and it is always disheartening (and thankfully rare) to make an effort to give and not be thanked or given any sense of appreciation. One of our Realtor's clients made a special cash gift as part of one of our campaigns this year. She was crestfallen that not only did the charity not issue the promised tax donation receipt, but they never even said thank you. Eventually, after the group was contacted, this was remedied; but the moment was lost.
Surely we know these charity groups are not mean spirited. They "just" forgot. Just forgetting to thank those who fuel our groups, businesses and careers is perhaps the fastest way I know to make sure people stop giving us the privilege of their business and contributions. (I would add that another insult is when you've given a donation only to then receive in the mail information on how you can give more!)
Many Realtors have heard me say that upon receiving any offer to purchase on our of client's homes...if the first words out of our mouths is not a sincere thank you, we've already missed the boat. It is not cool to make fun of the offer. Has anyone ever liked a bully that swaggers and tears down an offer? Anyone?
Of course we all receive unacceptable offers. But someone took the time and effort to put pen to paper and start the process of what could be a rewarding negotiation. So, yes, in ALL cases...."Thank you" is the beginning of a beautiful process. Even if the offer never comes together you have gained the respect of your fellow Realtor who will look forward to bringing you a more suitable offer down the road.
The building power of thankfulness is profound. So is the destroying power of thanklessness -- whether it is a spoiled child who never learned to say thank you; a "busy" service group who forgets to appreciate those who volunteer and those who donate or a company that simply never thanks you for walking in their doors.
This I can say with certainty: if you do not appreciate, really appreciate the gifts that come your way in the form of business and support, before you know it, someone else will.
I dare say the most important words for any endeavour to prosper are these two. "Thank you."
Today I was at my Rotary Club meeting and someone at our table mentioned giving 5,000 recently to a local charity; it was the proceeds from an event this person organized. What stuck most in his mind is that he never received a thank you. There is no doubt in my mind that in future years his event will benefit a more appreciative group.
In our Sutton office we are very active in community outreach and it is always disheartening (and thankfully rare) to make an effort to give and not be thanked or given any sense of appreciation. One of our Realtor's clients made a special cash gift as part of one of our campaigns this year. She was crestfallen that not only did the charity not issue the promised tax donation receipt, but they never even said thank you. Eventually, after the group was contacted, this was remedied; but the moment was lost.
Surely we know these charity groups are not mean spirited. They "just" forgot. Just forgetting to thank those who fuel our groups, businesses and careers is perhaps the fastest way I know to make sure people stop giving us the privilege of their business and contributions. (I would add that another insult is when you've given a donation only to then receive in the mail information on how you can give more!)
Many Realtors have heard me say that upon receiving any offer to purchase on our of client's homes...if the first words out of our mouths is not a sincere thank you, we've already missed the boat. It is not cool to make fun of the offer. Has anyone ever liked a bully that swaggers and tears down an offer? Anyone?
Of course we all receive unacceptable offers. But someone took the time and effort to put pen to paper and start the process of what could be a rewarding negotiation. So, yes, in ALL cases...."Thank you" is the beginning of a beautiful process. Even if the offer never comes together you have gained the respect of your fellow Realtor who will look forward to bringing you a more suitable offer down the road.
The building power of thankfulness is profound. So is the destroying power of thanklessness -- whether it is a spoiled child who never learned to say thank you; a "busy" service group who forgets to appreciate those who volunteer and those who donate or a company that simply never thanks you for walking in their doors.
This I can say with certainty: if you do not appreciate, really appreciate the gifts that come your way in the form of business and support, before you know it, someone else will.
I dare say the most important words for any endeavour to prosper are these two. "Thank you."
1 comment:
Excellent Beth what a wonderful reminder about appreciation and kindness.
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