A few months ago, I sent a simple handwritten card to a friend and colleague.
There was no offer inside.
No sales pitch.
No invitation to a webinar.
No request to schedule a call.
Just a note.
The card talked about springtime in Colorado, fresh starts, old dreams, and the funny way tulips seem to appear the day after a snowstorm.
At the time, I wasn’t trying to accomplish anything.
I simply wanted to let her know I was thinking about her.
Then something interesting happened.
Nearly two months later, I received an email.
She wrote:
“I’ve loved having your card on my desk this month, reminding me of the goodness of fresh starts!”
Then she asked:
“Are you interested in being on Simply Sarah TV show again?”
That simple card had been sitting on her desk for weeks.
Not in a drawer.
Not in a stack of papers.
Not in a recycling bin.
On – her – desk.
Every day it quietly reminded her of fresh starts.
And when the opportunity arose to invite a guest onto her television program, I came to mind.
I’m Still Learning This Lesson Every Single Day
Most marketing teaches us to focus on visibility.
Post more.
Email more.
Advertise more.
Be everywhere.
But relationships don’t always work that way.
Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is remind someone they matter.
The card didn’t generate an immediate response.
It generated something much more valuable.
It kept a relationship warm.
Why This Matters for Authors, Creatives and Solopreneurs
Many of us spend enormous amounts of time trying to attract new people while unintentionally neglecting the people who already know us. Just look at these lists that I have recently built from my last 10 years in business.
Former clients. (Tab #1 on my Master Contact Sheet) Don’t know what I’m talking about? click here.
Podcast guests. (Tab #2)
Referral partners. (Tab #3)
Friends. (A massive list since I used to teach college and homeschoolers!)
Colleagues. (Tab #5)
People we’ve met along the way. (My cell phone is loaded with people like, “Steve” I met at the dry cleaners. “Gary, the stand up comedian at the Genius Bar in Thornton.” People like that who gave me their phone number and said, “Stay in touch” and I have. 😉
These relationships often become the source of unexpected opportunities:
Podcast invitations
Speaking engagements
Referrals
Joint ventures
Collaborations
New clients
Not because I constantly market to them.
Because they remember me. How? Through the cards I post through the mail (old school, I know!) , the texts I send and the phone calls I make (leaving voice messages that are listened to DAYS later!)
Let’s get Analytical about This.
If you look at this from a business perspective. You knew I’d bring in stats and numbers, right?
Cost of the card:
One card
One stamp
Five minutes of writing
Time between sending card and receiving a response:
Approximately 60 days
Result:
Invitation to appear on a television show
Return on investment:
Impossible to calculate precisely
Potentially significant
Most importantly, the relationship grew stronger.
What I’m Learning through the Numbers
As I continue researching what happens after people publish books and build businesses, I keep seeing the same pattern.
The next opportunity rarely comes from a stranger.
It usually comes from someone who already knows, likes, and trusts us. (I know you’ve heard that line enough you want to barf!)Â
Sometimes all that relationship needs is a gentle reminder that we’re still here.
A handwritten card.
A thoughtful note.
A quick phone call. <—(my personal favorite!)
A genuine hello.
Small actions.
Long results.
And sometimes those little reminders bloom weeks later, much like tulips after a Colorado snowstorm.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Have you ever received an unexpected opportunity because someone remembered you months after a simple act of kindness or connection? I’d love to hear your story. (Seriously, I would! I’m not joking here! I’m an author…we LOVE stories!)
Join Us at OPEN Friday Coffee
If you’d like to explore how relationships, books, business, and meaningful connections can work together more intentionally, join us for OPEN Friday Coffee.
Every Friday morning, authors, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners gather for conversation, encouragement, and practical next steps.
Learn more at: https://janinebolon.com/connect/