The power of the "thank you" note

I have one drawer in my desk that is filled with happy stuff. Pictures of friends, media badges from various stories, funny articles...

And thank you notes.

Nothing brightens a bad day than re-reading an old message from someone who appreciated something I did long ago. May have been advice, an opportunity I provided; doesn't matter. What matters is that someone took the time to actually take out a pen, write something in longhand, put it in an envelope, stick a stamp on it and mail it.

And while most managers probably don't save stuff like this (the Grape, though a dyed in the wool New Yorker, has a sentimental streak), the effort sticks in their minds like glue.

Emails are easy, take a few seconds, and guess what? If you're sending them to a News Director you have about a 50-50 chance of them actually being read. No one sends snail mail thank you notes anymore, so this is your chance to stand out from the crowd.

Has a News Director sent you nice feedback on your tape even though you didn't get hired? Send a note. Have you been on an interview? Notes should go to everyone with whom you spent significant time. Did you rub elbows with a crew from a network or big market on a recent story... and did those people help you or give advice? They should get thank you notes.

It's old fashioned, sure, but it just screams class. It tells me a young person is polite and was brought up right. (And manners are in short supply in this business.)

And it makes me remember their name. Down the road that could pay big dividends for you.

So next time someone is nice, take a minute and go the snail mail route. You don't have to write anything long winded; it's the thought that counts.