I just finished up one of my favorite traditions. After debating with myself over the wisdom of sharing it with the world - after all, if everyone starts doing it, my own effectiveness will be diluted - I have caved. Because of the compassion I feel for job seekers, I am now ready to share the best kept secret of the networking world. Turkey.
Ok, maybe not turkey per se, but what turkey stands for: Thanksgiving. I become aggravated every year as it is bulldozed over by the glitz, glamour, and greed of the gift giving (see: money sucking) granddaddy of all holidays: Christmas. I admit: I’m a Scrooge. Particularly when it comes to sending holiday cards. I don’t. Or at least I didn’t until I hit on a solution that made me feel truly brilliant. It meets my need to celebrate the season of Thanksgiving (not just endure it until the “real” holiday arrives) plus it injects my sluggish networking attempts with some much needed go juice. What is it? Drumroll, please……….Thanksgiving cards! By your collective gasp, I can tell you think this is a fairly cutting edge idea in light of the billion dollar Christmas card industry. Let me explain why Thanksgiving cards contain the secret to stellar networking.
1. No one else does it! (well, not until now
) You stand out instead of getting lost in the crowd of Christmas greetings. I don’t recall getting thanked for many Christmas cards - but I get numerous comments about Thanksgiving greetings. Makes you memorable.
2. You are more apt to write heartfelt messages when you are not pressed for time doing all those other “necessary” Christmas activities. I spend October locating and writing my cards. Everything is done and in the mail by November 15th.
3. It makes sense. What better time to say “thank you” than Thanksgiving! (duh!)
So, job seekers…..who should you thank? Anyone who supported your search by passing on your resume, the people you have interviewed with over the past year (whether he/she made you an offer or not), officers of the professional organizations you have membership in, the facilitators or leaders of workshops or conferences you have attended, career coaches, doctors, dentists, accountants, former managers, the sky and your checkbook is the limit!
Can’t I just e-mail them? NO! Because that is what everyone else will do. Next fall, get out your favorite pen, put on some tunes, and have at it. Note to creative minds: Every year I have difficulty locating appropriate Thanksgiving cards for business associates (ones that are professional, yet not stilted, touching but not mushy or cute). There is a niche out there, people! Now, pass me the drumstick.
Posted by: Faith Sheaffer-Thornberry
What some people love to do in work and life appears to be about process - not endpoint. Their goal isn’t to bring technology to the developing world, make air travel sexy or bring creativity to homemaking. In fact, what this subset loves to do can be done in any context or any domain. They want to shape and/or facilitate how things get done: that is, they love the process.