Advice, Pro Tip Chelsea Evers Advice, Pro Tip Chelsea Evers

This Easy Analog Resolution Will Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet

Technology doesn’t always win.

Lately, it seems that more and more invites for all things festive and fun come via email rather than the postal service, especially over the holidays. While tracking RSVPs online simplifies the party-planning process, it doesn’t mean we should give up on traditional correspondence. A card is a classic way to let somebody know you appreciate them while making a lasting impression. Don’t believe us? Take it from our C&C Atlanta keynote speaker, actor and activist, Meghan Markle, who told us that she often sends out and loves to receive handwritten thank you notes. "I can't tell you how few of them I get," she said, "but one hundred percent of the time, I end up remembering that person."

It’s an approach to business and life that can easily be worked into your 2019 resolutions. Here’s how!

SEND A WARM NEW YEAR GREETING

So, you didn’t get around to taking the picture-perfect holiday card. Not a problem. The New Year is the perfect time to send someone special a card that wishes them the best in 2019. Thinking of others is a great way to start your January off on the right foot.

HANDWRITE YOUR THANK-YOUS

Make a “thank you list” and check it twice because they pile up as fast as the presents you receive. From grandparents to bosses, to hosts of holiday parties and gatherings, you will have a lot of thanking to do. Hit pause on sending out digital appreciation; just like it’s fun to open a present, there is nothing like opening a piece of mail.

"Hit pause on sending out digital appreciation; there is nothing like opening a piece of mail."

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Not only that - writing out a thank you note goes a long way to show your appreciation and will last longer than an email. People are more likely to hold onto thank you notes and beautiful cards to display around their office or living space. Think of a card as a sweet memory in return for their generosity.

MAKE IT WORTH REMEMBERING

Remember the old rule “show, don’t tell?” A well-written and memorable thank you note follows this line of thought.

You don’t have to write a novel to create meaningful thank you notes or New Year’s wishes; you can express how much you appreciate their generosity in one or two sentences. Single out a memorable moment. What it felt like opening the gift. An instance in which you’ve since used it. Use these prompts to express your thanks and wishes for a happy and healthy 2019.

BONUS: IT HELPS YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS

We’re used to firing off emails. (Anyone else ever met their email quota for the day? Yep, it’s a thing.) Digital communication may be quick, but it isn’t necessarily the most meaningful or effective. It’s important to honor the practice of sending letters, writing notes, and thank you letters to keep relationships strong and grounded in real-life.

Think of the last time you opened a letter and thought, “Wow, what a great feeling.” Be sure to pass that feeling on as we enter 2019. It will not go unnoticed.

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Advice, Career Arianna Schioldager Advice, Career Arianna Schioldager

The Female CEO Who Turned Sophia Bush Down

And the actress' rad response. 

Sophia Bush, actress and activist, keynoted our Style Summit at the Simon Mall Houston Galleria this past weekend, and we're still on a high from the knowledge she intentionally slammed, forget dropped-- this wasn't casual, on stage. 

If you missed out, we're sharing 6 of our favorite moments to keep you motivated through your work week. 

On being a tender-hearted softie who takes no shit.

I’ve had to learn, sometimes, how to scream and swear at the phone and then not send it. You know, write the draft of the response to the person who deserves it, but then channel Michelle Obama, ‘when they go low, I go high,’ and I delete it. But still I am really learning the art of a good clapback and I deserve that. Simply because I exist in public does not make me a receptacle for people’s garbage.

It’s taken me 15 years, but I think I’m sort of an expert.

"I am really learning the art of a good clapback and I deserve that."

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On activism being a huge part of her story and advice to women

You have to find the thing that lights you up and that can be in a good way, or a bad way. What sets you on fire?  What makes you so angry? I read a lot about what’s happening in the world today and I’m pissed, I’m so pissed all of the time, and that FIRE that it calls up in the gut of my gut, I’m like, this is why I can’t be quiet. It’s really easy to turn off the news. And look, today is Saturday. My best friend and I laid in bed all morning and ate french fries and drank iced coffee and watched Fixer Upper-- I needed a day. But we have to pay attention and I think the first and foremost step to becoming a more engaged more active member of society, is to pay attention.

On the internet life. 

I would encourage everyone here to make the easiest free investment ever. For the next week, please every day, leave a really lovely compliment on at least one of the accounts of women you follow. Please once a day. Because most of the people who take the time to leave comments are assholes. The really nice together people, are scrolling and liking, but we’re busy. So we can really tilt the conversation by leading it with positivity.

On personal style. 

When we look at the ways we express ourselves and the ways each of us still might be feeling like maybe today’s version of expression was a risk? Support each other. Whether that’s girls who tend to dress in menswear or girls who love to show off their bodies or girls who are fully covered and wearing a hijab. Love on women. Love on them and tell them they are beautiful. Tell them that their style is sick, even if it’s different from your own. I can’t wait to be eighty and be like Iris Apfel meets Georgia O'Keeffe. I’m gonna be such a silver-haired old lady wearing crazy shit out in the desert collecting bones and painting them.

Her advice to her 20-year-old self.

I was so nervous about letting people down. I didn’t know that when I was 21 and started working in television that I didn’t have to answer every question journalists asked me to be polite. What is polite anyway? Figure out what’s important to you and you don’t have to open up your life in ways you don’t want to. You don’t have to please other people before you please yourself. You don’t have to stay in a job that makes you unhappy. You don’t have to stay in a relationship that makes you unhappy. If you’re pretty sure that guy you’re dating is lying to you, he is. Let it go. I learned that one the hard way.

"You don’t have to please other people before you please yourself."

Tweet this.

I really wish I could look at her and say ‘you already know, stop worrying about what other people know or think or want from you more than you worry about how you feel in the root of the root of yourself.’


On putting yourself out there.

Women are often so reductive about ourselves. Men don’t say I think. Women say I think. You might write an email and say I just think it would be so wonderful to know you. No you know it would be wonderful to get to know that person. That CEO who you idolize or whoever that person is, say: "It would be such an honor for me to spend a morning with you. I have a couple of questions that I know your expertise would be so valuable." Stop saying I think I could benefit, I think I would like to-- no you know what you’d like. You know what you can do. Just go for it. I’ve done that. Last year, I sent an email to an incredible female CEO who I admire so much basically asking the same question. She was so lovely in response and said I’m incredibly strapped for time as it is and what free time I have goes to my kids but thank you so much for writing this email to me, the compliment that you paid me really means the world, and I do hope that in some point when we’re in the same city we both have some free time and we’ll get together. I was like I’m so sad but you’re so classy. It made me feel so good to know that I made her feel good.

Photo credit: Smith House Photo

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