Several years ago I read an article by Michael Thompson about 4 types of emails to send every week. The idea stuck with me – so much so that I adapted it into a personal project. During my last one hundred days of working for my school district I decided to send 100 notes, texts or emails to 100 people who had positively and profoundly impacted my 31-years in education.
It was a project I had total control of. It was a project with an end date. It was a project that cost me nothing. And it was a project that made my last 100 days more meaningful – for me.
Recently I re-read the article. I adapted it into a challenge for me and I thought maybe as I started on this new project, you might want to join me. It might be fun?
Using the same criteria as before (I have control of it, there’s an end date, it costs me nothing), here’s what I’m committing to do:
Send 5 emails or notes (1 from each category) each week for 8 weeks, which will put me at Thanksgiving week here in the U.S.
That’s it.
40 messages.
8 weeks.
Easy.
Who am I sending them to?
Good question.
Email #1 – To an old friend.
Mr. Thompson says, “The most effective way to keep your friendships tight is by making a point to stay in contact with people. In fact, according to research from the University of Notre Dame, ‘friends ‘till the end stay in contact every 15 days.’
This doesn’t mean that you need to spend an hour talking to them twice a month to stay connected. A quick email here. Another one there. It doesn’t even need to be a major life announcement. You may find dropping a quick line about a minor detail of your life will do.
“I was telling my friend about all the stupid things we used to do together.”
“I just saw a movie you may like.”
“I miss you.”
These messages may sound basic. But when it comes to forming lasting friendships they’re as good as glue.”
Email #2 – To a previous or a potential mentor.
“When most people hear the word “mentor” they imagine some mega-successful person standing on top of a mountain. But this is nonsense. A mentor is someone who is simply a step or two ahead of you,” he says.
“If the idea of reaching out to someone you don’t know freaks you out, don’t begin there. Instead, start smart by sending a message to someone you admire who’s already in your network.”
Or someone who has already mentored you. How did their help help you? Tell them!
Email #3 – To someone who needs your support.
Ask yourself this question – Who do I know who right now is going through something? Something happy, something tough, something scary, something difficult? Close your eyes. Do you see them? Pick them.
“Don’t forget to keep track of what the people you care about are doing [in their lives]. Brighten up their inbox by sending a one-sentence email to support them,” says Mr. Thompson.
Everybody needs a cheerleader.
Email #4 – To someone you used to work with.
“Work” could be at a job, on a committee, in church service, in a carpool….. you get the idea.
This type of email opens you up to ideas, opportunities, good memories, and helps you recall a piece of your own identity – while validating that you see theirs. There is no downside.
Email #5 – To someone you love.
This email goes to someone in your inner circle – your spouse, your BFF, your son, your daughter, your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister, your Grandma, your Grandpa, that friend you literally canNOT live without.
“The beauty of the world is that we are all different. But one of the few things we all have in common is [that] we love to be seen.”
And who better for us to ‘see’ than those closest to us.
Go ahead, make their day.
40 messages.
8 weeks.
I can’t wait to see what might happen for me – and for you – this Thanksgiving as a result of this project. I’ll report back. I hope you will, too!
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