The other day a friend of mine gave me a nice compliment about the blog I wrote about holiday cards. "I used to do that," she said. "I'd take time to write a personal note in every card I sent. I don't know why I stopped. It was such a good idea."
It got me thinking about my Used-To-Dos—rituals I once practiced that haven't made an appearance on my To Do list in years. Many of them are worth revisiting. Some of them are worth putting back on the list.
Former Clients: In the early years of my business coaching practice, I was much better about staying in touch with former clients. Somewhere along the line I stopped doing that as often and allowed my business development to focus on the chasing of new prospects. But this year there's been a lot of repeat business from the former clients, reminding me that I should go back to the old policy of checking in with them a few times a year. That policy is back on my To Do list.
Dinner Parties: My wife and I used to throw dinner parties for my key clients and business associates at least twice a year. They always led to new work opportunities. I'm not sure why we stopped. They were good fun and good for business development. I'll be rekindling that tradition in 2011.
Thank-You Cards: Back when I was hungrier, I used to follow new business introductions with a handwritten thank-you card. At some point, I started to realize that I was one of the only people still indulging in this archaic tradition and that email follow-ups were much more in vogue. But perhaps that's the reason I should have continued. There is value in personal branding, and I still believe note cards are a classy, professional way to show a genuine interest in the relationship. So, I'm putting this back on the To Do list and having my note cards reprinted.
Relationships: I recently made a list of local business contacts I hadn't seen in over a year. Most of them are people I still value, but for whatever reason, hadn't made an appearance on my To Do list in a long time. Over the past month, I've reconnected with many of them, and the ensuing camaraderie and business development has more than justified the effort.
Serenades: On a more personal note, I used to write songs for my wife and sing them to her. But as I got more settled into our marriage, somehow romance became a low-priority item. This week I'll start writing her a new serenade. And since she reads these blogs, I know this new resolution won't slip back into the Used-To-Dos anytime soon.
This week I encourage you to think back on your Used-To-Dos. You'll find that most of them were larks that ran their course, but a few of those relationships and ideas were the inspired product of youthful hunger and untempered creativity. Pick one and temper it with the knowledge and experience you have today to breathe new life into your To Dos.
By David Ackert
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