Bite Sized Chunks

Happy New Year, friends! 

I’ve heard it said that the number-one New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight. Number two is to make more money or get out of debt. Others include exercising more, quitting smoking or drinking, traveling more, spending more time with family, and insert your own here _____.

Regardless of what your own resolutions are, every single one of them revolves around being better. People resolve to have a better life in 2015, not worse.

And being better is so simple when you do it in bite-sized chunks.

Read a page a day in a book. Do five pushups. Smoke one-fewer cigarette. Put a smaller portion on your dinner plate.

In your business, be more conscious about showing your appreciation. Say thank you more. say thank you in better ways (than just saying it).

Yesterday – after the temperature rose from 1-degree in the morning to 40 by afternoon – I found myself in the mood for a cigar (yeah, I know; but quitting smoking isn’t one of my resolutions!) I went to my humidor, but the cupboard was bare. None left. So I disregarded the urge and went on to other things.

Within the hour (true story), the UPS man came to my door and handed me a small cardboard box. I noticed the return address was a friend (Diana McIntosh) and was puzzled at what she might have sent me. I opened the box to find a single cigar in an aluminum casing! Yes, I also heard harp music and angels chanting (but that was in my head). On top of the gift was a note. It read:

Tommy,

There are certain things that make you think of certain people.

Here’s to a great 2015. Happy New Year!

Paying it forward,

Diana

Now, considering I have smoked a cigar in about three weeks, the timing of both the urge and the gift are a complete coincidence. Or are they?

After immediately thanking Diana on Facebook, and sending her off an actual thank you card, (well not immediately, I smoked the cigar first!) I began thinking of people that I could reach out to and also “pay it forward.” It was a natural reaction.

As it happens, if you take a left at the bottom of my street there’s a small farm with a beautiful giant pine tree which stands near the road. Every year, the family there hires a truck with a lifter and a crow’s nest (I don’t know what they’re called) and decorates this enormous tree with Christmas lights. Its beautiful and I absolutely love to drive past it at night.

It has occurred to me that decorating this tree must bring the family great joy because it costs them time, effort, and money to do it each year. I know this, because I personally get a little lazier with my own holiday decorating every year. I hope this family never does.

So I pulled out my personal stationery and wrote them a heartfelt thank you. Did I mention, I don’t know these people an have actually never even seen them before. I just wanted them to know that they bring joy to more than just themselves by lighting up that Christmas tree ever year. I urged them to never stop.

I felt so good as I pulled over and put the envelope into their mailbox last night.

These are some of the things that I intend to do more of in 2015. Yes, I have my grand list of ways in which I can get better this year. But – always most important – is the list of ways in which I can express my appreciation and gratitude to the people who make my life better just by being in it.

You’re one of them.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I have to drop and do five pushups.

The Value of a Customer

So what is the (dollar) value of a lifetime customer?

Clearly this depends upon what type of business you’re in, but Appreciation Marketing® has always maintained that more attention should be spent building relationships with your past and existing customers than drumming up new business.

And while this philosophy might cause a sales manager’s ears to burst into flames, we’re sticking to it!

In 1998, for my fifth wedding anniversary, my wife wanted an “upgrade” to her engagement ring. Having been young, inexperienced, and broke when I purchased the first one (I think I sold baseball cards to find the $2k) – I agreed that it was time. New York City, here we come!

My first visit to the Diamond District was akin to one of those street fairs you see in Aladdin. There were jewelry stores up and down both sides of the street, and there were “hawkers” all over the sidewalks trying to get your attention and bring you into their store.

We ended up visiting a few before purchasing a new ring for more money than my first four cars cost me combined. It was my first and last visit to the Diamond District in NYC. I’ve never gone back.

Finding that store again today, 16 years later, would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Virtually impossible. But wait just a minute . . .

For the past 16 Christmases (this one included) I’ve received a Christmas card from “my friends” at Salvatore & Co Diamonds and Fine Jewelry at 55 W 47th Street (#39) between 5th & 6th Ave. So I CAN find that store again! And though I have zero plans to go back anytime soon, if I ever do . . . I’m going to see Michael Salvatore, Terri Levitsky, Peter Cardella, Liza Giraldo, and John Sullivan at Salvatore & Co.

Furthermore, if a friend of mine ever asks me about a place in NYC to get diamonds, guess what I’d tell them?

Was it worth the $2 a year that “my friends” at Salvatore & Co have invested in me?

Also got Christmas cards this year from Basel Saad at West Haven BMW, Frank Rocca at Acura of Berlin, Guy Brown at Danbury Mercedes Benz, and John Murphy at Jaguar of Darien.

Still a few days left! I wonder who else will step up to remain top of mind?

Merry Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) from Appreciation Marketing®!