Page 9 - November 2017 The Castle Pines Connection proof 7

The power of a handwritten thank you note
CastlePinesConnection.com 9
By Michelle Post
I received a handwritten thank you note after one training class, and I did not recognize the return address. I opened the thank you card and was overwhelmed by the words of the writer. He was thanking me for the class he just attended. It was not a long note, but it was a powerful note because this person took the time to say thank you. Even as I recall the story, I am still humbled, and tears ll my eyes as I think of that thank you note.
My mail routine is to bring the mail in, stand at the kitchen counter and sort it so I can deal with it at once. However, as I came to the thank you note, I slowed down. I turned the note side-to-side trying to recall who the sender was. I opened the note with anticipated excitement. As I read the note, my heart lled with gratitude. I showed it to my husband for I was so proud of it. It was the same experience I had when I would bring a good report card home. Look what I received, how precious a moment it was for me.
This concept is not new and has been written about over 10,000+ times according to Google. In today’s 24x7 society where everyone can voice an opinion quickly due to social media networks, the power of a handwritten thank you note stopped
me in my daily “hurry up” routine. The above statistics show me how important this simple task of stopping, re ecting and saying the two simple words, “Thank You” in a note can be. My parents taught me the importance of saying thank you after someone did something for me; however, I did
not realize how saying thank you via a small note could have a lasting impression.
Creating a habit of sending a thank you note after a meeting could be stressful; however, it need not be. I contacted the person who sent me the card and thanked him for making my day. He told me how he learned about the importance of sending a thank you card from training he took. He told me he keeps several thank you cards
and stamps with him always. After a meeting
and before the next one, he takes ve minutes
to write the card. He then drops it in the mail
on his way home. I said, “It is that simple?” He said, “Yes, and it is amazing how it sets me apart from my competitors, people remember me.” He continued to say, “It is not about setting me apart from the competition, it is about being kind and appreciating the gift of time from the person I was meeting. Sending the thank you note empowers me, I think more than the person receiving it.”
How to Get Through Cold and Flu Season Without Getting Sick Presented by Castle Rock Adventist Hospital 2350 Meadows Blvd. Castle Rock, CO 80109
1. WASH YOUR HANDS often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread quickly this way.
3. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the u virus – think door knobs, handles, kid's toys, stair railing.
4. Cover your nose and mouth with
a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
5. Most important - getting a FLU SHOT is the best way to avoid the u. Contact your primary care doctor or visit a local pharmacy to get your shot.
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GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENT EXPERTS
Tammy Lopez, your local Allstate lady and owner of the Castle Pines Allstate o ce, opened her doors to the community on August 1, 2010. “At the me, there was no Allstate o ce between Lone Tree and Castle Rock, so I thought this would be a great place to start my agency. I quickly became involved in our awesome family and business communi es, which solidi ed my loca on choice.”
Tammy got into the insurance business by accident. Working part me at another insurer as an administra ve assistant, she found that she really enjoyed talking with people about their assets and how to protect them. When her insurer opted to leave the business, she went to work for her Allstate agent. A er seven months, she was recruited
by Allstate to open her own agency. Tammy opened her agency with no exis ng clients. She now manages a $1.7M book of business. Tammy loves educa ng her clients about what insurance is really meant for. “My job is to educate consumers on what coverages they should be carrying, not based on price, but on protec on of their assets.”
Although Tammy’s Allstate o ce has grown year a er year, she s ll feels and appreciates our small-town Castle Pines atmosphere. Tammy became a Castle Pines Chamber member on the day she opened her o ce in 2010. “I feel that being part of the Castle Pines Chamber, which has the pulse of the community, allows me to get to know our businesses and residents far more in mately then having them simply come into the o ce. I also get to par cipate in events that I normally would not have the opportunity to because of the o erings the chamber provides.”
Tammy has been happily married to her soulmate and friend, Anthony, for 30 years. They have two amazing children, Candice, 29, and Jonah, 18. They also have two granddaughters, Penelope and Mariana, and welcomed their rst grandson, Emiliano on October 9, 2017. “We feel extremely blessed.”
To learn more about the Tammy Lopez Allstate o ce, visit www.allstate.com/tammylopez or call (720) 733-1331.
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