Thankful To Others

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

In 1985, Sheldon Yellen, CEO of the property-restoration company BELFOR Holdings, Inc., began the practice of writing each employee a hand written birthday card and a holiday card. He started doing it after he was hired by his brother-in-law, since many of the current employees felt he was being given special treatment. If nothing else, the cards would encourage people to stop by his desk to say thank you, he thought.
“And it worked,” Sheldon said.

“It got people talking, we started to communicate more, and I like to think it helped me earn respect within the company.”

Fast forward to today, and Yellen is now bringing suitcases full of stationery with him on every plane trip he takes. He handwrites 9,200 cards annually.

But the practice isn’t just for the thank you — Yellen writes thank-you notes, anniversary cards, holiday cards, and writes to his employees’ kids when they are sick, company director of marketing communications Alexandra Gort told Business Insider this year.

Yellen has found taking the time to write out a card for each and every person has created a culture of compassion throughout the company.

“It’s also something that doesn’t have to cost a thing,” he said.

“When I learn of random acts of kindness being performed in the field, I take it upon myself to again, reach out in writing, and send a thank you card so that person can know they are appreciated and that their efforts don’t go unnoticed.”

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?'” – William A. Ward

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29