Brave Enough To Be Bliss

stories. After the launch, all future marketing should be as “real” as the cards with true stories of real conversations that followed and the real relationships that were positively impacted after a card was given.

This concept has the potential to make a positive impact on society and the resulting brand impact of that is priceless.

You may sense that you’re getting uncomfortable and fear the cards might make other people uncomfortable. Your brain may be telling you that this seems like too big an idea. I would encourage you to take a deep breath, open your heart and think about your own personal relationships, the people who make your life worthwhile. What have you not said that you wish you had? How could a Hallmark Real card have helped you say what is in your heart at some point in the past, or perhaps right now? I want to take you back to the ideals that Hallmark was founded on and these words from the Hallmark website ( J.C. Hall - Hallmark Corporate ) , “Though he became a wealthy man, profit was never foremost in his thoughts. In his autobiography, Hall wrote: “If a man goes into business with only the idea of making a lot of money, chances are he won’t. But if he puts service and quality first, the money will take care of itself.

“Producing a first - class product that is a real need is a much stronger motivation for success than getting rich.”

And I would add, producing a first-class product that is a real need is also a much stronger motivation for success than leading from fear when a company has experienced decline.

The website also says, “Hall often went against conventional wisdom,” so if you’re doubting me or my idea, please be aware that m y values align with Mr. Hall’s, and I know deep in my heart and soul, I will make this happen somewhere. And similar to Mr. Hall’s high hopes and a shoebox of postcards, I have high hopes, big plans and a heart, soul and brain full of words just waiting to be produced. Through the years, handwritten greeting cards with a personalized message have been staples of my leadership and life. While not everyone would state that a handwritten thank you or note of encouragement is their preferred appreciation method, I think it makes a big difference what is actually written. For instance, most cards are rather generic, with only a quick signature, which is why they might not seem meaningful. I will read through cards until I find one that actually reflects the person or the relationship, so when I give a “generic” card it’s not so generic . But cards can be a waste a waste of money for those who don ’ t spend real thought on the selection. When care is taken and just the right card is selected and just the right heartfelt, personalized message is conveyed, the card is kept, sometimes for many years and reflected back on with all the feelings flooding back when it’s read again. The key is that the words in the card have to actually touch the person reading the card, and that’s where many card lines just don’t cut it. They are made to be generic and sometimes generic just isn’t real. People are human and because life is hard, and relationships are hard, and people are imperfect, generic fluffy cards just don’t work . That’s where Real would come in. Cards reflecting the real stuff of relationships, the hard but real stuff of life . Sometimes we can’t verbally find the words or are simply too scared to say them. Sometimes we just need a door to be opened by telling someone that we have feelings we are struggling to express.

If I had written a Real card to John years back, off the top of my head, it might have looked something like this.

I am scared, maybe a little terrified. I really don’t know how to do this. But I’m trying to learn.

Please don’t give up on me. Understand my behavior reflects my past, not you.

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