While I wouldn’t call myself clumsy, I am probably not the most stable person out there.  A couple of sprained ankles and wrists and a hospital visit here or there can attest to that.  Luckily, I have never had an injury that I couldn’t laugh about after a few days.  This was the case, at least, until last winter.  Let me back track a bit here to set the scenario for what actually happened.  After a few months of being out of work, I finally found myself a great job at a great company.  I was so happy and things really could not be any better.  Then came the ice storm only one month into my new job.  You have to understand that a small patch of ice to someone like me is a recipe for disaster, so when the whole ground was covered by ice, I knew I was in trouble.  I couldn’t stay home, though.  I was only at my job for two weeks and I couldn’t miss a day so soon, especially when the roads looked clear.  I walked slowly down my steps, holding onto the railing for dear life and could you believe it, I actually made it safely to the bottom.  I think this is where my confidence got a little high because on my third step away from the steps, I found myself in the air, horizontal, and falling fast.  The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital with a cast on my right arm.  A few days passed and my work said it was fine and to take my time feeling better, but I couldn’t help being nervous about missing so many days so soon into my new job.  All my fears subsided, however, when I received a packet of get well cards from everyone at my company.  Just knowing that they cared and didn’t forget about the new employee meant the world to me.

I spent a good hour reading through all the messages in my get well cards.  Nothing could have brightened my day any more than this.  People I didn’t even know yet at the company were wishing me well.  The card really gave me the strength to get through the next few days and until I was able to return to work.  The first thing I did when I got back was let everyone know how the company get well cards helped to get me through my injury.   They meant more to me than they could ever understand.

While entertaining one evening with close friends from out of state, in conversation my friend Mary announced, “Well, we’ve all made it, 25 years of marriage.” I suddenly realized it was their wedding anniversary. We were married in the same year, a few months apart and were each others maids of honor at our weddings.

Then it hit me…I had an all occasion greeting cards assortment box in the bedroom. With that, I exclaimed, “Oh! I’ll be right back,” and left the room. I went into the bedroom, retrieved the box of greeting cards from the closet knowing that there were anniversary cards in the box. Miraculously I found a pen, signed the anniversary card, and returned to our guests. I then handed Mary the card. She opened it and remarked how beautiful the card was.

It was beautiful! It had shiny embossed gold and orange balloons with gold confetti streamers and shiny gold letters that said “Happy Anniversary.” I’ve also used the Sympathy cards in the all occasion box of cards when hearing of someone passing or someone’s birthday. It certainly comes in handy, allowing me to immediately send a card. With all our busy lives you would have to work into your schedule a stop at the card store and select a greeting card, but instead I just stop in my bedroom. This box is so convenient!

Take Your Child to Work Day was originally founded by Gloria Steinem and the Ms. Foundation as the Take Our Daughters to Work program in 1993. Originally, the intent of the program was to address the self-esteem issues that face young women and the foundation resisted the inclusion of young men. The Ms. Foundation provided materials to schools so teachers could incorporate “choosing a career” activities the day before or after the event to reinforce the experience with the participating girls.

Schools began to resist the program because of the exclusion of boys and the program was changed to Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day in 2003. Although most individuals who bring a child to their job for the day bring their own child or a relative, the program originally encouraged participants to bring a child from a residential program or shelter who may not have access to adults with careers in skilled professions.

Hannah busy at work on Bring Your Child to Work Day at Prudent Publishing.

Although, I don’t have children myself I know that children can become passionate about a future career early in life, and giving them working knowledge of the ins and outs of a particular position or industry can help them discover what they do and do not want in a future career. This can be the first step on the path to their future. Not every child is afforded the opportunity to visit a company. Some parents are self employed, others have returned to school to continue their education, and others work in highly confidential or dangerous fields that don’t allow for children to come to work for the day. I brought Hannah, the child of a family friend with me for the day. In this case, Hannah’s family owns a restaurant that she helps out at several times a week. Although this is certainly a career option for her in the future, she is already well aware of what is involved in the restaurant business and wouldn’t be gaining a new experience by spending the day there.

She couldn’t have been more excited to spend the day at the Prudent Publishing offices. She loved seeing the process of designing a greeting card from start to finish and getting the opportunity to design and photograph her own card creation. She was thrilled to meet the other staff members and enjoyed seeing how many career opportunities there were within one company. She listened in on several live phone calls and assisted with small tasks throughout the day. I enjoyed seeing how much she has matured and that she felt comfortable asking questions about the tasks she was seeing and participating in. Hannah even took our typing test and was able to type 59 wpm with 99% accuracy – not a small feat for such a young woman! Hannah was very fascinated with our electronic typewriter. Since she has grown up in the computer age, she thought it was amazing to hear how much we used typewriters as little as 15 years ago and the increased efficiencies we’ve seen with the introduction of computers.

Overall it was a great experience for all the kids who were able to spend the day with us and a very rewarding experience for the adults. It was very refreshing to see our careers through their eyes as we too often take for granted what we see and do everyday.

My Mother passed away recently so I had a few of her personal things I packed in boxes to go through at a less emotional time. Mom loved sending personalized greeting cards to family and friends. She had a greeting card for every occasion. It was a ritual for her to go to the store to buy cards all the time. She would always say it makes a person feel special to receive a card, and it was uncanny how she could whip out a card if you needed one for any occasion. As I was going through her things I found some greeting cards she had carefully put away. I came across an envelope addressed to her sister. I carefully opened the unsealed envelope and came across a lovely personalized birthday card she had gotten for her sister’s birthday, which was still a month away.

The personalized birthday card expressed how lucky she was to have her as a sister. It was so touching it brought tears to my eyes. I said to myself, wow she took the time to address and sign the card months ahead so it was up to me to deliver it to my aunt. I mailed the birthday card two days before her birthday and it did arrive exactly on that day. My aunt called me that evening to tell me about her special birthday card.

She was feeling down that morning thinking of her sister not being here to share the day with her as they’ve done in past years. She went to get her mail which came earlier than usual, and when she went through the mail and saw the card addressed in her sister’s handwriting she thought, “How could that be?” She opened the card and read the final loving words sent by her sister for her birthday. She told me how wonderful she felt and the birthday card just made her entire day because she did spend her birthday with her sister after all, and she will cherish her last birthday card from my Mom until they see each other again someday. My Mother was so right when she said “a greeting card of any kind will always make a person feel special.”

Personalized greeting cards, such as birthday cards, get well cards, and sympathy cards, can be taken for granted. But I can tell you from first-hand experience how important these greeting cards can be.

Losing a loved one can be such a tremendously devastating time. Not that sympathy cards can make this tragedy any easier, but to know that people are thinking of you and your family and are taking the time out in their busy day to buy and send cards can make a sad day a little better.

Get well cards can also make big difference in how you feel and how quickly you recover. Not to long ago I was out of work for approximately four months. I have to tell you that there was not one day of those four months that I did not receive a card in the mail from my co-workers, family, or friends. It was the highlight of my day to walk to the mailbox and find a new card. Most of the time they were funny get well cards, and laughter is great medicine.
In this economy it is often hard to buy presents for all the people we would like. However birthday cards can be a great way of telling friends and family that you are thinking about them and wishing them well on their special day.

Moral of the story – don’t hesitate to send different kinds of personalized greetings cards to all the people who matter most to you.

My twelve-year-old was doing a report on sheep. As I read it over (she is still at the stage where I am allowed to see her work), it struck me that the word “carding” took on a different meaning for me.

Technically the term carding means to cleanse, disentangle, and collect together (as fibers) by the use of cards preparatory to spinning. When I thought of the hundreds of times I sent greeting cards for one occasion or another, I realized that I was carding too.

Get well cards are an attempt to “cleanse” a person of illness. Similar to prayers, they help the sender to express a wish for recovery, and at the same time help the recipient to feel cleansed and refreshed in the knowledge that someone cares.

Sympathy cards help us to disentangle some of the emotions that explode upon us in times of trial. Even if it is just for a moment, they take our thoughts to a different place – a place where we can reflect upon the thoughtfulness of others and feel some semblance of peace.

Birthday cards gather together all of the fun and joy of celebrating most everyone’s favorite day.

Finally, I thought, these greeting cards are also preparation for spinning the thread that will become the story – the story of recovery, moving on, or subsequent birthdays for all of the people who are remembered with the greeting cards in their lives.

Business get well cards carry a great deal more weight than their size might imply. As a valued measure of one’s likability, dependability, and loyalty, business get well cards can help speed recovery. When someone is injured or ailing, the best “medicine” may be in knowing that your presence and talents are missed and needed.

Even if, perhaps especially if, an illness is chronic or terminal, the thoughtfulness of warm and caring wishes can soothe and soften a difficult endurance. If it’s not appropriate to say “get well soon” or “wishing you a speedy recovery,” you can still say “Thinking of you…”

Nor does it have to be an accident or a germ that gives you reason to wish someone well. Many good people wage daily battles against addiction, whether of alcohol, narcotics, cigarettes, foods or even nail-biting. Your private acknowledgment and encouragement of accomplishments can help a valued employee strengthen his or her resolve.

When economical fortitude is tested, business get well cards can foster perseverance. They can let others know, “We’re in this together and together we will heal and succeed!” A timely business get well card may help to keep your favorite vendor from giving in and giving up. It may help your valued client to act from optimism instead of from pessimism. And, in the great wheel of what-goes-around-comes-around, this thoughtful statement will demonstrate your own strength, optimism, and fortitude – a winning combination!

I just got a get well card from my bank, and I can’t tell you what a pleasant surprise it was to receive. Since I’ve been with the same branch for a few years, I’ve gotten to know several of the tellers and the manager and they always have a nice, warm welcome when I come in. It makes it pleasant to do business there.

It turns out that one of the tellers has a son in the same lacrosse league as my son. Last month their two teams played each other and when she heard my son’s name mentioned she came looking for me. Unfortunately, I was missing a really exciting game. My husband explained that I was home with the flu and everyone was trying to avoid me so they didn’t get it too. I hadn’t had the flu in years and I can’t believe how long that miserable feeling lasts!

Well, a few days later, when my husband brought in the mail; there was a piece addressed to me. It was a beautiful get well card from the bank that the manager and all the tellers had signed. I was feeling slightly better by then, but the card was like a shot of medicine and really picked me up. How thoughtful of them to think of me and send a card.

When I returned to work, I mentioned the bank’s get well card to my boss and he decided to order some company get well cards to keep on hand for our employees and clients. I told him I’d be happy to be the one to send them out because I now know how pleasant it can be to get one when you’re feeling less than perfect.

My brother’s company has a terrific tradition each month of choosing a “Star Employee” and then surprising him or her with special corporate Congratulations cards. Even though the company’s name is printed at the bottom of the cards, the boss usually writes a note and hand signs one of the cards, which makes it a little more special. Who doesn’t like recognition and approval?

This smart company rewards its employees for their achievements while cleverly encouraging them to work smarter and be even more productive. It’s a very positive way to applaud accomplishments and promote success.

At any time throughout the year, beautiful congratulations cards are also handed out for special recognition – such as for someone surpassing their goal or successfully completing an extensive project. People know when they’re appreciated and respected and usually respond by being even better employees.

However…when you’re named a “Star,” it’s not just about the greeting cards that you receive! Inside the cheerful, high quality congratulations cards you always find something special. It’s often a gift certificate for lunch to a popular restaurant that’s close to work. Sometimes it’s a pair of tickets to a movie. Not enough to make anyone else overly jealous…just something extra to let you (and everyone else) know that you’ve done a good job and that you’re valued.

Every employee looks forward to finding out who gets the “Star” cards each month and it makes them all a little more conscientious and aware of their efforts. For this success-oriented company, it’s a small, inexpensive incentive that makes a big difference. It’s also one more reason my brother likes working there.

There are so many occasions for which to send greeting cards offering congratulations to friends and family – a birth, a graduation, a promotion. These occasions and many others should not go unnoticed in the corporate world. I feel that everyone, especially those in a leadership role or in human resources, should have company congratulations cards on hand to send to associates or clients offering these well wishes when the time arises. High quality congratulations cards convey an upbeat message in a very professional manner.

In our private lives we seldom hesitate to send a message of congratulations when an occasion to celebrate or remember comes along. These well wishes and positive thoughts are appreciated, enjoyed and remembered by the recipient. At the business level we all should seize the opportunity to forward a positive thought or message to those we work with in and out of the office. Our co-workers certainly will appreciate it and it is also a nice way to maintain a positive business relationship with a client.