Just Listen -- Too Late For This Year? Try Next...

I was too late to follow the example of my friend Teri Frankel of TCB Insurance (the TCB stands for Taking Care of Business). I won't be too late next year. Hope you agree.

To Our Clients and Friends,

As 2009 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued loyalty and support. This has been a challenging but successful year for many, including the TCB family, and we have you to thank for our continued growth!

There is no more appropriate time to think of those whose lives have been affected by the events of this past year. The financial crisis has left many struggling to make ends meet and businesses have been forced to make cut backs. Many families have had an unexpected health crisis or even lost a loved one.

We have decided to use our holiday gift giving to help those less fortunate and we are asking for your help. We would like to make a donation in your name to a charity or organization that is near and dear to your heart. Please email or call our office by December 1 and let us know which organization you would like us to support, so that we may consider them this year for our giving campaign.

We wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2010!

Teri told me that the even greater benefit of giving in this manner is that you find out not only the non-profits and charities that your clients support, but get to hear the story of how and why they chose them. Those stories can often lead you to a deeper and more authentic conversation than you've ever had with these valued people.

In closing, I may be too late to send this to my clients and friends, but I am not too late in wishing all of you and your families a happy and healthy holiday season and New Year.

AND to read an impassioned blog on this topic, be sure to check out Marty Nemko's Holiday Presents, Bah, Humbug! (There's a Better Alternative)