Oftentimes over the last 25 years, I have discussed with people the importance of doing the little things that make one smile, that make a difference in their days – sending a handwritten thank you card after an appointment, doing a personal walk-through/clean-up at the completion of a job; sending flowers or a card upon the passing of a client; or calling clients over the Holidays and thanking them for their business.
Sometimes those little things even happen to me. Opening my mail one day last week, I received a letter and photo from a woman in Greendale, who informed me she happened to see one of our site signs and that her latest great grandson’s first name is “Callen”. Callen lives in San Tan Valley, Arizona and he is now five months old. I could keep the photo, as it was one of 8,000 they already have.
The next letter opened was a note and a personal donation from a long time friend. His donation was to “Refashion for Life”, an annual fundraiser held at our office benefitting Elena’s House/CommonGround Ministry, an AIDS Hospice in Wauwatosa. For more information, visit www.refashionforlife.com. The event will be held this year on Thursday evening, September 22.
And finally, I was recently driving home on Janesville Road and not four blocks from the office, traffic is slowing and I come across “Max”. Max is a pug. The pug is a small breed of dog with a wrinkly, short, muzzled face, and curled tail. Max has positioned himself in the middle of the eastbound lanes. I beeped the horn a few times hoping Max would run to the grassy area on the side of the road, but no luck!
I put the car in park, opened the door, and Max comes a running. I grab his collar, pick him up, and put him in the back seat. We pull off to the side of the road, call the office, which in turn finds out the Police Department does not pick up dogs and the Humane Society will come pick up the dog. In the meantime, we call the owner from Max’s tag, and bring him back to the office. Max loves the Design Center, exploring every inch then heads upstairs to the offices. Max drinks a little water, we find a rope, and I take him for a walk.
During the walk on the side and back of the building, Max takes care of his duties and by the time we get to the front, we have a happy reunion with Max’s owners. Talk about putting a smile on someone’s face!
“Max” was a fitting end to those little things that make you smile. Any yes, the woman in Greendale and the long time friend received handwritten thank you notes.