Quill pens. Gone.
Fountain pens. Essentially gone.
Ballpoint pens. On their way out.
What remains is the pure beauty and value these mediums elicit. A handwritten letter wields more power than any tool in your communication toolbox. Personally and professionally.
As kids, we dreamt of running to the mailbox to open a birthday card from Grandma. Illegible cursive and all. Such joy becomes increasingly rare as we age. Emails and texts dominate our communication. Sterile. Lifeless. Transactional.
"Do things that don't scale" can be said another way: "Do what others aren't."
Did you grab coffee with someone? Send a handwritten thank-you note.
Did you have an interview? Send a handwritten follow-up.
Did you close a deal? Send a handwritten letter expressing your excitement.
Do you want to meet someone? Send a handwritten pitch.
People remember different. Emails and texts won't get you remembered. They will get you tossed in the trash.
Sometimes being old-fashioned is best left in the past. Other times, it can be a competitive edge in the present. Handwritten letters are an underused edge.
Do it. You'll be amazed at the reactions you get. It'll feel as if you mailed someone a box of gold-covered chocolates. But you simply put pen to paper. Never underestimate the power of making someone feel special. Doors are opened when you let others walk through them first.