Where is Your Pen?
When was the last time you even used a pen? Let me answer for you: The last time you needed to remember something really important. There’s one thing that all the technology in the world will never allow you to do, and that’s jot down a quick note on a dinner napkin or a cell phone number on the back of a business card.
Sure, you could whip out your smart phone (you do have a smart phone, don’t you?) or something similar, but there’s something about a hand-written note that makes all the difference in the world to the person you’re writing it for. And the more personalized you make it, the more they’re going to remember it and the more likely they are to remember you. Also, I’ve never seen a smart phone that could write on a piece of paper unless it had a pen duct taped to it.
The most powerful impression-making combination in your arsenal is a pen and your business card. When someone asks for a card of mine, I typically don’t give it to them. Well, not right away. Depending on what we were talking about when they asked for it or what use they have for it, I will typically pull out the card along with my pen and jot a quick note on the back of the card.
For example, if we were talking about Social Media, I could write on there, “Give me a call when you’d like to talk some more about establishing your presence on Facebook.”, and then write my name and add my cell phone number. Not only does it help them remember why they got your card in the first place, but also that you have something specific to talk about.
No pen also makes you look unprepared. Remember when you were at a school dance and you wanted to exchange phone numbers? What happened? You went frantically searching for something to write on and something to write with. Well, now that you’re all grown up you don’t want to be doing the same thing. Leave the awkward kid at the dance in the past and have a pen you can write with at a moment’s notice.
So, where is your pen?
