Trade-offs and Triumphs 19 by @jennykim
Issue 19: Writing Out and Sending Holiday Cards, Memories of People Gone But Not Forgotten; The Annual Review
Hello, friends! Thank you to my 104 subscribers, and welcome to my new subscribers!
Welcome to issue 19!
How was your week? What were your trade-offs and triumphs?
This week, we will hit on:
Writing Out and Sending Holiday Cards
Memories of People Gone But Not Forgotten
The Annual Review
For those who want a quick 3: summary on what issue 19 is about - hit “play.”
Thank you Cam Houser, Julia Saxena, and all of my Minimum Viable Video cohort-mates.
Writing Out and Sending Holiday Cards
Maiko Sakai advises during the holidays, for those special clients, we should be doing more than just handwritten notes. Most importantly, you should have identified something unique about each special client and reflect that in your gift-giving. Handwritten notes can be sent out at any time.
Generally, I would agree with Maiko, but during the holidays, I also find it keenly important to reconnect via handwritten notes with relatives (some), former teachers, friends, and colleagues collected over the years. After the stress of putting together your labels, cards, and stamps (thank you, dad!), there is something distinctively relaxing about opening each card and handwriting out a personalized message to each recipient - a shared memory, updates about yourself, questions about their families, and any other reflections.
Yes, handwriting a personalized message on all 200 plus holiday cards can be relaxing - especially with a mug of hot coffee, holiday carols playing in the background, and a wonderfully smooth pen. After typing all day, handwriting can emulate play, and for a few quiet moments, you can be “you.”
And when you receive a handwritten update in return, nothing beats the anticipation of opening a handwritten note - the rustle of paper, the quick eye scan, and then sitting down to let the words wash over you.
I trade-off not being as efficient by handwriting out a personalized message, but if the recipient appreciates it, that is all that matters.
So tell me, what are your end of the year holiday traditions? Do you handwrite any notes or cards?
Or, do you send a holiday video?
Provide comments down below, or just DM on Twitter @jennykim
Memories of People Gone But Not Forgotten
In addition to sharing memories, the final month of the year seems to evoke memories of people gone but not forgotten - especially the ones who cheered you on no matter what.
Jen Vermet of Learn It All recently published a beautiful Twitter thread tribute to her late grandmother:
This tribute reminded me that I have yet to process the emotions from the passing of some significant figures in my life over the past five years, such as my third grade teacher, Mrs. Lipchik, and my Aunt Marie. Both were were prolific correspondents. I have kept all their handwritten letters, and review them again from time to time.
He's not really dead. As long as we remember him. - Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
The Annual Review - What Do You Value?
Ah yes, the annual review - usually, this reflects what other people perceive about you. You are supposed to accept all that feedback provided by other people and try to improve yourself.
Except that most of the time, it is difficult to figure out the origin story of the feedback and what exactly is actionable.
For many years, I used the traditional annual review - feedback provided by other people - to guide my future planning. But this year, I have decided that I will use both others’ perceptions as well as what I want.
So how do I plan on doing this?
First: Mindmapping - Anne-Laure Le Cunff explains that mindmapping is more than just brainstorming - it is a visual way to make sense of the world. Or, if reading text seems laborious, check out how Steve Scott uses mindmapping to organize his speech’s key points.
Second, if mindmapping proves insufficient and you need more affirmative assistance, Brandon Zhang in his latest edition of his newsletter, “Weekly Wisdom,” newsletter put together a resource list to help you conduct annual reviews:
In addition, I would recommend a few more:
ThirtyTenZero’s StoryWatch’s Workshops 12/16 at 12pm ET and 1:30pm ET
ThirtyTenZero’s Career Change Mindset Workshop 12/11 or 12/21
Track Your Time and Time Tracking Challenge with Laura Vanderkam
Finally, as you plan 2021 and beyond, take a moment to understand the trade-offs that this 1,000 plus year Japanese mochi shop made to have survived since the year 1,000 - talk about resilience:
By putting tradition and stability over profit and growth, Ichiwa has weathered wars, plagues, natural disasters, and the rise and fall of empires. Through it all, its rice flour cakes have remained the same.
“Their No. 1 priority is carrying on,” he added. “Each generation is like a runner in a relay race. What’s important is passing the baton.”
Have any questions or comments? You can find me on Twitter @jennykim or email me at jennykimwop@gmail.com
Check out my website for more: puttingittogether.blog
No lie as a trade-off is ever worth the temporary illusion of triumph. Keep on cultivating that rubber ball heart.
And, find that trade-off that will lead to triumph this week, no matter how small, and celebrate it.
See you next week!
Thank you for sharing my work Jenny! I also really appreciate all of these annual review resources :) You are a master curator to find all of these links.