Habit #1: Encouragement Cards
Did you know that the CEO of a notable U.S. company used to hand-write thank-you cards for two hours every Friday?
On the podcast Billion Dollar Creator, business consultant Cameron Herold (Ep. 023, 49:50), explained the story of how former Starbucks CEO Howard Behar had a habit of handwriting thank-you notes to employees every Friday. What was his system?
As Herold tells it, “Every Friday Howard would come into his desk, and there would be a spreadsheet on his desk and a stack of thank-you notes, pre-addressed.” The spreadsheet had a list of names/stores along with notable achievements.
All he had to do was sit, write and sign letters for two hours. The system is what kept the habit going; it was scheduled, easy to complete and remarkable for company culture. And it worked!
I’ve decided to implement a similar strategy to elevate my home culture by writing weekly encouragement cards to my children. I’m using James Clear’s Four Laws of Habits to help me succeed. Here’s what it looks like.
My Mission
Goal (implementation intention)
I will write Encouragement Cards for each child every Friday at 10 am while sitting at my desk.
The Plan
Cue (make it obvious)
I have set a weekly reminder on my phone for 10 am every Friday.
Craving (make it attractive)
This habit is attractive because it encourages children to become the best version of themselves by focusing on their positive traits.
On the podcast Big Life with Alexandra Eidens (the episode titled “How to Bring Out the Best in Others, 05/24/24), Eidens teaches that pointing out kids’ strengths, good deeds and positive traits “helps them to see the good in themselves and believe they are brave and strong and kind and confident. And as a result, those qualities in them shine even brighter.”
“Our words become their inner voice.”
Response (make it easy)
The colorful index cards are kept in my desk drawer along with a pen on my desk; a weekly reminder is scheduled on my phone.
If I notice a child has done something noteworthy during the week, I jot it down in my Notes app to remind me what to write on Friday. If I have time, I write out the card immediately.
Make it Even Easier!
Get a list of 27 positive character traits to make it easy to find something to write about!
Pro Tips
Get our best tips to actually succeed at writing encouragement cards for your kids (even if you’re “not a writer.”
Reward (make it satisfying)
Seeing the child’s face light up after reading the positive affirmation is reward enough!
Sewing positivity into our family brings more peace, happiness, confidence and resilience in our household. Eidens echoes this notion, stating, “When you, as a parent or as a teacher or as a grandparent, highlight [kids’] positive traits and abilities, they start to believe in themselves and build a strong positive self-image.”
Have you tried making a habit of regularly infusing positivity into your kids’ lives?