Thank You

I have always been a fan of handwritten letters, postcards and cards. In the modern world it is a dying practice. I still love to send my friends birthday cards. There is nothing like getting a handwritten envelope amongst a pile of bills. I am also one of those people who takes the time to write a personalised message. You won't find a To ...., Happy Birthday. Hope you have a great one! Lots of Love, Charelle xxx. No I will write something that is personal and special between the two of us. 

Recently I read inc.com's blog about How to Write a Thank-You That Matters. René Shimada Siegel wrote that nowadays so few people take the time to say thank you. To receive a thank you email is rare and the handwritten thank you note is basically extinct. This means that it speaks volumes about the person who took the time to write a note. Now I will put my hands up and be honest. The only time I even think about sending a thank you note is when it is christmas or my birthday. I remember as a child being reminded that I would need to say thank you to everyone who had sent a present. That would mainly would be through a phone-call but for the odd person it would be a thank you note. However, as René explains writing a thank you note in a professional context can really make you stand out and be remembered for all of the right reason.


René spoke about a thank you note she remembered. From this I have created a five points to the perfect professional thank you. 

• The thank you

• Show appreciation for whatever the person did for you

• Include a compliment

• A brief reminder about what you do

• A stated desire to stay in touch with the individual

So now I am personally design and print a number of thank you cards. So next time I want to say thank you I can not only do so through a personalised manner, but also advertising my own skills at the same time. 

Wild Swans

Last night I went to see Wild Swans at Young Vic. Wild Swans is a worldwide bestseller memoir written by Yung Chan. It seemed the popularity of the book had translated to amazing audiences.  It was press night for Wild Swans and the house was full. As a co-production between Young Vic, American Repertory Theater and Actors Touring Company, this is the second half of the productions journey, which started its run in Boston and the American Repertory Theatre. Having met Yung Chan and heard so much about the show in the office I was excited to see what the final show live.

When we entered the performers were already on the stage bustling about in a very condensed stage that was covered in soil. There was a strong spell in the air, which made me instantly remember Shared Experience's A Passage To India.  I wondered if this would be the set for the entire night, but with each new act there was a scene change. I have to say it was the most remarkable scene changes I have even seen. Everything happens before the audience's eyes but with precision and seamless choreography. The scene changes were pieces of art in themselves and my favourite was when all of sudden the stage was covered in water. I hadn't noticed it entering so it felt magical.

I haven't read Wild Swans so I have no idea whether the adaptation by Alexandra Wood did the memoir justice. However, I was just shocked because everything I had read about the memoir had suggested it tracking three generations of women. Yet, throughout the play it felt that the male husband/father character was the main thread. Prehaps it was felt that story was the most compelling or it was the best way to have a coherent through-line. When adapting a memoir that many have told me is large enough to be used as a door stop, it is clear that considerable cuts will have to be made.

Overall, I enjoyed Wild Swans it was an interesting story that raised issues about class, capitalism and communism without appearing to force a particular stance. I am sure this will depend on who an audience member felt empathy for. However, at the heart it appeared to be about belief and standing up for what you believed no matter what. This is a theme that transcends both China's history and politics in general. It is a theme that effects every one of us as we go about our lives doing what is right. 

You are only as good as the people you know

Growing up I was taught to work hard and anything I wanted professionally could be mine. I truly believed my parents, family and teachers until I moved to London. Then I was introduced to networking and ever since I feel as if day in and day out it is being drilled into me - "you are only as good as the people you know". To get anywhere you have to network. However, it is easier said then done.

A few months back after a training session I picked up 'The Rules of Networking' by Rob Yeung. I found the book extremely useful because it started from the very beginning of starting initial conversations, to following up meeting people, keeping in touch and finally achieving your networking objective (whatever that may be). It was full of useful tips that you could put into practice easily. One that I remembered straight away was at events with drink to ensure I held it in my left hand. This allows your right hand, the hand most people shake hands with, to be free. At first as a right-handed person it seemed weird, but it is so logical once you think about it.

Networking is a subject that most don't want to talk about, although it doesn't seem like it is going to disappear soon. Only today I was reading 'The Science of Networking', which looked at the type of network a person should be aiming for. It is the the science, the artificial and the fake nature of networking which I believe what turns people off. No one wants to think they are part of someone's calculated plan in order to succeed in the professional life. Therefore, really and truly, to be successful at networking you need to appear to not be doing it at all.

Tax year and the average employee

The last few weeks I have been stressed to say the least. I imagine it is shared by thousands of other people working in finance. For most April may symbolise a month of rain, but it also means the new tax year. A new tax year has never really meant much to me other than making sure I had as much of my savings in an ISA. You got to make sure you keep every penny of your interest! However, this year I learnt that a new tax year meant a new tax code. The average Joe Bloggs is now allowed £8,105 before tax instead of £7,470. It would be nicer if it was £10,000 but every penny counts and you can't really complain when you aren't having to do anything else.