Although I’ve never been a big Denver Broncos or Indianapolis Colts fan, I’ve always admired Peyton Manning.
His tremendous ability, legendary work ethic, competitive fire, and impressive family legacy (I am old enough to remember watching Peyton’s father, Archie Manning, during his heroic career with the New Orleans Saints in the early 70’s) make him hard not to like.
Several years ago, an excellent article in Sports Illustrated magazine honored him as the 2013 Sportsman of the Year. After reading it, Peyton officially became one of my all-time favorite sports figures.
According to the SI story, since 1997, Manning’s senior year at the University of Tennessee, countless numbers of families throughout the Volunteer state have named their sons after him.
And as the article unfolds, it’s easy to see why.
Although he grew up in a family that was practically worshiped as royalty, a byproduct of Archie’s college career as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in SEC history, his parents modeled simplicity, personal responsibility, and the value of hard work. And despite Peyton’s amazing talent and prodigious college and professional career, the article highlights how Peyton treated everyone, from the head coach to the equipment managers, with the same respect and genuine concern.
The Power of a Personal Note
What I learned the most from this in-depth look at Peyton’s life and career, however, was one simple habit he employed that has helped me grow as a leader. As the article explains:
A son of the genteel South, Manning learned early on the power of the handwritten note…He still remembers the college coaches who wrote him during his recruitment as opposed to the ones who resorted to thoughtless form letters. He would lick his thumb and rub it against the signatures to determine whether they were real. And when Manning left for college, Archie would write him before every fall semester.
Peyton’s penchant for handwritten notes stuck with him into adulthood, when he entered a promising professional career that would elevate him to national stardom.
As anyone who practices penmanship can attest, writing notes takes time and patience. No one would blame him for giving up this bygone practice in exchange for texting or tweeting. But the personal discipline and attention to detail that defined him as a player bled through to how he related to people:
Throughout his career, Manning has written to coaches and players who retire, as well as widows of coaches and players who pass away. He writes subjects of documentaries he has seen and victims of tragedies he’s heard about. He writes his children every six months, even though they are years away from deciphering his cursive. (His wife) Ashley buys his stationery, cream-colored cards with PEYTON W. MANNING in block letters at the top. It’s hard to find any coach, teammate, or staffer who hasn’t received a note from Manning.
‘I got one when my dad passed,’ says (former teammate) Brandon Stokely, ‘and another when Peyton stayed at my house.’
‘I got one when I retired,’ says former Colts video director Marty Heckshcher. ‘It almost brought me to tears.’
‘I got one when the Colts let me go,‘ says Jon Torine, the former strength coach. ‘It meant more than any paycheck.’
In addition to writing teammates and coaches, Manning asked staffers to go through the hundreds of pieces of mail he received each week as a player, selecting the heart-felt letters and personally responding to many of them:
To Jack Benson, an eight-year-old in California with cancer: ‘I just wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. You have a lot of people pulling for you. Keep fighting, stay positive, and say your prayers.’
To Chris Harris, widow of a youth pastor in Arkansas who was killed in a car accident, ‘I am sorry for your loss. Please know that I am praying for you. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ (Matthew 5:4) I learned that Pastor Harris was an avid Colts fan and had an autographed picture of me in his office. I read an article about Pastor Harris, and I can tell you he was very special. I am proud that he was a fan of mine. May God’s peace be with you.
Think of the time it took him to write such thoughtful replies.
How many high-level celebrities can you name who would commit to such deep and personalized correspondence with their fans?
Inspired by the article, the next day I visited my local print shop and ordered my own monogrammed stationery.
And since I’ve trained, spoken, and posted on the power of consistent habits versus going for big performance leaps, I put my training to work, committing to writing one personal note every workday. (I mail them on my way home.)
While I mostly send them to employees on their birthdays or work anniversaries, I also send them to friends, colleagues, community volunteers, and anyone I come across who I think would benefit from an encouraging note.
I’ve been doing this for the past several years and although I can’t say that I never miss a day (I do, especially when I get busy or travel), I can report that committing to this simple discipline has made a difference in me as a leader.
I have had employees stop by my office to share their surprise and gratitude for my note. Several have mentioned that they shared it with their entire family–and others tell me they have it posted on their refrigerator door for months…even years.
The experience tells me this: In an age of digital superficiality, people everywhere are starved for genuine connection.
Taking the time to write a thoughtful note can go a long way in making an impact.
Just ask Peyton Manning.
Bill, You are so right in the digital age handwritten notes standout and are especially appreciated. I try to write a dozen notes or so a week and sometimes it might be weeks after i have sent one that a see the person who received the note. They usually thank me even after so much time has passed. Hand written notes are welcome and remembered. Showing people that you care about them is something that everybody needs.
Thanks for your comments, John. I find that many of my employees who have received my notes over the years have never thrown them away. I think there’s something deeply personal conveyed in handwriting that can’t be replicated in a text or email. Also, you’ve clearly got me beat at a dozen notes a week. That’s impressive…keep up the great work!
Bill
DWD, remember it well!!
I absolutely love this post. I already have the stationary! Time to add the commitment and discipline. Thank you Bill.
Great article Bill. I still remember your DWD notes you used to write to folks. They were always very well received.
Thank You For Sharing.
You and Peyton are an inspiration. I too try to write notes fir special occasions and thank yous. My granddaughters now write notes to me like their mother has done. I also like sending birthday cards to close family members and friends. Another tradition going by the wayside.
The power in this is how the positive energy expands down the line. You send a note to a mechanic complimenting him on a job well done. He feels good and uplifted. On the way home he stops at grocery store and notices how helpful and cheerful the check-out person is. When he gets to his car, he calls the store and asks to speak to the manager and explains what a great experience he had. This makes the manager feel good about the employee. The manager singles out the check-out person and compliments that person on a job well done. That person feels good and appreciated… Think about how far reaching that one note – really goes. Thank you Bill for inspiring us with this article.
Thank You, it does make an impact!
Next Football Commissioner is Peyton … I found a box of my old company stationary .. now I know what to do with it :-)
Greatly insightful article. It certainly motivates me to be more purposeful about deepening my personal connection to those I want to reach out to.
Thanks Bill.
Thanks for sharing Bill! Personal touches such as hand written cards are extremely valued and appreciated! Technology sneaks in and we can easily get caught up in its benefits not realizing the trade off for such said benefits. If not careful, technology will continue to slowly erode away some valuable traditions and actions that will negatively impact our culture. Sometimes these evolve so slowly, we forget or don’t even notice what we are loosing until someone points out that it is gone…..
I recall the moments when my boys would race to the mail box in hopes of receiving a card and hand written note from grandma and if lucky, possibly a dollar or two for an ice cream! After my mom passed away, the notes obviously stopped. It was then that I began to notice that people simply do not send cards & letters anymore. My boys will often talk about how special it was to receive those hand written notes from grandma. They are blessed to have those memories
I also recall an amazing woman from Eastport – Betty Beeby. Betty was an amazing woman recognized for many talents and contributions throughout her life, but often when people speak of Betty, they inevitably recall her hand written notes. Betty however, took it one step further – she also hand sketched beautiful illustrations on and throughout her card / letter. It left the recipients feeling uplifted, valued, appreciated and loved. It had yet even another layer of value to it – you see Betty was one of the original illustrators for Captain Kangaroo CBS Television!
Thanks for hi-lighting an element of our culture that is slipping away. Hopefully, we can all be a spark to bring back such important personal touches!
Well said, Paul. I love the stories of your children and Betty Beeby. I wonder if anyone who received one of Betty’s cards ever threw it away? I bet most still have them–few people ever discard personal notes like Betty’s or your kids’ grandma because they communicate affirmation and love.