Hi {firstname},

Do you ever find that, in this world of instant communications, it seems so easy to lose contact with people, even friends and family?

And by contact I don’t mean just sending out emails to tell people something or offer them a deal of some kind. I mean human contact, which – last time I checked – meant two-way communication. People talking to one another, people exchanging messages, news, opinions, suggestions.

This hit home for me the other day when a friend asked how often I ask the people on my lists about them. About what’s happening in their lives, in their world, in their businesses.  

I was embarrassed that I could not answer the question. Maybe it was “Never”!

Which is crazy, because I love hearing from friends and knowing how they are going. And when things are not going well, I’m honoured when friends share that with me, even if I don’t have anything more to offer than my sympathy.

I realise that, via social media, a lot of people keep up with what I’m doing and I know what some of my friends and others are doing.

But that’s not always a (two-way) conversation. Actually, not even often.

So my friend urged me make a change and take action on this.

So here goes.

I’m sending this message to you and everyone else on my email list and inviting you to do me the honour of letting me know how you are doing, how life is treating you, how business is for you.

I fully realise that sending this one email doesn’t make up for the fact that this is the first time I’ve done anything like this, but I’m hoping you’ll see this message as a sincere invitation to share what’s going on in your life, how the future is looking for you, even some challenges you might be facing.

Just as if we were sitting in my local coffee shop or pub - or yours - having a good old catch up about whatever came into our minds.

Because I actually like to be connected and engaged.

I’m hoping you do too.

And some of us who are in business might chat a bit about business.

Which reminds me, there’s this story, which I’m guessing you’ve heard but here goes:

Two friends meet for coffee.

“How’s business?” says Tony, and listens while his friend George tells him, yet again, how brilliantly his business is going. Then they talk about the state of the world, some sport, and this and that, and Tony suddenly says “All these years we’ve been meeting for coffee and I always ask you how’s business, but you never ask me how my business is going.” Shocked, Tony says, “Oh, I’m sorry. So how’s business?”

“Don’t ask” says George.

I guess there are always some things we don’t feel like sharing.

But for now, I would love to hear from you, about anything you like. And of course it’s not for publication.

I’m just touching base, hoping to catch up with what’s happening (or not happening that you want to happen) in your life, your business, your plans and dreams.

Just hit Reply and tell me something, even a few words, so we can feel we have actually connected.

With best regards

Des

PS: And if you don’t want to hear further from me, that is totally OK. Just tap the Unsubscribe link below.