Remembering to say thank you

How many times did your mother remind you to say "thank you?"

How many times when you were growing up did you hear or read about how little things can make a big difference?

Both the thank you and little things remain relevant today - maybe more so.

Case in point: (The short version.)

The Oakland A's, grooming ground for the likes of Yankee Jason Giambi, recently were at the end of a contract with their manager Ken Macha. The A's, through their general manager, Billy Beane, made Macha a three year proposal. The next day Macha, through his agent, Alan Nero, suggested three years and more money. The following day, the A's announced that they could not come to terms with Macha. End of story, well not quite.

Three things happened in less than a week. Macha interviewed with Pittsburgh, A's interviewed their bullpen coach, Bob Geren, and most importantly, Macha picked up his mail.

In Ken Macha's mail was a handwritten note from the A's owner Lewis Wolff thanking him for the just concluded three-year tenure as the club's manager. The Sacramento Bee reported that Macha "was stunned by Wolff's gesture" and that "he began having second thoughts about leaving the A's." Two days later, the A's and Macha agreed to a three-year deal.

A kind gesture by the man who writes the checks made the difference.

Read The art of the thank-you note an article by Louise Handelman here.