Yet Another Reason Why Pixar Is Awesome

A few months ago, I posted an article about what we can learn from Pixar’s success. I was pretty proud of that article, and according to my “Most Popular” plugin (look over at the left column) my readers agree. So, when I came across yet another cool story of Pixar’s awesomeness, I had to share it.

Letters of Note posted a story about a young man named Adam who sent a fan letter to Pete Docter, director of the Pixar movies Up and Monsters Inc.. In the letter, Adam tells Pete how much he likes his work and about his own dreams of working for Pixar.

Well, a few months later, Pete Docter actually sends Adam a handwritten reply, complete with a couple of drawings. Amazing.

You can see a scan of the actual handwritten letter here:
Pete Docter, Pixar Director, Sends Handwritten Reply To Fan

It is super cool that a guy in Docter’s position would take the time to respond to a fan letter like that. And that he would hand write it. And that he would throw in some cute drawings. And that he would make it a personal reply, where he comments on things Adam said in his note.

Amazing.

I love this story, and there is a lesson in there for all of us:

The Personal Touch Matters

How many businesses are ever that thoughtful with their paying customers, much less with a random fan who will never send any money their way? Sure, a lot businesses stick you in their database and send you a stock holiday card in December, but how many of them give this level of thought and connection?

It doesn’t have to come just in the form of a hand written letter either. Anything you can do to add a personal touch to your interactions with your customers, prospects, and fans can go a very long way.

Sometimes it seems that customer service has gone the way of the Dodo. If someone gives you a genuine smile as you interact with them, that seems like cause to celebrate! It’s nice to know that a guy like Pete Docter, who has risen to the top of his field, still cares about connecting with others.

Technology has made the world faster and more convenient, but it has also served to make us more and more disconnected one another. Automated sales letters designed to look “personalized,” scripted telemarketing calls where the person acts like they know you, service by rote where the person says how much they want to help you but you know they don’t really care. All of these are designed to fake the personal touch, but they all fall short.

People are ready to start reconnecting, and the people and organizations that do that genuinely and effectively will be the ones that succeed.

Find ways of adding more “personal touches” to the interactions you have in your life. You can make someone’s day, and in the long run, you’ll come out way ahead.

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