Old school etiquette in a Hollywood executive. How to get ahead by writing a note.

Years ago I met Courtney C., before he went on to head the biggest independent production companies in town.  After a meeting we had, he sent me a “Thank You” on paper stock so thick I remember thinking, “This is the nicest stationery I’ve ever SEEN!”

I could tell from the stock that Courtney had excellent breeding and high quality meant a lot to him.

He admitted he’d spent money back then on the best stationery he could find — and quality shoes.

“People pay attention to those things,” he said.  I told him I remember his bearing and how he strode into a room with his highly-polished fancy shoes, and that he was right, it DOES make an impression.

Now he is COO at a major production company, travels the world, gets to the office at 7:30AM every morning — but he still takes the time to write personal notes.  I saw him today with my friend Teri K., and I had a chance to tell him how much that handwritten note from decades ago meant to me… and how long I kept it.  I told him my theory that personal notes stay on the desk (and on the mind) longer than texts, tweets, or phone calls.

“I still write notes,” Courtney confided.  “Sometimes people give me a hard time because they don’t get it right away — and I have to explain, it’s in the mail, you may have to wait three or four days.”  I lauded him on keeping up the tradition and asked what percentage of people wrote HIM something after he gave them advice or a courtesy interview.

“None,” he laughed, then he said, “No, really, about 30 percent.”

I was stricken to hear it was that low, but not surprised.  It made me feel even more empowered to get out my message of “power outreach through Thank You Notes”.

I also noticed that Courtney, for all his huge job overseeing production here and overseas — has a fiercely analog side.  As we sat in his glass-walled conference room and watched his team pound out work on computers behind us, he set his materials on the long blonde wood table.  He had his leather-covered binder with his initials in gold… a beautiful fountain pen … and a smaller book with his buck slips, all with notes on things he has to do for each of the 14 shows he oversees.  Old school.  But effective.  Excellence continued, thirty years later.  He kindly allowed me to take a picture of his materials.  I hope they inspire you as much as they did me.

You can bet that when I write Courtney a ‘thank you’ for meeting with us, I’ll dig out my thickest stock.  If anyone will appreciate it, it’s Courtney.His note back (see center spot above) was on the same heavy-weight stationery I remember from years ago.  He did not disappoint.  I’d sent him a page of Chinese New Year’s stamps along with my TY note… which he put into immediately use!