Can one email change your life? Change someone else's life? Or even change the world?
I wholeheartedly believe the answer is yes.
Because I've seen this happen with my own eyes.
Words (whether in an email, newsletter, essay, book, speech, or any other format) are so powerful.
Words can start wars or heal broken hearts. Words can paralyze people with fear or move them into action. Words can inspire people to vote, march, rally, donate, invest, and more. Words can persuade people to get up and try again, and keep trying, instead of accepting defeat.
And one little email can create a big ripple effect.
Here are three emails that can change the world.
Maybe you'll decide to send one of these emails today.
You might figure, "Oh, it's just an email, it won't matter much," but the impact might be so much bigger than you think.
1. The funeral email.
Think about someone you love very much. Maybe a parent, best friend, or someone else.
Imagine this person has died and you've been asked to say a few words at their funeral or memorial service.
What would you say about this person? How their laugh felt like sunflowers and hummingbirds? How they were the kindest person you'd ever met? How their patience inspired you to be a better person?
Don't wait until they're dead to say all these words. To quote my friend Sherry, "Say it now." Say it while they're here. While they're alive.
Put those words into an email and send it to them. "I just wanted you to know how much I love you, how amazing you are, and here are 10 reasons why..."
Most likely, they will be stunned, and moved, and this interaction will bring you even closer together. Say it now.
2. The legacy email.
Copy this statement into an email. Before I die, I will ______.
Fill in the blank. Type a list of things you pledge to do before the end. Your biggest dreams. Your highest priorities.
Send your Before I die email to one friend, or to your entire family, or to your clients, anyone you want. Encourage them to reflect on this and make their own Before I die list, too.
With one email, you will inspire people to think about their life purpose in a new way. This might create a ripple effect that leads to new projects, new commitments, new companies being launched, and so many beautiful things.
3. The uncomfortable email.
Years ago, I got hired to work on a magazine project.
There was an uncomfortable moment when I emailed my manager on the project to say, "I couldn't help but notice that every single person depicted in the magazine is slender and white. It's important to have more diversity in your models and photos."
I was a little nervous to speak up. I worried she might react badly or even fire me. It did not feel "comfortable" to send that email but I did it. To my surprise, she emailed back and said, "You're right, that's not okay, and thank you for mentioning it."
She instructed the design team to change the photos before the magazine issue got released. This probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't said anything.
There have been times in my life when I didn't send the uncomfortable email because I was too cowardly or overwhelmed and I regret this.
There have been times in my life when I was on the receiving end of an uncomfortable email, and was grateful for the honesty and for the opportunity to do better.
What is an uncomfortable email that you need to send? An email to ask for a raise? An email to notify someone about an issue that needs to be fixed? An email to announce your new project to the world even though you feel nervous because it's not "perfect" yet?
When an email requires courage, that just means...it's important. Discomfort is a signal that you're doing something significant. Something that could change your life, or many lives.
. . .
One email can change a publication, a school, a company, a family, a community.
One email is more powerful than you think.
What's the next email you will send?
Who knows what kind of ripple it will create...or where that ripple will lead?
-Alex
PS. The Email Class begins soon. August 31 is the very last day to enroll before the doors are closed for the 2020 class.
- Learn how to write emails and newsletters that people absolutely love reading.
- Bring empathy, kindness, and creativity into your emails, and make the world a better place with every email you send.
- Improve your email habits. Learn how to work more efficiently, check your inbox less often, spend way less time dealing with email, and unplug a lot more.
- You can join this online class from anywhere in the world. Any country. Any time zone.
- All materials are yours to keep forever, so there's no rush to complete anything on a particular timeline. You can take extra time and go slower, as needed.
- See more info (class schedule, what's included, price, payment options) and sign up here.
See you in class!