How a 'Thank You' Can Go a Long Way

Need a break from all the talk of , and ?

Let me introduce you to David White, a self-proclaimed poet, printer and publisher who has visions of making the world a better place with two little words: Thank you.

These days, "thank you" doesn’t carry the same weight as it used to. If it’s said at all — and it seems to be said less and less — the gesture often lacks sincerity and honesty, so if any good feelings are generated, they dissipate quickly. There is no residual effect that one can carry over into the next part of their busy day or week.

Unless, of course, you receive a thank-you from White, a Milwaukee man and founder of GoodWorkCards, who is spreading his message one business card-sized thank-you at a time.

On one side, the card says, "Thank You; Keep up the good work." On the other, there is a special message like, "Put your own baggage down and you can immediately lighten someone else’s load," with a request to pay it forward.

He has given his cards to postal carriers, librarians at the , a We Energies employee … the list goes on and on. The idea is to bring joy to that person’s day; the hope is that he or she does the same for someone else.

"We can all do this for one another," White said. "The importance is the focus, the attention, the sincerity. And the token is the card that you take with you."

White’s business began nearly two decades ago when he developed "good work" post cards for his wife, a Spanish teacher in Oak Creek. She would give out a postcard to those who deserved it, sometimes even mailing them to the students’ home.

White expanded his product line to include German, French and Latin cards, which he now sells online. Nearly a year and a half ago, he began to develop "good work" cards in English, and eventually, his "mini-thanks" cards were born.

"What people need is recognition, attention, respect, encouragement," White said. "Somewhere down the list is salary. It’s on the list, but it’s really not high up there.

"Lots of us are wandering around these days stressed, fearful, cold, disengaged, and perhaps feeling undervalued, underpaid, nobody’s giving me attention."

White quickly found out the fastest way to give yourself a pat on the back is by giving one out, like lighting a candle from a candle.

The 58-year-old White has a part-time job driving for a shuttle service at a car dealership and, like all of us, could use extra income and hopes to capitalize financially on his shared happiness by selling the cards and one day writing a book with stories he collects of the mini-triumphs his mini-thanks contribute to. 

"I’m looking for overnight sensation," he admitted. "I don’t want to be celebrity rock star, but I’d like to make it to the book circuit."

And if he does, it will probably be pretty tough to top this anecdote.

According to White, a few months back he gave out a bunch of mini-thanks samples to members of his church choir. Judy, a physical therapist, took some, not exactly sure what she’d do with them.

Three months later, Judy’s friend’s father suffered a stroke and came to Judy for his rehab. After a good day of physical therapy, Judy gave her friend’s dad one of White’s "mini-thanks."

Months later, her patient passed away, and when Judy went to the funeral, there on the man’s chest was his Purple Heart and White's card.

"If we’re going to change the world, we at least have to be pointed in the right direction," White said.