I’m so freaking cautious, much of the time, signing off on emails, for example, a traditional age-old way, often writing ‘All the best’ or ‘All best’…
All best,
Harvey
Emails I’m receiving, often, are signed-off with ‘Regards’ or ‘Kind regards’, ‘Best regards’, or just ‘Best’…
Regards,
Joe Jones
But, leave it to the younger generation to do things differently.
Generation Z workers at a marketing and brand growth business are signing-off with ‘That’s about it.. mmm.. yeah’, for example… or perhaps with ‘Warmest vibes’, preceded by actor Matthew McConaughey’s ‘Alright, alright, alright’…
Alright, alright, alright… warmest vibes,
Joe Smith
According to an article in Upworthy, “a website dedicated to positive storytelling,” business folks tend to “fret over small details such as email sign-offs,” and “often spend more time structuring the email and using ‘proper’ language than actually conveying the intended message.”
Having a little fun with some baked-in ways of communicating things can be amusing, and maybe impactful as well.
Charlie Munger, for example, Warren Buffett’s long-time business partner, discussing crypto and Bitcoin, got right to the heart of things in a Fortune Magazine article, suggesting that Bitcoin is “stupid and evil,” and comparing crypto to “rat poison,” and a “venereal disease.”
That’ll get attention, especially since crypto and Bitcoin are under some scrutiny right now.
Isn’t Bitcoin something that, strictly speaking, may have questionable value? It’s hard to figure, for sure.
But unique email sign-offs, like ‘Warmest vibes’, on the other hand, can be totally cool and pleasant, pretty much noncontroversial, and probably rather low-risk as well, since ‘Warmest vibes’ seems sincere and cordial.
I’ve fretted over words, myself, in emails and other correspondence, I’ll admit.
Hell, I’m ruminating, writing emails to Daily Post Editor Bill Hudson, sometimes… when I’m getting ready to submit my articles. I don’t mess around with my sign-off, though. It’s always just my name, ‘Harvey’, without further embellishment.
But signing off with ‘That’s about it… mmm… yeah’, might be sort of cool. Or ‘Warmest vibes’.
I’ll have to ruminate on that.
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.