If you are in business, chances are you have a business card. It is certainly one of the most basic and common business tools, so useful both as an introduction and reminder.nnConsider how much information is generally available on a business card: your name, of course; how you can be reached (telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and street address, and Web site); and, depending upon the design and font you have chosen, a business card can speak volumes about your style, approach, and personality.nnWhat if I told you that you have a marketing tool right at your fingertips that is less expensive than a business card and offers tremendous amounts of information about you? That tool is your very own handwriting. “Yeah, right,” you might say with great skepticism. “Who even writes anymore?” Well, perhaps by learning a bit about the wealth of possibilities in your handwriting, you will be inspired to take pen in hand and write a note to a business colleague instead of dashing off yet another relatively anonymous email. A hand-addressed envelope is always the first one to be opened, and a hand-written note is always the last one to be tossed away. That fact alone makes your handwriting worth a second look!nnConsider that everything you write is a reflection of who you are. Your handwriting is not merely a function of your fingers and arm, or even your toes if that is where the pen is being held during the writing process. Handwriting actually begins in the cerebral cortex of the brain and carries encoded information from your subconscious mind to the subconscious mind of the person reading it. Your handwriting is a diagram of your beliefs and attitudes, of how fluidly you think, whether you react primarily from logic or emotion, how comfortable you are with yourself, and much, much more.nnIf you have trouble believing this, consider for a moment how many companies are requiring a handwriting analysis of potential employees before making final hiring decisions. The link between handwriting and personality has been recognized and explored for centuries. Just because our computer age is threatening to make handwriting obsolete does not negate its importance, its potential, or its impact. By learning how to maximize the ordinary tool of your very own handwriting, you are creating an extraordinary advantage for yourself in the business world.nnTaking a look at your signature is a great place to start. First of all, start thinking of it as an “autograph,” just like a celebrity. Who is to say that your autograph will not be worth money someday? To prepare for that outcome, really look at how you sign your name. Is your autograph working for you, or against you? Here are a few specifics to get you thinking in some great new directions. nnHow large or small is your autograph? The smaller the size of your writing, the more intense the traits, both productive and unproductive. An autograph that is too small may send the message that you are only comfortable in a very small space in this big, wide world. An autograph that is disproportionately large may send the message that you expect to always be at the center of the universe. In handwriting, as in life, balance is key.nnDoes your autograph match the rest of your writing? If slant, size, or spacing is different, consider that you may be putting on a mask for the world. What is it about your true self (revealed in your day-to-day writing) that you may not be comfortable with? What is it about your autograph (your public self) that feels “safer” for you? Sometimes it is your day-to-day writing that could stand to be changed to match your autograph. nnSpeaking of slant, how is yours? The more slanted your writing, the more you are ruled by your emotions, rather than logic. If your autograph is leaning like the Tower of Pisa, straightening it up will actually help rewire your brain to respond to life in a more centered and, yes, balanced way. nnWhat about spacing? If the letters of your autograph are crowded together, maybe you need some more “breathing room” in your life. Believe it or not, allowing balanced space between the letters reinforces a greater sense of space in your life. A little alone time is healthy for everyone. nnPerhaps you cannot tell what the spacing is between the letters because you cannot tell what the letters are. Could it be that your autograph is nothing more than a squiggle of the pen? An autograph that is not completely legible is like using an unreadable font on your business card. What a waste! And what negative PR. While illegible autographs can signal a tremendous intellect and energy, they are also registering a certain level of detachment, inaccessibility, and, in some cases, even fear—probably not the message you want to be sending to colleagues, employees, or clients! What does it feel like to sign your autograph so that it is completely legible? If you are like most people with unreadable, “thready” autographs, efforts to write it legibly may cause surprising discomfort. If this is the case with you, just notice what the emotions are and keep practicing the legible autograph. Eventually, the new neural pathways you create in the brain will override the discomfort, and you will be amazed at how whole and free you might feel.nnIf you have never before even considered the possibilities for professional—and personal—excellence through handwriting changes, just try some of these suggestions for 40 days and see if you notice a difference. You may discover that your very own autograph in your very own handwriting is a potential business asset that you can maximize with a little time and attention—a proven mind-body connection for success that is right at your fingertips!nn** This article is one of 101 great articles that were published in 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life. To get complete details on “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life”, visit
http://www.selfgrowth.com/greatways3.html nn