My wife Terri and I share an attribute that makes a huge difference in our lives: We care about what we do and strive to make a meaningful contribution to others.
The greatest fulfillment is derived when we meet a need for others and do it with a unique blend of care, talent, and appreciation. This is not about money and the transactional nature that dominates many business dealings. It’s about the unbeatable combination of care, talent, and appreciation that can lead to meaningful contributions and inspire us all.
“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
–Theodore Roosevelt
TwinzTalk Don and I bring this to our personal and professional work. We care about making an impact and appreciate clients who trust us to help them grow and develop. Throughout our careers and lives, we relentlessly focus on personal development to upgrade our talents (ultimately, while we control dedication and effort, we don’t control the external assessment of whether our talent meets a client’s expectations) and bring our best abilities to all we do.
This post, however, is about Terri Tomoff and her inspiring work through her Needle On Full t-shirt quilt business. Terri’s talent and dedication grew exponentially throughout our married life together. She is wickedly talented (I am biased!), yet the level of care she brings to her projects and her desire to provide “a one-of-a-kind treasured keepsake” to her customers is the highest compliment. This excerpt from a testimonial on her website articulates beautifully the impact she has made:
“So very thankful that we held onto our t-shirt bins and waited! I am very thankful we waited for the right person to come along before giving over our treasured t-shirts to be made into a quilt. I know from experience that not all T-shirt quilts are made the same way. When I saw the quilts Terri donated to The Talent Machine Company for their gala in November of 2021, I knew she was a very talented and skilled quilter. The quilts I saw were exquisite!”
Terri laughs when I mention that a “happy place” for me is when the family is in the house, and everyone is doing what lights their souls. Time spent on her quilting projects brings Terri joy and fulfillment. I hear the Bernina sewing machine or long-arm machine humming as she works, and I feel comfortable! All is well in the home.
She can have several quilt projects in her queue at any time. Witnessing the process from start to finish is heartwarming as I watch Terri move seamlessly through each stage, from meeting with the customer to delivering the finished treasured keepsake t-shirt quilt! I might even be asked my opinion when the t-shirts are arranged on her design board. No stone is left unturned to complete a compelling project for the customer!
When the quilt is delivered, the final package includes:
- A stunning quilt highlighting t-shirts from her customer’s favorite memories.
- A specially crafted label for the back of the quilt, based on the customer’s wishes.
- A Needle On Full bag to hold the quilt.
- Cleaning care instructions.
- A thank you note.
Terri takes great pride in servicing her customers to the best of her abilities. The t-shirts represent precious memories; she remembers these are very important to her customers.
Reflecting on Terri’s dedication to her craft and customers, I am impressed and believe we can learn much from her. Her Needle On Full initiative is an example of bringing talent and care together to make a meaningful contribution to others. This is not just about a transaction for a t-shirt quilt; it is about preserving memories and honoring life’s moments that are important to the customer. Terri’s commitment to excellence, genuine care for her customers, and appreciation for their trust in her inspires me. Her story is a testament to the power of combining talent with genuine care and appreciation. This lesson resonates far beyond the realm of quilting into every aspect of our lives.
Terri, thank you for being a trusted ally to many customers and leading by example in delivering “WOW” factor results to your customers with kindness and compassion.
