Get Quarterly Inspiration Via Snail Mail with Quarterly Co

Zach Davis January 2, 2012 Tweet

Who ever said snail mail is dead?  They might feel differently about that after checking out Quarterly Co.

This once-per-quarter mail service curates some of the most interesting and influential taste makers and industry leaders, and has them send you a package based on a specific theme.  For example, Josh Rubin and Evan Orensten, the creators of Cool Hunting, “look at design as an exercise in problem solving. While aesthetics are important functionality matters, too. Our theme is based on clever combinations of form and function.”  Instead of relying on the weekly e-mail newsletter that more often than not ends up adding bulk to your inbox and ultimately stress, this non-electronic version of mail may be the hidden inspiration you were looking for to jump-start your next great idea.

Another example – the package from Michael Karnjanaprakorn, creator of Skillshare, an online marketplace for learning new skills, aims to help you do just that.

“Continuously learning new skills, building knowledge, and experiencing great times is key to staying sharp and growing as a person. Each mailing will help you expand your horizons by teaching you something new. Whether it’s a new game, a print, or a powerful book, each item will come with the mission to make you a better person.”

A subscription to this service costs only $25 per quarter, and the current lineup of contributors showcases a vast array of interesting entrepreneurs.

Signing up for Quarterly can have benefits beyond just the obvious spark of inspiration or skill acquisition.  The contents of these packages are conversation starters.  In browsing through the website, find the contributor best aligned with your practice, and subscribe.  Upon receiving your first package, follow up with the entrepreneur, thanking them, asking them a question, or sharing a similar learning lesson or story based upon the contents.  In doing so, you are building a unique bond that goes beyond the 140 characters of a Twitter message, the cold-intro through Linkedin, or joining the masses in hounding them at an industry conference.  Also, when considering the cost of traditional networking conferences, the $100 yearly price tag of Quarterly suddenly seems a lot cheaper.

So take your networking efforts “outside of the box” and inside the Quarterly package.