When his poor handwriting embarrassed him, a Colorado account manager turned his frustration into a creative service that now writes cards for clients across the country.
Challenge
For years, David D. built his career in hospitality, working long hours managing luxury resorts. He was successful but exhausted, often clocking 80-hour weeks with little personal time. Eventually, he transitioned into a software account manager role—a job with better balance but less creativity.
Then, during the holidays, David visited his girlfriend’s family for the first time. The visit went well, but when handwritten thank-you cards began arriving afterward, he felt compelled to send his own. Sitting down with pen and paper, though, he quickly realized how bad his handwriting had become. Every card looked sloppy. After tossing out several failed attempts, he gave up, embarrassed.
That frustration became his spark: Surely there had to be a better way for people like me to send personalized, handwritten cards without actually writing them by hand.
Action
David discovered that “mechanical handwriting” machines existed—devices that could replicate human handwriting using real pens. But they were rare and expensive, costing around $10,000 each. Instead of giving up, he contacted a Virginia-based manufacturer and negotiated a month-to-month lease for $400.
That creative workaround allowed him to test his concept before committing to a major investment. With the machine and a simple website, BroNote was born—a service offering custom, machine-written notes for clients who wanted the personal touch without the penmanship stress.
Initially, David targeted individual customers who wanted to send one-off cards. But at $5 per order, it wasn’t sustainable. So he pivoted to focus on business clients—companies that needed handwritten thank-you notes or customer appreciation messages in bulk.
He marketed BroNote through online forums about customer engagement and direct mail. Slowly but surely, orders began to grow.
Result
BroNote evolved from a small apartment startup into a thriving niche business. Today, the service writes dozens of cards weekly for corporate clients—real estate agents, event planners, and e-commerce shops that want a personal touch in their customer outreach.
David continues to refine his marketing, test pricing, and expand his offerings. His early adaptability—leasing instead of buying, shifting from consumers to businesses—allowed him to grow without financial risk.
Lesson
David’s story proves that great businesses often start with a simple problem we experience ourselves. He didn’t invent handwriting, technology, or greeting cards—he just connected them creatively.
And his biggest advantage wasn’t luck; it was resourcefulness. When faced with a $10,000 obstacle, he found a $400 solution—and that mindset made all the difference.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.