Who We Are
Sure, AT Direct is an experienced, direct response marketing resource for non-profits and other businesses. But, from the get-go, we have always maintained a people-first attitude. Or, as our founder Judy Antisdel likes to say, “We enjoy working with people and helping them solve their problems. It is incredibly motivating and fun.” We believe that attitude shapes what others — especially our customers, vendors, friends, and visitors — think of us. People want to be around other people who are understanding, dedicated, enjoyable, and...
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Want to Start Your Own Business? Just Pick Up a Shovel
People ask me all the time, “What’s the secret to running your own business, Judy?” Well, some of it has to do with luck. A little over 30 years ago, I decided to start a small company in an industry where (countless) others have failed. And today that idea has grown into a successful, million-dollar venture. Of course, it’s not just luck that got me to my fourth decade — it’s taken a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, weekend shifts, etc. And it has taken faith, and lots of it: often, in fact, when I think I can’t go on, or don’t want to,...
read moreTo Be Mean or Not to Be Mean: You Are the One Who Gets to Choose
I was grazing on Facebook recently and came across the picture of a very young girl with glasses so big that they covered most of her face. She was so cute: She looked like an adorable little bug! The photo caption mentioned that other kids were bullying her, because of her brand-new glasses, and her feelings were hurt. The caption went on to say that, because she was being teased, the little girl no longer wanted to wear her glasses, which she needed to wear. There I was, literally caught with my pants down, with no chance to escape or...
read moreTreat Everyone to a Drink of Water in a Glass, Not a Disposable Paper Cup
One summer, when I was about 9 or 10, I found a brand-new friend while walking through an alley in my neighborhood, on the way to the grocery store. His name was Donald and he was black. Back then, I didn’t know there was a color divide, and I didn’t care — all I knew was that I had a new buddy who loved to do the things I did, and that made me happy. We had a grand time that summer. We would meet in the alleyway to play games and read books and talk about the stories we read, and we took turns reading aloud to each other. One afternoon, as...
read moreJust Give People an Opportunity, and the Rest Will Take Care of Itself
I read an op-ed in my local newspaper recently that got my attention, and not in a good way. (Yes, I still read the newspaper. I look forward to it each morning, in fact. There is just something so familiar and communal about sharing the different sections with my spouse and commenting on what we read. It’s a quieter, less-distracted morning ritual than sharing links on social media.) What grabbed me was the op-ed writer’s declaration that the United States of America is no longer a land of opportunity. I disagree! At least in terms of the...
read moreKeep Holiday Traditions Alive by Sharing Them With Others
It’s that time of year again: time to put up the tree, hang the lights, and pick through the big box of ornaments to see which ones made it from last year (following the January 2nd “holiday purge”). Time once again, in other words, to honor some cherished traditions. I love the sights and sounds of the winter holidays — but not until after Thanksgiving, and certainly not the day after Halloween, when the advertisers start making noise. I don’t mean to sound like The Grinch, but Christmas carols sung in October quickly become as stale as last...
read moreShare a ‘Mail Moment’ with Someone, And Leave a Lasting Impression
November is National Writing Month. Does that excite you or terrify you? I suspect that it’s the latter, not the former, for most of you reading this. I know, writing is hard, and it takes time and no small amount of thought to write something, whether that’s an essay or blog post, or even a thank-you note. Believe me, I know this first-hand. But I also know that writing is rewarding, to the writer and the reader. Writing opens our senses and gives us a chance to say something important. This is especially true for hand-writing. There’s...
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