Real examples

Thank you all for being here today. On behalf of the family, I want to say how much it means to see so many of you come to honour Robert. He made everyone feel attended to, important, and welcome — so it's only fitting that this room is full.

Now, I should explain why I'm the one standing up here. A few of us who loved Robert had a quiet conversation about who should speak today, and it turned out I had a few things going for me: we had a lot in common, I'm a reasonably good speaker, and — perhaps most importantly — I was the only one willing to front up to the microphone. Robert would have laughed at that. He'd have understood it completely.

Robert was 85 years old, and he packed those years with the things that mattered most to him: his beloved wife Christine, his kids, his friendships, and his photography. He was, at his core, a genuinely good person. Down to earth. Incredibly humble. And — I say this without any exaggeration — one of America's greatest photographers.

That last part and the humble part somehow existed together in the same person, which tells you something remarkable about the man.

If you know Meg, you’ll know there are a few things you can absolutely count on. She is devoted — to this family, to keeping us all together, to contributing in every way she can. And she is devoted to her knitting. Seriously devoted. The woman has probably knitted enough to keep a small nation warm through winter, and in many ways, that’s exactly what she does — she keeps us warm. Not just in the literal sense, though I suspect more than one of us has been on the receiving end of something woolly and lovingly made. No, I mean the way she makes you feel when you’re around her. There is a warmth to Meg that is simply consistent — and consistency, as we all know, is one of her great gifts.

Which brings me to the jokes.

Meg is consistently funny. I want to be very careful about how I phrase that. She is… reliably, dependably, always funny. Whether the joke lands is, perhaps, a separate question — but she delivers them with the same cheerful confidence every single time, and honestly, that commitment is its own kind of comedy.

Subject: Resignation – [Your Name], Senior Account Manager

Dear Darren,

I am writing to formally notify you of my resignation from my position as Senior Account Manager at Acme Pty Ltd. My last working day will be 1 August 2026.

Over the past 12 years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside a number of genuinely talented and dedicated colleagues, and I am grateful for those working relationships. They have been a meaningful part of my time here.

In the weeks ahead, I intend to close out my current projects as thoroughly as I can to support a smooth transition.

I wish the business well going forward.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

A note included with this draft: The email above is professional, clean, and does exactly what it needs to do — without warmth it doesn't mean, and without anything that could reflect poorly on you later. A few things worth knowing:

Darren is not thanked by name. The gratitude is directed genuinely toward colleagues, which is honest and reads naturally.

The tone is reserved, not cold. It closes the door quietly rather than slamming it — which is usually the better outcome for your reputation.