Business Cards or Stone Tablets?

With people carrying with them an accumulating amount of technology on a daily basis, it is no wonder why the business card attracts the occasional peculiar look.  Is there perhaps a neo-perspective developing in terms of these tried and true slips of convenience?  It may be wise to reevaluate your business circle to determine if they will indeed benefit your growth or inhibit it.  Today, business cards are becoming increasingly outdated by the minute.  But an artist would be unwise to discard the basic pencil, no matter how obsolete the remainder of the world may view it.

There are some that do not believe in the concept of business cards in the least.  This past weekend, I was approached during a music video by a magazine representative.  When I made a comment about passing my business card to the rep before wrap, he replied, “I don’t do business cards; might as well just throw it in the trash ‘cause you’re just going to do the same after you save my number.”  I had previously received this response, so it did not catch me by surprise.  However, when it came time to wrap, the representative again pulled me to the side and asked for my information another time.  I was ill-prepared for such a personal exchange that I had completely forgotten to reapproach him myself.

It is never harmful to carry some with you at all times, however be ready to drop the idea at a moment’s notice and instead save your contact information directly to their cell phone.  Keep in mind that your card should be personable as well as professional, representative, and memorable.  There is nothing worse than someone looking to contact you and not remembering your card, or not remembering who gave them a particular card.  Below is an image of my own business card that I had to compose at the last minute without any templates, so I utilized a promotional deal using basic Vista print.  My card is bright and fashionable, and has ALL of my information on it.  My number is on one half, with all professional information on the other.  It is extremely effortless (and incredibly memorable) to merely tear my card in half and exclusively provide either my number or professional information.  Always ready to leave an impression!

With the risk of being on the frontier of any movement, it may be wise to adopt this new attitude towards business cards in order to appear more personable and available.  This can show the business world a number of things: they will be working DIRECTLY with you, you do not carry pieces of paper to give to just ANYBODY, you are genuinely interested in maintaining a relationship, you do not procrastinate, and if you are saving THEM, not just their information, amoungst other business partnerships (big and little, same league!).  Also, eliminating the card eliminates the possibility of losing their info, so you may let a good connection slip!  Furthermore, being the one to propose the paperless exchange can make an impression of its own.

Just be flexible and feel free to take a glance at my quick assemble below.  Keep in mind that each should design their card to be personable as well as professional, representative, and memorable.  It should fit your style, job, and be visibly modern and pleasant.  You may want to personalize yours a bit more with a picture or something related to your field.  However, you may also want to use a simple, basic template that will work just as well.

Be the Change

If you want to make the world a better place, then be the change you want to see in it. This is the most simplest of advice that all of us have heard our entire lives.  However, it is the most effective and the more daring of methods, and so not enough of us instill this wisdom in our practices.

It might be that girl, the one you’re looking at.  She’s that model in the magazine and she is everything a girl would want to be.  But the world doesn’t know that she might have an eating disorder or be addicted to any kind of drug.  She is such a good actress that no one suspects a thing, and she makes both vices look cool to everyone around her.  However, the perfume in the ad smells even sweeter because she is selling it.  You’d never guess that your fantasy girl might have problems herself.  One day it’ll be too late, because everyone around her refuses to notice or intervene.

Or maybe it’s the actor on the big screen.  He can’t distinguish real relationships from fake ones and so he is depressed.  He abuses alcohol on a regular basis.  But it makes everything better for him, and he is able to smile on camera.  Perhaps he suffers from a recent accident, or perhaps a parasitic cancer is consuming his body.  But he finds a way to numb the pain and do what he loves.  It puts pep in his step and a twinkle in his eye.  And people idolize him.  He keeps it a secret until he can’t conceal it anymore.

It’s probably the song you can’t get enough of on the radio.  Did you know the songwriter committed suicide a month after her song hit the charts?  She found the passion to write after she was recently attacked and raped.  She experimented dangerously with drugs and ODed three times in a week before the fourth attempt took her.  She tried to cry out to the world through another voice, and still no reply came that would save her.  The artist now sings the song with so much emotion and honor, it is hard not to believe it is not her own and no one remembers the pain of the songwriter.

These are popular themes in all types of work, the entertainment industry included.  However if we take Michael’s advice, the world would be better instantly.  For example, I work out instead of eating too little, I prefer to use raw/minimally-edited photos, and I strive to lift others up along with me, rather than isolating myself from inspirational talent.  Be the change you want to see in the world and lead by example.  Make an impression that lasts a lifetime and put your efforts toward that which matters.  How can you make a change?  Go out of your way to throw that energy into the universe and see what you reap.  Maybe it’s eating better, not smoking, saving money, being more considerate or humble, recycling, etc.  Whatever you choose to pass forward, good luck and stay true!