It is the end of the meeting, and it’s time for a dance I call : The Business Card Shuffle. Each meeting participant gathers their business cards to pass out to all the other meeting participants. And, so begins The Business Card Shuffle.  The music playing in the background for this dance is the sound of one and two word phrases mumbled softly to one another, the dull roar occasionally punctuated with a short burst of laughter.  Partners change quickly as cards are passed. Then, we all go on with our day, moving onto the next event.

I’ve often wondered where all those business cards go. Where do people put them, tuck them away to? Rolodexes? Business card organizers? In a big pile with an elastic around it tucked in a top desk drawer?  I am sure there’s an app that lets you take a picture of the cards and organize them that way.  

Recently, at a meeting, one gentleman gave me three of his business cards. He joked around, saying that he loves to hand them out. I joked back, suggesting that he post them on the community board at the grocery store, like where people advertise their babysitting and dog walking services. He laughed. 

I would not want to offend anyone by not dancing with them and shunning their business card. So, I will keep doing The Business Card Shuffle, collecting other’s business cards. Until the next Business Card Shuffle……