Gilroy Was Here

I’m attending a workshop this weekend in New York hosted by Ternary Software on Holacracy. Holacracy is a term the company coined to embody the “Agile” way they run themselves. I decided it would be a good idea if I came up with some business cards since part of the reason I’m doing this is for networking with other professionals in my field.

I haven’t had business cards in a while and usually end up wasting a bunch of them when I get them through work, so I thought I’d take a different approach. The picture above is a scan of what I created. I’m calling it my “Agile Business Card”.

Here is a list of the advantages of this approach:

1. Mobile - I tend to move around allot. In the past 5 years I’ve worked for 6 different combinations of consulting firms and “permanent” employers. These cards are completely reusable regardless of the position I hold or the company I work for.

2. Reusable - Even if I stay with the same company for an extended period of time these cards are reusable if I change my e-mail addresses, phone numbers, web or physical addresses.

3. Flexible - This is where the real “agility” comes in. I can redesign the contents of these cards every time I meet a new person. Whether the encounter be for professional or personal reasons the card can be adapted. They are completely flexible in that I can write any information I want to give out on the card at the time I give it away.

4. Simple - These cards stand out amongst others in their simplicity. The only thing printed on it is the only thing that has virtually no chance of changing, my name.

5. Efficient - I’m a pretty open person. If you know my name you can find out a great deal about me, including contact info by simply doing a web search. My website happens to rank #1 on Google for the string “Frank Gilroy” should I forget to write anything on the card.

6. Versatile - They can double as a name tag in a pinch when crashing a professional or social event.

7. Economic - These cards use the least amount of ink and energy possible to convey anything relevant.

8. Personal Touch - These cards have a certain personal touch when combined with a hand written message.

9. Secure - If your wallet gets into the wrong hands these cards will prevent any would-be indentity theives from gathering more useful information on you.

10. Conversation Starter - If nothing else these cards will definitely beg the question, “Why do they only have your name on them?”. Outside of a group of agile software developers, you’ll have lots to talk about.