This has been doing the rounds on twitter and emails today so apologies if you have already seen it.
Comedy value aside, I think this guy has more to worry about than his business cards.
His name is Joel Bauer; he’s apparently a hugely successful motivational speaker and I’m not about to knock him for that. Although, am I the only one who is a little scared of anyone describing themselves as a ‘motivational speaker’?
Maybe that’s why on his equally hilarious and disturbing website Joel chooses to describe himself as an Infotainer.
For those who don’t quite believe what you have just read, once more with feeling: an INFOTAINER.
Srsly…
Although I subscribe to Seth Godin‘s Purple Cow theory that it pays to be remarkable, I’m pretty sure it’s meant to apply to a business as a whole – not just a business card.
In any case, I don’t care how remarkable your business card is, if you convey yourself as having the blended personalities of Patrick Bateman and David Brent – the two most abhorrent characters in the history of fictional businessmen – you’re not going to appeal to me.
By putting so much stock in the business card, that most anachronistic 80s hangover of business tools, Joel has neglected the fact that his website and all his available online video content are conspiring to portray him as a complete arse.
If people want to know about someone they have met, they aren’t going to revisit the ludicrous card they have wedge in their pocket, they’ll Google him. And the returns for Joel Bauer, especially the video returns, make him look ridiculous.
Maybe he can spend the next 25 years picking up the pieces and repairing his online personal brand.
Oh and a usability point: if a card doesn’t go with all the other cards, it goes in the bin.
[Just trying out something sneaky with these links: Tom Knowles Joel Bauer Joel Bauer Joel Bauer Joel Bauer]
