If you are in business, you understand all the reasons why it is wise to carry your business cards with you everywhere. After all, you never know who you will meet, and when you meet people, you never know who that person is or who that person might know. With a healthy stack of business cards in your pocket or pocketbook, you are always ready to pass the card along to someone who might become a future client or customer. But while most people in business know the benefits of carrying business cards with them, and practice this sound business practice without any problems, far fewer businessmen and businesswomen ever think to carry around business cards that belong to someone else. This can be a very beneficial practice, and here are just a few of the reasons why.


Conversations with strangers are golden opportunities; as a businessperson, you understand this. Every opportunity to talk to someone you do not know just might be the exact opportunity you have been looking for. But if a stranger thinks that you are starting a conversation with them strictly to sell them something, they are likely to be turned off. Naturally, people are protective of their money; they don’t want to talk to you if they think you’re trying to get some of their money in your pocket! But you have a pocket full of safe conversation starters at the ready when you have others’ business cards. Perhaps you will overhear someone in a shop in the mall, talking about how they need a plumber. If you have your favorite plumber’s card ready in your stack of others’ business cards, you can enter into their conversation. “Excuse me, but I couldn’t help overhearing you say you need a plumber; I happen to know a great plumber – he’s worked on our house, and we’ve been thrilled with him!” You have now entered their conversation without trying to sell them anything at all. The conversation is sure to cycle back around to you, and to what you do for a living.

Furthermore, people are far more likely to remember someone who helped them out without any reason to do so. Whenever the conversation does come back to you, you are sure to give away one or two of your own business cards. And you will have yourself a new customer the next time something arises in this person’s life that you might be able to help with.

Even though the practice of carrying others’ business cards might seem insignificant, it might just be the “small step” that brings you your next big thing.