Carrying a Business Card While Wearing a Bikini

There’s a strategic reason Hubby and I vacation in the desert every summer.

First the phrase “It’s a dry heat” really does mean something to us.  Compared to the hot, humid temperatures at home, the arid heat of the desert is lovely. We can step outside without sweating and misters actually do their job of cooling a person off.

The main reasons are the silence and the savings. The luxury resort we visit is almost vacant and summer rates plummet to the point where it’s too good to pass up.  With so few guests, the staff to guest ratio is about five-to-one and we are treated like royalty.  Hubby and I pretend the hotel is our “estate” and the staff our employees, allowing them to wait on us hand and foot.

Isn’t that what vacation is all about? My philosophy is, if I can’t live this way year-round, at least I can live this way for seven glorious days.

So it was bound to happen.

The resort was quiet; we had the giant pool to ourselves.  In-between romance novels and fruity drinks I floated in my “private” pool on a giant inflatable pink donut I had purchased specifically for this occasion.

Suddenly there was splashing and commotion and loud talking and a flurry of staff activity. I raised my head, peering through my Ray-Bans.

Millennials! At least a dozen or more were descending on the pool area – my pool – totally disrupting the peace and quiet.

Sigh.

It was late in the day so I decided to just “float with it” and let them have fun.  As I did, one of them called out to me.

My giant pink donut and I floated over to see what they wanted; probably to borrow the donut and inquire about the fruity drinks.

I totally underestimated my new friends. They were attending a sales conference and one of them noticed the visor I wore with my school logo emblazoned across the front. That’s sure to start a conversation.

Suddenly we were networking, right there in the swimming pool. Let me tell you, it’s hard to be professional when you’re floating in a giant strawberry pink donut.

Discussion came to a critical point when we realized we needed to connect beyond the pool. “Let me get my business cards,” I said.

A thought crossed my mind. “Where does one carry a business card when wearing a bikini?”

As a former Girl Scout I knew to be prepared and had some in my bag along with my sunscreen and romance novels. My new friends were not as lucky.

They stuttered and stammered, saying they did have business cards but they were elsewhere.

I tell my clients, “Always, always, always carry a business card.”  You never know when you might have an opportunity to connect with someone.

Floating on a giant pink strawberry donut is highly unusual. As is networking while doing so.  But my new friends will remember me.

And they each have a sunscreen-stained business card with my information.