The Honest Truth: It Just Doesn’t Matter
This morning I paid a visit to my friendly, neighborhood printing store (PB Printing), where Mario the manager was on hand to listen to my latest tales of printing mishaps.
“I have a business card crisis,” I announced. “I am trying to print my new cards with the new logo, and two printers have produced disappointing results. See, this one is too flimsy, and this one was cut too small. And I have 1000 of each! Don’t you think I need to redo them?”
Mario paused, thinking for a moment. “Yes, this one’s a little thin. And it’s so strange that these cards are so small, but honestly — and I don’t mean to talk myself out of a sale — honestly, you’re just being too picky.”
Too picky? Didn’t he see that the cards were not PERFECT? Couldn’t he tell that I was ready to pay yet more money to make everything EXACTLY the way I had imagined it?
Mario continued, “I know these little things mean a lot to you, but frankly, no one else will care. It’s a business card. It holds your information. These are both perfectly acceptable, and I’m sure you can think of better ways to invest in your business that will pay off more than this.”
Ahhh. Mario is indeed wise. Although my new business cards are not PERFECT, not one recipient would look at them and say, “Wow. Bad cards. I’m never calling her.” If I hadn’t talked to Mario, I would have gone to yet a third discount online printer to try to improve on the cards, and I would have ended up with another 1000.
Things I learned this morning:
- Experts are helpful.
Talking to Mario and benefiting from his years of experience, I saved myself time and hassle, not to mention more money. Thank you, Mario! (Plus, by talking me out of these cards, he probably earned himself another sale the next time I need to print something.) - It’s easy to lose perspective.
As Mario pointed out — these are just business cards. You get them. You give them. Some stand out. Some don’t. It’s just no big deal. - Perfection is tough to find.
The whole logo and site redesign started because I ran out of the old business cards. I needed to update my address and add other services to my site. Thus began a complete redesign that took several weeks, about a thousand bucks and a whole lot of worrying. And I had envisioned the perfect business card to be the culmination of my hard work. - Two thousand business cards is a lot.
My original business card order in 2007 was for a thousand cards. It took me two years to give them all out. Now I have 2000 new cards. Anyone want one? Or a dozen?
twocatslj on 12 Nov 2009 at 12:38 pm #
Hi Beth-
Sometimes all that is needed is a voice of reasoning. I am so glad Mario did that for you.
Mario on 12 Nov 2009 at 1:10 pm #
Lol! Beth, you are awesome. Thanks for sharing the delightful tale of your visit with me. Sometime next year when you run out of your cards PB Printing will be happy to help you. We’re only perfectionists about what we print. Not too small, not too big… just right. And on a nice thick cardstock as well.
Sincerely,
Mario Prado Jr.
PB Printing
Sam on 12 Nov 2009 at 1:36 pm #
You are funny. What you need is one of those fancy little card holders you stick to the outside of your car. I bet you can get rid of a few cards that way
)
Global Patriot on 12 Nov 2009 at 4:35 pm #
I’ve collected hundreds of business cards over the years, and it’s amazing to see the variation of card stock, colors, layout.
Every once in a while I’ll get one that is so well done that I take notice – beautiful color, font, layout, paper – but such a card will never influence who I do business with, as that decision is all about how my impression of the person who gave me the card.
Wendy on 12 Nov 2009 at 4:44 pm #
You remind me of myself, always seeking perfection. I have to pull myself back from the quest a lot, because when I really think about it perfection has has less to do with high standards and more to do with forcing myself to move on and get this show on the road. Plus, I get hung up on business cards too.
Roy Moses on 12 Nov 2009 at 6:00 pm #
Sometimes, Beth, perfection can work against you. Years ago when I was a university flack I attended a regional meeting/convention of school flacks. A guy from some university i don’t recall told of a fund-raising printed piece they worked on, and the designer was so good with uses of limited color, colored paper, colored ink, color blocks, bleeds, etc. that the brochure looked like a million bucks, but the cost per unit was really quite reasonable.
However, they had so many responses saying things like “if you can afford a print job like this, you don’t need my money.” Upshot: they took the offending piece out of circulation.
Craig on 13 Nov 2009 at 8:04 am #
I get mine 250 at a time from VistaPrint for about nine bucks.