I’ve had a good deal of positive feedback from November’s Her Nashville Chic Geek column; thanks for taking the time to email, Tweet and Facebook-wall me with your thoughts!

My latest column tells the true story of a gal (who’s name has been changed) who showed up to a networking event with the best of intentions, but failed to bring along business cards. This got me to thinking of how important it is to be prepared to sell yourself, your talents, your brains and your intentions at a moments’ notice:

No card, no LinkedIn account, and no napkin to write on. Just a portfolio. In a bar. (sigh)

This common peer-party foul is not reserved for the recent grad. Young and advanced professionals — especially those between jobs — often find themselves in a room full of potential bosses, sales leads, and important contacts without a clear way to show folks who they are professionally and how to reach them personally.

It’s not the end of the world of course, but if you’re looking for a new gig (or first gig), it is a missed opportunity. Worse, what if it’s the opportunity?

Fo