Tattoos are the new business card

Do you think this tattoo trend is sexy or silly?

tattoo # 4 – finished! (Photo credit: Tracy Lee)

It’s  been a great couple of days here in Atlanta! Spent mostly doing volunteer work for SHRM in their social media hub, and  spending time with friends, old and new.  It’s the best part of the conference for me.  It’s also the most fun.

Here’s a link to a wry and witty post by my buddy Paul Hebert, who says he really doesn’t do HR.  Apparently he just likes to hang around with us and party.  Check out his “HR outsider” perspective on #SHRM12, especially his comment on tattoos.

Speaking of tattoos,  I attended the #SHRM12 Tweetup that was sponsored by Glassdoor last night, and discovered a new networking ritual.  Apparent,y HR people no longer need to exchange business cards.  We prefer to show each other our tattoos.  It’s different. It’s fun. It’s even sexy.  I know this because one HR lady told me its floral design thigh tattoo was sexy as she modeled it for me and several other people while waiting in line for drinks.

I found out anther thing  about HR people last night.   We don’t adapt well to change (Jim Collins just said “change” five times in ne sentence!).  Drinks at the Tweetup were widely available for the VIP. Hour last night. They were free inside.  They were only available for cash outside on the patio, where it was much cooler.  This caused a lot of consternation.  People were pissed and a bartender mildly abused.  It all ended well though, after about the second drink round.

That’s when the tattoos started coming out.  A young woman seated at the bar suddenly turned to me, pointed at her thigh and said: “See my tattoo, do you think it’s sexy?”   She then shared a couple more on her arm and wrist.  I wound up baring my left leg to show her my tattoo.  We were not the only people doing this at the event.

Tattoos – the new ice breaker, or perhaps the new business card.  Here’s my tat, and here’s the story behind it.

Yes, for the record, I have one. It’s a winged lizard, on my left leg.  No photos available.

How about you?

 

Tagged as: Atlanta, Bodyart, Glassdoor, Human Resources, Jim Collins, SHRM, Tattoo, twitter, Very Important Person, Volunteering