Business Card Title
I've started as a freelancer and back then I got a friend to design me two business cards that I handle in different situations.
Bellow my name I have:
- IT Consultant, the generic card that I handle in the "generic" situation.
- Dat Migration Expert, my expertise, which I handle for specific data migration/system integration situations.
My situation has changed and now I have a very good team working with me, but I'm the only one that call the shots.
Some days ago I met an old friend, he was abroad for almost 10 years, and when I handle him a card, he stated:
"You should really put something in it that states that you call the shots "
He got me thinking and I believe he's right.
I'm the guy that does everything - business development, sales, accouting, etc. -, i.e., I'm the C*O guy...
The word "owner" is out of the question, "partner" does not apply and "CEO" is not quite true...
The best I came with was "founder".
Is this the best title for a guy that has it's own business and it's alone on it?
Marketing Personal Business Card
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If you have two, the ideal titles are Lord High Executioner and Lord High Everything Else. For one, perhaps Lord High Everything would work. – Chris Morgan 13 years ago
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I like "Director" – Tim J 13 years ago
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How about this one? http://www.google.co.uk/search?gcx=w&q=ceo,+bitch – Ryan 13 years ago
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Well, High Lord sound cool, but it also sounds as 8 years old or an ego thing. After reading a while, C*O starts to sound like a real option... – Fernando Martins 13 years ago
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@FernandoMartins: "Lord High Executioner" and "Lord High Everything Else" are direct references to *The Mikado*, by Gilbert and Sullivan. I've come across them used flippantly two or three times. It wasn't a serious suggestion. – Chris Morgan 13 years ago
4 Answers
Using founder says you are a start up. Good or Bad, this can make some people you are dealing with see you as small, not serious, and the like. I am not saying that is the right impression to have, but some will have it. CEO, CTO, President, etc... says authority and implies that you have structure. I think CEO or President would be a better choice for you.
I like "founder", it doesn't seem out of place for a small company, and doesn't come across as an ego title.
I am not sure if there are local differences, but in Australia it is common to see "Director" and "Managing Director" as well.
Personally I use founder if I need a title, but even better for me is no title at all. No title gives you the most versatility.
I like founder as it is accurate, unpretentious, and wears well over time.
I’d suggest seeing this prior question on titles. There's lots of discussion and some great answers.
In the UK 'Director' or 'IT Director' is a good option if your start-up is a Limited company. It is both accurate and says that you are jn charge.
Director is also suitably vague for most situations and, in my opinion, not too pretentious.
