Networking, Business Cards, and an Unintended Ambulance Entrance

Life as an entrepreneur and a first responder is never dull, and yesterday was no exception!

I was sitting in the ambulance when I got a text from my “card dealer” Dominic at Minuteman Press East Dallas. Now, before anyone gets the wrong idea—he’s not dealing playing cards or anything sketchy, just the high-quality promotion cards I need for my ventures. He asked if I was heading to the Forney Area Networking Group meeting that morning. I had placed an order on Monday for more cards for the Wills Point Community Market, but I wasn’t expecting them until later in the week. So, when Dominic told me they were already ready, I knew I had to make a quick detour.

This is where things got fun.

Since I was already at the station, I decided to wake up my partner (because why not drag him into this adventure?) and head over to Alfredo’s Steakhouse, conveniently just around the corner. Now, for those who don’t know, pulling up in an ambulance in a tight parking lot is like making an unannounced grand entrance. Heads turn. People stare. And the immediate assumption? Someone is sick or in distress.

Thankfully, not this time.

I tried to make a quiet, low-key entrance, but let’s be real—sneaking in after parking a massive ambulance doesn’t exactly scream “subtle.” Instead, I unintentionally created a bit of a scene, causing a few chuckles from onlookers and networking attendees. Hey, if I can make people smile while eating lunch and network, I’ll call that a win.

At the end of the day, I got my cards without having to make a separate trip to Mesquite. A huge THANK YOU to Dominic for the amazing customer service and for bringing my cards to Forney—truly a lifesaver (okay, maybe not in the literal sense this time, but still!).

Moral of the story? Networking is essential, good business connections make life easier, and pulling up to a networking meeting in an ambulance guarantees you won’t go unnoticed.