Traveling has taught me many things. Like how to pack the most in the smallest space. And, how to sleep on planes. How to speed pack. But today, I learned something that we all need to know. How to talk on a cell phone in public.

This is not a story complaining about the rude Chatty Cathy types, but a story about how using your cell phone can give many strangers a lot of information about yourself and your business.

Today, I met John Smith. He doesn’t know that we met, but in the airport, he was on his cell phone giving out his name. I also now know his street address and that he lives in the same zip code as I do. He also has a Bank of America credit card, which if I had wanted to, I could have keyed his account number into my cell phone. I know that John is not happy with Bank of America and that he was contacted repeatedly by the banks representatives about, ironically enough – their privacy protection package. I know that John declined the package (he obviously doesn’t need anyone helping him with his privacy). I know that his charge card statement reflects the charge for the privacy package, and that this packagecosts $90.

While learning a great deal about John Smith that I don’t need or want to know, I had to think about how many times I have been on my cell phone. Discussing my dealings with someone at the other end of the line, in an airport or someplace swarming with strangers.

John taughtme a valuable message today. I am passing this along to you to pass along to your employees.

Remember when using your cell phone in public places to be aware that there are people around you. People who may be the type to key in your credit card number for later use. People who may be friends of your wicked client. People who might work at a competing shop and just need to hear a little bit of your dirty laundry to take your big client away.

Some general rules to follow are:

1.Don’t use names (company or person) when having conversations in public places. If you need to do so, find a private area before making the call.

2. Don’t discuss any financial information. Besides the obvious regarding account numbers, don’t talk about billing rates, cost rates, salaries, or sales figures. Again, I know how much I could buy things that I don’t even know what they are or what they do, just by being in an airport with a zealous salesperson.

3. If you will need to introduce yourself with first and last name, find aprivate place before you make the call.

4. If you are calling about a topic that makes you agitated, be sure to keep a gauge on your volume. Just because you are frustrated with the company/person, doesn’t mean that everyone around you needs to know about it.

5. Finally, don’t discuss work problems in public places (on or off the phone).Even if you are having lunch with a friend, knowing that the new guy in the office is lazy and incompetent, may be the morsel of knowledge that the person sitting at the table next to you has been trying to get.

I would like to thank John Smith for teaching me this lesson. Maybe I can stop by his house and share the lesson with him sometime.

* The actual name of this individual has been changed—to protect the privacy of the innocent.