I was searching to see if anyone still even uses index cards and was surprised to learn that you are still out there!

I started a new sales position with Omaha Steaks and I am anywhere in DFW Metroplex on any given day. Because of this I need to be able to access my contacts just in case I want to stop by and see if Susie Steak-eater needs more sirloin.

I was advised by numerous people to use an online database or something more ‘current’ and here are the disadvantages of anything technology related:

1- Lost time. The time spent searching for contacts or in front of the computer is never what you think it will be. I have been teaching online courses for almost 10 years and it is so very difficult to not get lost reading something else that is posted on World News Daily. The last thing I want is to take more time on the computer than necessary.
2- Transportability. I can take my index cards with me. Yes I can take my laptop with me too; however, I can find a client’s name and be en route before my computer has even started up.
3- Organization ability. I have my contacts separated by color. North Dallas is pink, West Dallas is green, East Dallas is orange, and South Dallas is yellow. If I am going to be in South Dallas then I know what color of contacts I will be searching for. I use the city as the starting point so anything north of dallas, etc. etc. I have white cards that I will use for business accounts and I put stickers on the top left corner to signify what part of the metroplex the business is located. I have them alphabetical and easy to see.
4-Ease of use. I can pull a card and on the front I have vital information; name, anniversary, birthday etc. On the top right I have the date of last purchase with the date to contact next. So it looks like: June/August. When I look at the customer card I can see who is next in line to be called based upon that. On the back of the card I have their last purchase so I know what they may or may not want along with their needs for special events etc. I put a label sticker over the date as it needs to be updated so if I can’t get it to peel off I just put another one over it. It never gets out of hand with too many stickers because I can just start with a new card.
5- No loss of information during sync. I don’t have extra steps involved that I would with any technology. I just add the information and I am done. No batteries. No syncing and then later realizing it’s on my laptop and not my palm or something like this.

So far this has worked great for me. Some call it old school while I call it efficient. Technology is there to make life easier; however, the time spent and what it requires in regards to use is more time than I want to give.

I needed something that would keep me organized, efficient, and not glued to my computer-this does everything for less than 10 bucks!

I hope this helps.

For those of you who want more colors of index cards and you can’t find them just go buy some card stock paper in the size you want and take it to the business area of Office Max (cheaper than Depot) and have them cut it for you. Custom index cards in a matter of seconds. It will cost more and they won’t be lined but in the end you will probably have many more and they will be customized for your needs.

Project: Buy new car tires
Actions
– Call Jim to get number for tire place @calls
– Research tire brands @computer
– Schedule appointment for tire change

You’ll notice the first two items have a context with the @ symbol and the last doesn’t. I have index cards for “calls” and “computer” and will list these items.

When I’m mobile, I don’t carry all the project cards, just the context ones. You will have to do a weekly review to close any open loops but this is recommended by David Allen as critical anyway. With index cards, I can go through all my projects in less than an hour. It sounds like a lot, but will help keep you clear and focused and not leave any open loops.

This is just right! I already am addicted to index cards anyway and even have used a less thought through system and various colors. So I’m on the wavelength. [You can’t get hooked one exact colors, any shade of peach is peach. I also appreciate thought of using colored pens if necessary and use up your hundreds (my hundreds I should say!) of white cards first. Economy!

My aim today is NOT TO BUY ANY NEW OFFICE SUPPLIES–leads me astray. I have all I need here including an ugly black tickler file for 43 folders, if necessary. But will try to subsist entirely on index cards.

I get new materials (reward) after one month if I’ve been good and done what I’m promising today.

aurora

Nice post.

Coworkers refer to it as my ‘blackberry’.

Thanks Joe.

John

Pankaj

And you’ll congratulate me (I hope) on abandoning the search for the perfectly colored cards. I have some colors. If I need more, I swipe a highlighter across one or more edges of a card. As long as it looks different from the others, it looks like a different context. 10 more thanks.

I have struggled many years with my GTD system and your 3X5 card process was the answer I have been seeking. This is hot! One question how do you manage your projects? Thank you for your great 3X5 card process.
Mark

Does anyone use two systems?… For me, the PDA/Palm Desktop is fantastic at work but I think the index system would work better for me at home.

Any opinions?…