In this day and age, with so many high tech ways of doing things, we often forget about tried and true ‘old school’ methods of doing things.

There are online file storage programs, web based contact management systems, electronic to-do lists, and so on and so forth.

Does that mean we should all go paperless? Do away with our tangible file storage, rolodex and steno pads?

I don’t think so – not entirely, anyway.

If I had a rolodex, I would have business cards I collect in there and easily accessible. Instead, I enter my contacts’ information in an electronic database. After a networking event last week, I had my cards ready to be entered, and the one I really need I can’t find anywhere. I can’t find the person online either. I’m trying to go by memory to bring up her website address, but I have to do a thorough search here. I need to get a rolodex!

That has me thinking about what others do high-tech versus low-tech.

I like to keep actual manual notes about my clients. Each client has a notebook where I enter notes as we speak on the phone, I have their passwords for different applications stored there, and I find it very easy to access information very quickly.

I also keep old fashioned files in an old fashioned filing cabinet. I would like to have an identical system set up online, but with my not-quite-as-fast-as-high-speed Internet connection, the thought is rather painful to start uploading everything I have stored on my computer.

Another thing that really bugs me is ebooks. I love ebooks, I’ve even written some. But I can’t stand to read them on my computer screen. I print them out using FinePrint, which is a fabulous free (high tech) tool that helps to reduce paper and ink usage when printing items. I print my ebooks 4 pages per sheet of letter sized paper. I have them at my desk where I can read them in between projects, or for quick reference.

So what do you do the old fashioned way versus the technological way? What works for you?

4 Comments »