Matt’s secret decoder ring
Back at the beginning of time itself (1991-1992), I was unemployed for the first time since getting out of the Army in 1971.
Although I did have an IBM compatible computer that I bought when I lost my job, this was a “pre-laptop” period of time. In order to keep all my contacts organized, I typed up 3x5 cards with the FULL business card information on everyone I was contacting. (Fortunately, I type 90 words/minute.) I then made handwritten notes on these cards documenting my calls and correspondence.
At first, I was able to put a rubber band around the cards and take them with me to outplacement. One rubber banded group of cards became two. In short order they became 3 and 4 groups. And, not long after that, I gave up and got a card file drawer that I carried around. At the end of my search, I had 1,400 index cards. I may even have had 2 or 3 card file drawers.
By being able to thumb through my cards, I was able to see at a glance who I needed to call or write because I had not been in touch in say 3 months. And, if someone contacted me, I was quickly able to find their card and see what notes were there.
I also had a program called DataPerfect on my desk station and programmed a database similar in structure to what is now The FENG membership database. Not a coincidence, since the design of our membership database evolved from my early efforts to keep my business contacts organized.
The first point I would like to make is how quickly things can spin out of control when you are building up your business contacts during a search. And, if you think my card file was a little out of control, you would be right. But I would also suggest that those of you who are using an Excel spreadsheet to maintain a record of those you are contacting, you are also out of control.
We have so many computer tools today that it is often hard to decide where to begin. In this context, spending a few bucks on a simple Customer Relationship Database is just plain smart. The two I am somewhat familiar with are DEX (https://getdex.com/) and ACT! (https://www.act.com/), but there are many others.
By setting up a database with the FULL business card information on those with whom you are networking, you can become a magician just like me. Anyone who calls or emails me, I can look them up in my contact database system. I can find people by their names, phone numbers or email addresses. And, by putting them all in one place with an individual record for each person, you can be constantly “improving” it by checking all correspondence you get against your database. This is how we maintain The FENG database. Every email you get can contain additional information, so be sure to check. Sometimes it is a cell phone. Sometimes it highlights that your contact has changed jobs.
And, not to worry, if you have several hundred contacts in Excel. Any contact database package you get will allow you to tag your Excel fields and pour them into their software.
This is one of those times where if you are already using a contact database system, please write to Leads@TheFENG.org and tell us about it. What package are you using? Share a story about how it is making your search more effective. Leslie will publish your story in our Notes From Members section.
Regards, Matt