Everyone (including me) had, at one time or another, a Rolodex on or near their desk. This was a critical item in every businessperson’s toolkit.
Many job interviews included this: “How’s your Rolodex? Is it up to date?” Nothing could compare to a bulging wheel of sales and business prospects. When one begins a new job, the first item out is a tattered, updated wheel of paper entries. It was a mark of success.
The critical companion to one’s Rolodex was, of course, an actual telephone set. Before every phone call, you had to flip through the cards, looking for the right prospect. If the person you were calling wasn’t with the company, you’d reach into the Rolodex and draw a line through their name. Very low-tech but hugely influential.
Sure, we have instant access to practically everyone on earth with our electronic devices; I use them daily. However, there’s nothing tactile to the process; I can’t look at an entry in my iPhone with the same sense of connection that I have with a Rolodex. After years of lugging one from place to place, I finally took the cards out and tossed them all into the bin.
While I do embrace change, I haven’t given up one other crucial business and social tool: my fountain pens. I’ll never stop writing actual letters and notes.
Are we there yet? 