Need to make a decision and stick to it!! ASAP

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gator

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Here I go again!
I am in Business Development (Outside Sales). I travel each week by car and meet clients usually at a coffee shop, cafe etc.
I have spent way too much $$$ and time on different paper based tools. I have an Iphone, but use it mainly for contacts, and calendar.
I love the Levenger Circa notebooks and have enjoyed using the JR sized leather foldover notebook because it's small enough when I'm in a Starbucks and table space is limited. It feels compact and good in my hands.
Usually I will have to use an 8.5 x 11 in pad or paper to go through our business model, numbers etc. with a prospect and my small foldover notbook doesn't work well for this. This requires bringing in two tools during the meeting!
I just can't seem to make up my mind on what paper based tools to use on a daily basis and it drives me crazy, wastes time and cost me in productivity and $$.
Any suggestions? I told myself that by this Wed. I will make up my mind and stick to it , but I've gone this route before!!
Help PLEASE!!
Thank you!
 
Circa

I have both the letter size AND the Jr. size Circa foldover notebooks and love them BOTH, for different reasons and for different purposes.

Here's the neat trick: The Jr. size paper will fit inside the bigger cover so you can keep both sizes with you...mix and match as you please.
 
The 2011 GTD Coordinators are coming out in a few days. Get the letter-size of that.

Look for it in our store, by the end of the week, under Paper Planners & Pads.
 
No system is perfect, all have advantages and disadvantages.

Pick any system, DEAL WITH IT,i.e. figure out how to make it work for you, and get stuff done.

Any energy put into different systems is just procrastinating and avoiding doing your work.

Edit: I've overstated things to make a point since it is very easy to get distracted and put more energy into the system than in actually getting things done.
 
Mind like water. Always ready.

My suggestion is to use a briefcase (or backpack, knapsack, etc.) and carry them both. use the little one for your lists (as it seems you prefer it) then have a larger notebook for drawing. That way you have what you like and what you need for both situations, always ready.;)

I've started going to places like officemax and taking a ream of paper to their paper-centers and having them build custom sized and custom formatted notebooks out of the ream of paper. I like this because when I need to draw something (whether the page is pocket-sized or legal sized), I don't have to compete with lines already on the page, plus, it's pretty cheap and gives me the flexibility to do what I need. ;)
 
If you use Levenger Circa (which I did for a while) be sure to use the plastic tab dividers and label them, using the GTD white paper on using a paper-based system as a guide.

Probably a better choice would be the GTD binder that Kelly mentioned. It is already set up perfectly for GTD, and a good value (the cost of Circa systems escalate swiftly).

I guess I might suggest the Circa approach (with tab dividers and a Circa clear zip pocket in the back) if you use Circa notebooks a lot for other work purposes or get the GTD binder from Davidco if you don't.

rdgeorge
 
Thanks

Thanks for the comments. I guess my goal is to have everything in one place. Lists, and notes together but the feel of the smaller Circa notebook feels good to carry around and the larger Circa feels better when with a client showing them on paper what I need to express with them. I guess I should try one for a month and see how it goes or carry both as suggested. I can't see making the investment in the DA binder at this point as I have already invested a few hundred with Levenger & Circa!
 
A-OK. Use the free GTD set up guide for a paper based system. I would also strongly suggest the new GTD Implementation Guide, which you would have to buy, as well as the laminated GTD System Guides (Jr. Sized). Don't forget the Circa plastic dividers and the clear zipper pouch for the back of the Circa notebook (very handy).

I am not recommending buying David's first book, as there is no chance that you don't already own it. Right?

rdgeorge
 
Got it all!

rdgeorge;81081 said:
A-OK. Use the free GTD set up guide for a paper based system. I would also strongly suggest the new GTD Implementation Guide, which you would have to buy, as well as the laminated GTD System Guides (Jr. Sized). Don't forget the Circa plastic dividers and the clear zipper pouch for the back of the Circa notebook (very handy).

I am not recommending buying David's first book, as there is no chance that you don't already own it. Right?

rdgeorge
Click to expand...

Rdgeorge, I have every book and cd, just can't get comfortable on which tools!!
 
I have had the same problems with changing sizes or systems

Isn't that the tool 'porn' side of organizing as David refers to it?

So, what I decided to do was go with the letter size since 99% of my printouts are letter size and I don't have to go reduce / cut etc.

I do have the junior / smaller sizes sitting in a drawer beckoning every time I open the drawers to file something - use me please. So far, I've gone 4 months and am ok. I'm sure there will be a time in the future where I will justify it in my mind to switch back to a smaller size, who knows for what reason at this point. For now, I am able to stick with the letter size.

Oh, I can see it now while sticking with the letter size - switching between ring binders and circa and vice versa.:lol:
 
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