I lost my flash drive this week. When I went to grab my keys and wallet yesterday morning, I noticed the little blue device was missing. A jolt of fear spiked my heart. I dug through pockets and checked USB ports and every place I could think of to find my little friend. I might have been a little frantic. Maybe not. Only my wife could say. Unfortunately, the little guy was nowhere to be found.

Some might call it antiquated, but I still depend heavily on my flash drive when it comes to genealogy and family history. Sure, I have backups and can recreate the files. And in the end, there’s nothing I can’t recreate. Still, losing something of so much value feels a bit disappointing. How can it not? I collected thousands of family history files, photographs, research logs and more on the flash drive. It allowed me to work while away from my desk at home.

So, why bring this up at all? Why inform the world I lost my flash drive? Well, like going to the gym, playing a musical instrument, going to work, or any other hobby, success is built around good habits. And good habits are built around good systems. It’s the system you create that keeps you going to the gym when it gets tough. It’s the system you create that allows you to stay organized with your files, or even citing your sources enough to know where you gathered your information.

I’ve been around the genealogy world long enough to know that there are many people who just want to know the stories of their ancestors or to just find a record mentioning their forebears. They often want the fun part of the hobby without putting in the effort to get better or learn how to be more effective in a way that will bring the fun parts to them. There’s nothing wrong with their point of view. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a hobby to be fun. But for those of us who need to know where we found those records a year or five down the road, good systems and habits will help us stay on track.

Now to be frank, I’m not a guy who is going to harp on and on about the importance of citing your genealogy sources. Or even get pedantic about where you place a period in your citations. That’s not my jam (as the youngsters say). But I am someone who recognizes the importance of having good systems in place so you can cite your sources, organize your work, and even have backups available so that when tragedy strikes you can continue on with your work. I am someone who needs systems in place to do the right activity at the right time, thereby bringing the results I desire. I need the right system at home, work, and in my hobbies. So, if you’re one of those kinds of people too, here is your friendly reminder. Create a system you can use to build good habits. Then go and have fun with your family history.

Long live the system, and may my little flash drive rest in peace.