Printed decks

The Useful Imperfection Press · the new backs

Turn it over.
Everything you need to start.

Each back carries the cue, the action, the support you need and a tiny first step, at a size you can read on the fridge.

24 backs, made for the hand.
Designed at Postcard size, 100 × 154 mm. The reading pages keep the extra explanation and full citations.

Print the deck →

Tap a card to compare its front and new back. The comparison prints at 100 × 154mm; use 100% scale and check the 50mm line.

Front of BF-F01Back of card BF-F01: Answer “What good shall I do this day?” with one action.. When: After waking Do this: Answer “What good shall I do this day?” with one action. Start tiny: Name one person and one helpful act in 30 seconds.
50mm · BF-F01 · actual size
Front of BF-F02Back of card BF-F02: Answer “What good have I done to-day?” with one example.. When: Before bed Do this: Answer “What good have I done to-day?” with one example. Start tiny: Recall one useful act, or write “none yet,” in 30 seconds.
50mm · BF-F02 · actual size
Front of BF-F03Back of card BF-F03: Mark each lapse with a dot in today's column of a seven-day chart.. When: Evening review Do this: Mark each lapse with a dot in today's column of a seven-day chart. Start tiny: Draw seven boxes and put today's dots in one, in 60 seconds.
50mm · BF-F03 · actual size
Front of BF-F04Back of card BF-F04: Replace “certainly” with “it appears to me” in one disputed opinion.. When: Before replying Do this: Replace “certainly” with “it appears to me” in one disputed opinion. Start tiny: Change one certainty word before sending, in 30 seconds.
50mm · BF-F04 · actual size
Front of BF-F05Back of card BF-F05: Before disagreeing, name a case where the other person's view fits.. When: At a disagreement Do this: Before disagreeing, name a case where the other person's view fits. Start tiny: Say one true “That fits when…” clause (30 seconds).
50mm · BF-F05 · actual size
Front of BF-F06Back of card BF-F06: Before forwarding a quarrel, ask what your readers gain; omit it if nothing.. When: Before forwarding criticism Do this: Before forwarding a quarrel, ask what your readers gain; omit it if nothing. Start tiny: Name one useful thing the recipient could learn in 30 seconds.
50mm · BF-F06 · actual size
Front of BF-F07Back of card BF-F07: Describe a shared proposal through its contributors before naming yourself.. When: Before a group pitch Do this: Describe a shared proposal through its contributors before naming yourself. Start tiny: Replace one “my idea” with an accurate contributor's role (30 seconds).
50mm · BF-F07 · actual size
Front of BF-F08Back of card BF-F08: Before an optional purchase, name what else the same money could buy.. When: At an optional purchase Do this: Before an optional purchase, name what else the same money could buy. Start tiny: Name one alternative use in 20 seconds.
50mm · BF-F08 · actual size
Front of BF-F09Back of card BF-F09: Choose one virtue and one rule for this week's attention.. When: Weekly reset, then morning Do this: Choose one virtue and one rule for this week's attention. Start tiny: Pick “silence” and “let the speaker finish” in 45 seconds.
50mm · BF-F09 · actual size
Front of BF-F10Back of card BF-F10: When citing a book, save the passage and its location for the discussion.. When: When a reading claim enters a discussion Do this: When citing a book, save the passage and its location for the discussion. Start tiny: Save one sentence and its page in 60 seconds.
50mm · BF-F10 · actual size
Front of BF-G01Back of card BF-G01: Reduce a paragraph to hints; after two days, rebuild it without looking.. When: During writing practice Do this: Reduce a paragraph to hints; after two days, rebuild it without looking. Start tiny: Write a hint for one sentence in 60 seconds; rebuild it later.
50mm · BF-G01 · actual size
Front of BF-G02Back of card BF-G02: Shuffle a paragraph's sentence hints; rebuild their order a week later.. When: Weekly writing practice Do this: Shuffle a paragraph's sentence hints; rebuild their order a week later. Start tiny: Write three hints and shuffle them in 90 seconds.
50mm · BF-G02 · actual size
Front of BF-G03Back of card BF-G03: Pool books for a discussion; lend them between meetings and record returns.. When: Weekly reading check-in Do this: Pool books for a discussion; lend them between meetings and record returns. Start tiny: List one lendable book in 30 seconds.
50mm · BF-G03 · actual size
Front of BF-G04Back of card BF-G04: Bring one morals, politics, or science question to a Friday discussion.. When: Friday with a willing friend Do this: Bring one morals, politics, or science question to a Friday discussion. Start tiny: Write one answerable question in 60 seconds.
50mm · BF-G04 · actual size
Front of BF-G05Back of card BF-G05: Before a game, agree that the loser completes a small learning task.. When: A weekly game with a willing friend Do this: Before a game, agree that the loser completes a small learning task. Start tiny: Agree on a one-sentence translation task in 45 seconds.
50mm · BF-G05 · actual size
Front of BF-G06Back of card BF-G06: Match each partner's share of costs to their share of returns; write duties.. When: Before a shared project Do this: Match each partner's share of costs to their share of returns; write duties. Start tiny: Write one proposed contribution and the corresponding benefit in 60 seconds.
50mm · BF-G06 · actual size
Front of BF-G07Back of card BF-G07: Plan a simpler meal and assign any savings to a specific reading resource.. When: Before planning a meal Do this: Plan a simpler meal and assign any savings to a specific reading resource. Start tiny: Name one simpler meal and one reading resource in 60 seconds.
50mm · BF-G07 · actual size
Front of BF-M01Back of card BF-M01: Collect pros and cons for four days; cancel equal weights, then wait two days.. When: At a nonurgent decision Do this: Collect pros and cons for four days; cancel equal weights, then wait two days. Start tiny: Draw Pro and Con columns and add one reason in 60 seconds.
50mm · BF-M01 · actual size
Front of BF-M02Back of card BF-M02: Every three months, write an essay and read it to a willing listener.. When: Weekly writing block; quarterly reading Do this: Every three months, write an essay and read it to a willing listener. Start tiny: Write one claim and one example in 90 seconds.
50mm · BF-M02 · actual size
Front of BF-M03Back of card BF-M03: Replace one argumentative reply with a repeatable test and a written result.. When: When a testable disagreement recurs Do this: Replace one argumentative reply with a repeatable test and a written result. Start tiny: Write a prediction and a safe test step in 90 seconds.
50mm · BF-M03 · actual size
Front of BF-M04Back of card BF-M04: Arrange three teaching examples so each prepares the next; try them on a learner.. When: Weekly teaching preparation Do this: Arrange three teaching examples so each prepares the next; try them on a learner. Start tiny: Write the first example and the next step in 90 seconds.
50mm · BF-M04 · actual size
Front of BF-M05Back of card BF-M05: Ask for an example of overbearing speech; turn it into a rule and review weekly.. When: Weekly conversation review Do this: Ask for an example of overbearing speech; turn it into a rule and review weekly. Start tiny: Recall one example and write one replacement phrase in 90 seconds.
50mm · BF-M05 · actual size
Front of BF-C01Back of card BF-C01: Ask a willing person you disagree with to lend a book; return it with thanks.. When: Once this week, if appropriate Do this: Ask a willing person you disagree with to lend a book; return it with thanks. Start tiny: Choose a book and draft a respectful request in 90 seconds.
50mm · BF-C01 · actual size
Front of BF-C02Back of card BF-C02: Turn a short prose passage into verse; two days later, turn it back.. When: Once or twice a week Do this: Turn a short prose passage into verse; two days later, turn it back. Start tiny: Turn one sentence into two rough rhyming lines in 90 seconds.
50mm · BF-C02 · actual size
· Front & new back