Use a single column for status and let the color come from conditional formatting, so you can change the look without editing each cell. Add a column for priority or urgency and sort by that first—like a front‑line column. Create a dropdown list for each status to avoid typos; that keeps the data clean. If you’re comfortable with macros, make a button that marks “sent” and moves the row to a “Sent” sheet, keeping your active list short. Keep the sheet at a maximum of three columns: company, status, next action; everything else can live in a note field. That way you have a clear plan, minimal clutter, and you can update it with one click.