How I Command my Inbox

How I Command my Inbox (or at least try to)

Hi! I’m Bart.

I work at web agency Netlash. ... and a few other companies:

I get a fair amount of e-mail.

I get a fair amount of e-mail. average: 300 / day (without the spam)

actionable items

If I spend 5 minutes on each mail... ... then I would need 25 hours a day just for e-mail.

Actually... My inbox is probably ﬁlling up as we speak.

Stress!

This is how I cope.

This is how I cope. (Based on the Inbox Zero strategy of Merlin Mann. See: http://video.google.com/videoplay? docid=973149761529535925# )

DDARDD

DDARDD Delete

DDARDD Delete Delegate

DDARDD Delete Delegate Archive

DDARDD Delete Delegate Archive Respond

DDARDD Delete Delegate Archive Respond Do

DDARDD Delete Delegate Archive Respond Do Defer

1. Delete 2. Delegate 3. Archive 4. Respond 5. Do 6. Defer

Delete Lots of mails are just ‘FYI’. Delete them at once.

Delegate Send immediately to the right person. With a clear ‘call to action’.

Delegate You need to be able to trust the other person.

Archive Don’t use folders. Use a performant Search. ( *cough*Gmail*cough*)

Respond If you can answer without extra work, do it.

Do If you can do it immediately, do it immediately.

Defer Get it out of your inbox. Put it on a to-do list. Plan it!

Extra advice Handle things once! Make snap decisions, or defer. Use technology (ﬁlters).

Command your Inbox

Don’t let your inbox control you Don’t keep it open. Set ﬁx intervals to handle e-mail.

Remember...

Remember... Your inbox is a to-do list where other people can put items on...

Remember... Your inbox is a to-do list where other people can put items on... Unless you control it.

Good luck!

twitter.com/netlash bart@netlash.com www.netlash.com

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by Bart De Waele on Feb 04, 2010