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.

average: 300 / day

(without the spam)

I get a fair amount of e-mail.

300

actionable items

a day

... then I would need 25 hours a day just for e-mail.

If I spend 5 minutes on each mail...

My inbox is probably filling up as we speak.

Actually...

Stress!

This is how I cope.

(Based on the Inbox Zero strategy of Merlin Mann.

See: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=973149761529535925# )

This is how I cope.

D D A R D D

Delete

D D A R D D

Delete

Delegate

D D A R D D

Delete

Delegate

Archive

D D A R D D

Delete

Delegate

Archive

Respond

D D A R D D

Delete

Delegate

Archive

Respond

Do

D D A R D D

Delete

Delegate

Archive

Respond

Do

Defer

D D A R D D

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

Lots of mails are just ‘FYI’.

Delete them at once.

Delete

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

Send immediately to the right person.

With a clear ‘call to action’.

Delegate

You need to be able to trust the other person.

Delegate

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

Don’t use folders.

Use a performant Search.

( *cough*Gmail*cough*)

Archive

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

If you can answer without extra work, do it.

Respond

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

If you can do it immediately, do it immediately.

Do

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

Get it out of your inbox.

Put it on a to-do list.

Plan it!

Defer

1. Delete

2. Delegate

3. Archive

4. Respond

5. Do

6. Defer

Handle things once!

Make snap decisions, or defer.

Use technology (filters).

Extra advice

Command your Inbox

Don’t keep it open.

Set fix intervals to handle e-mail.

Don’t let your inbox control you

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.

Remember...

Good luck!

twitter.com/netlashbart@netlash.comwww.netlash.com