Going through my e-mail the other day, I was reminded just how easy it can be to get swallowed up by all the forces out there biding for my attention.
I have several e-mail accounts for business, and most get loaded with mail. One address averages around 30 messages a day. The other accounts receive less, but still garner their share.
Most of the mail I receive has some relevance and must be acted upon in some fashion. Yet it’s when I act upon the message that’s critical. And the purpose of today’s blog.
E-mail and phone messages can absolutely overwhelm you if you’re not disciplined. All business people need to be mindful of their time. Network marketers are no different. If what we’re doing does not involve generating or calling leads, in essence that task is a time waster. Granted, some non-income producing tasks are a part of every working day. How much time do you spend on those extraneous chores?
In his best-selling book, “The 4-Hour Workweek,” Timothy Ferriss suggests you check e-mail only two times per day: on or about noon and then again at 4:00 p.m. (He further advises that you not check e-mail first thing in the morning.) His advice for handling phone messages is similar.
I have to confess I am not that disciplined, but I am getting better. I also have cut way back on checking voice mail, and have unsubscribed from numerous lists. How about you? Do you find yourself checking for messages numerous times throughout the day, then acting upon them?
Try this starting with your next shift: Force yourself to just two e-mail/phone message checks during the day. At the end of the day evaluate your performance. Were you more productive? Did it really matter to wait a few hours to retrieve those messages?
Also, take a hard look at all the firms that send you mail. Do you still read all those newsletters and other columns? Probably not. Unsubscribe until your email inbox is at a manageable level.
Develop good time management, and you’ll be well on your way to a more productive day.
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