Since I speak all over the country and mentor entrepreneurs of all kinds, there is absolutely one common area that we all get overwhelmed around: EMAIL!!!!
There is more email received every day than letters we receive in our mailbox. No wonder it is overwhelming. Personally, I get over 500 emails daily (yes about 50% are some form of SPAM but even with good spam filters I'm still getting it!)
I ran across this article posted by a colleage on his blog (organizela.blogs) about how to get your inbox under control. Be sure to read it!
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/Careers/10/12/tidy.inbox/
I highly recommend using a tool such as Outlook to manage your emails.
I recommend setting up rules to auto-sort your common emails. I have folders set up to handle:
- Clients
- Ezines/Newsletters
- Each of my assistants (I currently have 3)
- Programs/Products
- Finance/Bookkeeping
- Personal Stuff
- New Opportunities (for speaking, PR, Joint Ventures, etc.)
Then for each of my assistants, I have them break it down as:
- Delegated
- In Process
- Completed
- Follow Up
When you get your email under control, your productivity will absolutely skyrocket. Which means -- you will have more time to focus on what is important to you. Need a good Outlook consultant? Check out www.softwaremagician.com.
About the Coach:
Melanie Benson Strick, The Entrepreneur′s Success Coach, teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, more freedom and more prestige. Co-author of Visionary Women Inspiring the World: 12 Paths to Personal Power and contributing author to Entrepreneurial Spirits , Melanie is co-creator of The Unstoppable Goals Method: How To Turn Your Ideas into Income in 90 Days. If you are ready to experience a breakthrough in your business, sign up for a 25-minute personalized "Business Breakthrough" at http://www.successconnections.com/breakthrough.html
