| When I first read "The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim | | | | Some More Email Tips |
| Ferris," I thought the guy was nuts. I could swallow a | | | | Having successfully followed Tim's advice, for the |
| 4-hour workday, but a 4-hour work week? The guy | | | | most part, I have to say that he is right. Here are a |
| had to be nuts. | | | | few of my own tips that I would add: |
| I'm still not sure that everything he suggests in his | | | | - When you do check email, be prepared to act on |
| book is right on the money, but the guy has some | | | | them. Deal with whatever issues they bring up and |
| serious time-savings ideas for the small business | | | | get them out of your inbox. If you can't handle them |
| owner. One of his tips that really "popped" for me | | | | right away, delegate and defer them. Again, get |
| was checking email only twice a day. | | | | them out of your inbox. |
| Check Email Only Twice (Yes, Twice) per Day | | | | - If you are concerned about handling any urgent |
| He suggests picking two times-and two times | | | | issues that have cropped up during the night, |
| only-during the day to check email. Why? Because | | | | consider hiring a virtual assistant to check email for |
| email is a distraction. It's also an addiction for a lot of | | | | you first thing in the morning. A quality assistant can |
| people, although these days Twitter might be more | | | | respond to people who have emailed during the night, |
| of an addiction than even email. In any case, the | | | | and soothe any ruffled feathers until you are ready |
| latest studies show that over 11 million people are | | | | to tackle email. |
| emailaholics. With mobile devices, people are now | | | | - Consider sorting your email alphabetically by sender |
| checking email at the dinner table and sitting on the | | | | when you go to answer your emails. This allows you |
| toilet. Ick! | | | | to handle some emails in bulk. For instance, I |
| As a small business owner, checking email all the time | | | | subscribe to a lot of email newsletters and ezines. |
| can really take you away from the important aspects | | | | When I'm pressed for time and know I don't have |
| of your business. One reason that Tim doesn't | | | | time to read these emails, I just delete them. Having |
| recommend checking email first thing in the morning is | | | | my inbox sorted by sender allows me to delete them |
| because that plunges you immediately into distraction. | | | | in bulk. |
| Use Your Mornings to Make Money | | | | You'll be surprised how much time you can save by |
| Instead, he recommends you spend your mornings in | | | | not checking email all the time. It's tempting to check |
| important, money-making projects that will really fuel | | | | your email every time you hear that familiar "Ding!" |
| your business. You need some serious head-space to | | | | that tells you that you've got mail. To avoid this |
| really work on these projects, and email has the | | | | temptation, don't have your email program open |
| effect of dragging you down into the minutiae of | | | | except during your chosen times during the day. As |
| your business. When you're down in the trenches of | | | | they say, "If you walk into a barbershop, expect to |
| your business, it can be really hard to see the big | | | | come out with a haircut." If you have your email |
| picture, which is where, as a small business owner, | | | | program open, expect to wilt in the face of |
| you have a chance to really make your business | | | | temptation and check it! |
| unique and profitable. | | | | |