Comments on: Yes, You Can Stay on Top of Email

By: Link Love (22/05/2012) « Becky's Kaleidoscope

Link Love (22/05/2012) « Becky's Kaleidoscope — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:37:42 +0000

[...] Yes, You Can Stay on Top of Email – Michael Hyatt [...]

By: #010: How to Shave 10 Hours Off Your Work Week [Podcast] | Michael Hyatt

#010: How to Shave 10 Hours Off Your Work Week [Podcast] | Michael Hyatt — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:30:09 +0000

[...] Blog Post: “Yes, You Can Stay on Top of E-mail” [...]

By: Technology Tools and How I Use Them (Part 4)

Technology Tools and How I Use Them (Part 4) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:46:34 +0000

[...] I try to empty my inbox every day. You shouldn’t have a bunch of email awaiting response in your Inbox. Sit down and clean that thing out and empty it every day. I NEVER keep tasks in my email Inbox…if something arrives that I need to do, I create a task in Things and assign it a deadline. Michael Hyatt’s post on this subject is excellent. [...]

By: NoelHeikkinen.com » Blog Archive » Friday Random Linkness

NoelHeikkinen.com » Blog Archive » Friday Random Linkness — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:43:44 +0000

[...] Become an email ninja [...]

By: Getting organized | Living with the end in mind

Getting organized | Living with the end in mind — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:43:10 +0000

[...] with them. I have set it to be my goal to empty my inbox on a weekly basis. Michael Hyatt wrote a blog about emptying his inbox daily. I hope to work to this. Basically, if the email requires action [...]

By: Joe Lalonde

Joe Lalonde — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:49:00 +0000

Tod, I believe Microsoft Outlook would be the closest thing. In fact, Entourage was a Microsoft product for the Mac!

By: tod

tod — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Help i’m not a mac user- like the entrourage idea is their a microsoft equivallant ?
thanks
Tod

By: 10 Tips for office success | My Simple Inspiration

10 Tips for office success | My Simple Inspiration — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:56:35 +0000

[...] Be prompt with email. Respond to email as quickly as possible. Create a system that works for you to keep up with email. Most email systems have features that can help you filter, prioritize, and label your email. It is not only efficient and less stressful to keep up with your email, it also demonstrates your responsiveness to the people you work with. This adds value to your organization. Keeping up on your email ensures that you don’t become an information bottleneck. One of my favorite bloggers wrote about how he keeps up with email. You can check it out here. [...]

By: Rob Sorbo

Rob Sorbo — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +0000

Great tips. I’m generally not bombarded with e-mail, but I can really see how I can put these to use.

I know you suggest not having elaborate folders, but I found that setting up elaborate folders and then setting up rules that kicks e-mail to those folders is helpful–that has the benefit of the rule and the benefit of a good filing system (although, I agree that the search functions are faster than going to the folder).

By: How to Set Yourself Up for Success in 2012 | Blue Kite Marketing

How to Set Yourself Up for Success in 2012 | Blue Kite Marketing — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:10:04 +0000

[...] Take some time to get caught up with your messages. (This is a great email management strategy if you need one). [...]

By: Leadership Tip #4: Clear Your Inbox |

Leadership Tip #4: Clear Your Inbox | — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:33:30 +0000

[...] people have also blogged about this topic. (See Michael Hyatt’s post.) LD_AddCustomAttr("AdOpt", "1"); LD_AddCustomAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]

By: Buzz Bruggeman

Buzz Bruggeman — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:40:00 +0000

To deal with this problem we e.g., ActiveWords, http://www.activewords.com/ built an Outlook anda a Gmail agent. Radically speeds up how you hand E-Mail. One of these days we will build a Mac version, but 93% of computers are still running Windows.

And…fwiw.. And David Allen of #GTD fame just named us in his top 5 productivity tools which has been a great lift. http://bit.ly/a5

Happy New Year!

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:55:00 +0000

You can email the link to yourself. Just go to the bottom of the post and click on the icons that say, “Share and Enjoy.” Unfortunately, this will only email the link, not the actual post. To do that, you will need to subscribe to the blog via email. You can do that here.

By: Janine McDonald

Janine McDonald — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:40:00 +0000

People dread email because they perceive that it is getting in the way of them doing real work, and/or they use it a procrastination tool. I ask people to try this…instead of starting the day by opening the inbox and responding to other people’s emails, which usually serve their priorities, not yours - spend the first 30 minutes of the day working on one of your top priorities so real work can get accomplished before the blocking and tackling that is email begins.

By: David Redekop

David Redekop — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:39:00 +0000

This works great at 500 emails over 3 days. Would love to see you re-post/edit when you get to 1,000+ per day.

By: JennyRain

JennyRain — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:29:00 +0000

is there a way I can email your blog to myself? I couldn’t find it on your “share” icons anywhere… I want to share it with our team leads, this is awesome advice!

By: Averting Email Disaster! | Grace Life & Leadership

Averting Email Disaster! | Grace Life & Leadership — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:07:10 +0000

[...] to pull the “command+a, DELETE” trigger, I came across Michael Hyatt’s blog on email efficiency, and his subsequent blog on “Declaring Email Bankruptcy“. In these he outlines how to [...]

By: Ending email…or trying to « Down the Line

Ending email…or trying to « Down the Line — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:02:35 +0000

[...] stumbled over a number of interesting posts about email—how to write a personal email, how to manage it, how to write an effective vacation responder, how to stop the habitual “Forwarder [...]

By: 07/19/2011 – This Week’s Links | John ED Patton

07/19/2011 – This Week’s Links | John ED Patton — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:52:15 +0000

[...] Hyatt says, “You Can Stay on Top of Your Email” (would you like to see his [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:28:00 +0000

Thanks for this, Michael.

I never knew about KeyCue. I will definitely investigate that tool, as I admit to not knowing any keyboard shortcuts for my Mac. You just may have saved me just in time, as e-mail was definitely starting to get the better of me!

By: Donbarger

Donbarger — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:25:00 +0000

I use very similar methods to handle my email. A couple of suggestions –

1) read the book Bit Literacy – currently free on iBooks.
2) Use an auto bcc script in terminal to send copies of all outgoing emails to an archive email. Use something like mynamearchive@gmail.com. Don’t give the address to anyone or use it for anything else. This serves as an online auto archive of emails.

By: How To Blow Through 300 Email Messages | Serving Strong

How To Blow Through 300 Email Messages | Serving Strong — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:02:24 +0000

[...] Yes you can stay on top of email [...]

By: Become an Email Jedi in 7 Steps | Mary DeMuth

Become an Email Jedi in 7 Steps | Mary DeMuth — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:01:26 +0000

[...] is until I read this amazing post by Michael Hyatt, who I would call an Email Jedi of the Highest Order. He cuts away email with the Light Saber of [...]

By: Baileywoods2011

Baileywoods2011 — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:59:00 +0000

I became a 6 figure earner with this.
I think all of us entrepreneurs should
help one another no matter what biz we
are in……………Don’t you?

Here is your software and video showing
how to use it. Let me know if you like it?
I have other software to help you as well.

God Bless You!

http://www.EmailListBuster.com

By: Why Sharing Ideas With Your Colleagues Is Important | andrew meyers

Why Sharing Ideas With Your Colleagues Is Important | andrew meyers — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:35:02 +0000

[...] post from Daniel Tardy, promotions manager for Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership live events, and this post from Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson and prolific blogger. I’ve boiled it down to [...]

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:17:00 +0000

I use Gmail, so they are automatically archives in the Sent folder.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:01:00 +0000

How do you handle sent messages? They pile up too.

By: A month of trying to be more productive | Life in England…and beyond

A month of trying to be more productive | Life in England…and beyond — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:18:58 +0000

[...] yet, but much better. My goal is to end each day with an empty inbox. As I learned from a post by Michael Hyatt (but slightly adapted to my use as my situation is different than his), I try to [...]

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:38:00 +0000

I have done it both ways. I like going offline best.

By: Kristievosper

Kristievosper — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:55:00 +0000

I’m curious, what do you think about email while on vacation? I generally put an away message up and try to stay away so that I truly “vacate” from work. However, I do find if I comb through it daily deleting everything I don’t need I feel less overwhelmed when I return. Thoughts?

By: On the Radar (5/9/11) | "Unto Him…"

On the Radar (5/9/11) | "Unto Him…" — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:08:17 +0000

[...] Tackle Your Email [...]

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:39:00 +0000

I now use Mail. It’s actually pretty much the same. Are you stuck on something in particular?

By: Mike Freestone

Mike Freestone — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:02:00 +0000

I am caught up as of today…but behind for the last year of emails. Going to give it a go. The good news for me is that I have all my emails, both sent and received, archived in my gmail for searching. Especially useful when on the road.

@9411cb063daa59c1da605bb8d55aeaea:disqus
Do you recommend web-based email services like gmail or outlook or the mac version?

By: Warren Davis

Warren Davis — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:43:00 +0000

Great post. Any advice on setting up rules in Mail for those who don’t use Entourage?

By: Robert Ewoldt

Robert Ewoldt — Mon, 09 May 2011 03:30:00 +0000

I’m ashamed to say this… but I don’t clean out my Inbox every day. I really should. It is tremendously freeing when I finally get it cleaned out. Like today… I actually cleaned out my Google Reader box (which was a large accomplishment, even though I didn’t read a whole lot, but just skimmed the headlines).

By: Staying on top of email | Valerie M.'s Blog

Staying on top of email | Valerie M.'s Blog — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:27:13 +0000

[...] blog post by Michael Hyatt talks about this technique and others. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", [...]

By: Tech requirements for CCC staff? | Leadership, Technology, Innovation

Tech requirements for CCC staff? | Leadership, Technology, Innovation — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:39:01 +0000

[...] An email client (Mail, Outlook) – Stop logging in online and start managing your email better. Use some Getting Things Done tips. [...]

By: Free Resources for Leaders and Influencers | Daniel Decker

Free Resources for Leaders and Influencers | Daniel Decker — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 01:07:05 +0000

[...] Yes, You Can Stay on Top of Email [...]

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:42:00 +0000

Nozbe, which I now use, is very similar.

By: Bret Mavrich

Bret Mavrich — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:20:00 +0000

Using @OmniFocus and @Evernote, I can forward all of my Delete and Defer categories into the appropriate “buckets.” With OF, I can assign the entire message to a project and even add multiple steps, tag it with a context, and assign a due date—all from Mail for Mac! It’s so sweet. Evernote should be—by the end of 2010—self explanatory.

Plus, using these two powerful tools to take control of my email inbox makes cycling email on the go from my iPhone so much easier. My OF contact is labeled “Omni” and my EN contact “NewNote.” The elaborately coded email addresses pop up automatically and I’m set to go.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:40:00 +0000

I absolutely agree with your conclusion that a behavior change is required if the e-mail inbox is ever to be conquered. I work in an international industry and the e-mails come in around the clock. I had to find a system that worked for me. I use Outlook’s rules to color-code incoming messages: Blue means I’m the only one on the “To” line. Large red font = e-mail from my boss. The only e-mails that remain in my inbox at the end of the day are messages that came in after ~6pm or messages that I want to process first thing in the morning. The exception is for a couple of messages that I don’t want to forget about. My goal is to have fewer than 20 e-mails in my inbox when I leave for the day, but usually I have less than 10.

I’m working to find a system for messages that I delegate, so that I can make sure I follow-up and ensure those delegated actions are completed. I’ve yet to master Outlook’s tasking system.

I don’t agree with your philosophy on filing & deleting, but I suppose “to each his own”. I find outlook’s ability to search through all of my archives eliminates the need for me to worry about where I should file something. Having general groupings helps me for most of my day-to-day management of information and people. Because I know I might get hit with a question about a product we shipped 2 years ago, I do like to have things archived and relatively accessible.

By: How to Take Control of Your Physical Inbox

How to Take Control of Your Physical Inbox — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:20:49 +0000

[...] the years, I have developed a system for managing my physical inbox. Compared to processing a digital inbox, it is pretty simple. It is nonetheless essential if you are to stay on top of your business and [...]

By: Email: Own or Be Owned « nathanwright.org

Email: Own or Be Owned « nathanwright.org — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:23:36 +0000

[...] This article has helped me get a lot more organized and it’s been great. I hope it’s helpful to you. Check it out here. [...]

By: Ralph Stoever

Ralph Stoever — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:56:00 +0000

Thanks a lot – Will do!
I’ll need to add triggers (reminders) to the mails in the @WaitingFor folder to ensure that I raise the flags in time (and not just following a weekly review)
I already set-up the bacn folder (even the word was new for me) too and will add new bacn messages to the filter as they come.

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:01:00 +0000

Have you read Getting Things Done by David Allen? If not, I would strongly suggest it. Items like you describe go on a @WaitingFor or Pending list in your To-Do List management system.

By: Ralph Stoever

Ralph Stoever — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:18:00 +0000

Thanks for the post. In general, I follow a similar system.

My only real issue is with ‘pending’ e-mails. For example, I receive a request for volunteer work on the WE, but before I can answer, I must get additional information from someone else (for example regarding the kids activities).

In the mean time, the first mail just sits there. It gets worse if the message regarding the kids activities is not specific enough and I needs to be clarified… now I have two lame ducks sitting in plain site.

Suggestions? I don’t want to loose sight of the messages since they require response within a short time, but I am not satisfied with leaving them clutter my box either.

By: Ralph Stoever

Ralph Stoever — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:18:00 +0000

Thanks for the post. In general, I follow a similar system.

Suggestions? I don’t want to loose sight of the messages since they require response within a short time, but I am not satisfied with leaving them clutter my box either.

By: Ron Dawson

Ron Dawson — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:07:00 +0000

I use Gmail to manage email and I absolutely LOVE the new Priority Inbox feature. Brings to the top all the emails that I really want to read. The emails of lower priority (which it learns based on your email habits and behaviors) are filtered to the bottom. About 80% of the low priority ones I can delte w/o even reading. Makes it much easier to filter through the stuff that really needs attention.

Thanks for the continued encouragement Michael.

By: Samantha Johnson

Samantha Johnson — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:06:00 +0000

I just blogged about it yesterday and it explains in detail how I’ve conquered mine.

http://www.happysammy.org/2010/12/lessons-in-e-mail-management.html

I identified the ‘types’ of e-mails I received on a daily basis and filed them in different e-mail accounts. Tedious but it’s so worth it!

By: Tweets that mention Yes, You Can Stay on Top of Email -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Yes, You Can Stay on Top of Email -- Topsy.com — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:21:12 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Linda Rankin, Steve Kryger. Steve Kryger said: So hard to stay on top of emails. I'm on a mission to get to 0, then reading this by @michaelhyatt to stay there. http://bit.ly/fUuHVO [...]