| One of the biggest distractions for most business | | | | into a category. This helps you because everything |
| owners is email. And when you get hundreds (or | | | | that requires the same type of action is in a "bucket" |
| even thousands) of emails a day, it's really easy for it | | | | in your inbox now.To assign an email to a category, |
| to quickly overwhelm you. Just as it's hard to | | | | right click on the email, right click categories, find the |
| concentrate in a messy office, a messy inbox can | | | | category you want to assign it to, and put an x in |
| send you running in a hundred different directions if | | | | that box2) Use tasks to group your "to do" items |
| you are not careful. Here are some power tips to | | | | Items that I will do in the next few days, weeks, or |
| organize your inbox and help you stay focused.1) | | | | months ahead, you can move to your task folder.If |
| Create categories in your inbox.! Inbox | | | | you customize the current view to group it by high, |
| ! Act Now (items I need to do in the next 5 | | | | normal, and low priority it helps you instantly identify |
| minutes) | | | | which items need your attention first. It follows the |
| ! Do (items I should do today) | | | | Franklin Covey model of thinking of identifying tasks |
| ! Waiting for Reply | | | | as a A, B, or C.Here's how to group your tasks by |
| ! Quick Reference | | | | priority.Right click |
| ! Ideas | | | | Customize current view |
| ! News to Read | | | | Group items by - choose priority |
| ! DelegateHow to create categories in your | | | | Descending |
| inboxRight click on any email in your inbox | | | | OK3) As you read your emails, click and edit the |
| Click categories | | | | subject line so it says the action you need to take. |
| Click master category list | | | | For example, when a person emails me with a |
| Type the name of the new category you wish to | | | | question, I would edit the subject line of that email to |
| create | | | | say, "Call Jim by Friday at 222-222-2222 about web |
| Hit add | | | | design quote). That way I don't even have to open |
| Hit ok | | | | the email to have an instant reminder about what |
| H okIf you put an exclamation point before the | | | | action I need to take.4) Personal Folders help |
| category name, it helps group your important | | | | organize your "keeper" emails. Here are personal file |
| categories at the top of your category box.Now, | | | | folders to consider. |
| whenever an email hits your inbox, you must drop it | | | | |