I like to determine how effective I can be based on input vs output. Input I receive Vs the Output I achieve.
How effective can you be if the input you receive is redundant, polluted and irrelevant. How much output can you achieve if the majority of your time is spent sorting through rubbish input?
I solved the input pollution side of the rule by a single mail filter which took less than 20 seconds to setup.
“If my email address is in the CC field, move the incoming email to an archive folder”
I have a single archive email folder which I can easily search.
If an email is sent to me and I’m not in the To field it does not get my attention. Simple.
How effective has this been?
About 90% of my incoming email is now automatically moved into my ‘archive’ folder.
Will I read them?
Not unless I have to.
When do I determine I have to?
When someone phones me and says ‘I sent you an email, did you read it?’.
So far this has resulted in myself being able to achieve a much greater output due to the noise cancellation the filter has created with my input.
