Merlin Mann Inbox Zero Video - Notes

build walls where none existed

knowledge workers – add value to information

time and attention are finite, most vital resources

multitasking is a myth

honor where your time and attention go

demands on time and attention are infinite

ultimately – make sure stupid blocks don’t get in the box

Manage Actions – map time and attention to the things you consider important

Prior Art: GTD concept of processing – advanced common sense

• Email is just a medium
• one place for anything
• process to zero – every time you check your email
• convert to actions

Processing

• more than checking
• deal with the problem
• less than responding

Answer the question: So What? What actions do I have to take as a result of this email?

Don’t just take orders – Make Sandwiches

Limited Number of Options – 5 Verbs (in order of desirability):

• delete (or archive)
  • a single folder
• delegate (horizontally or vertically)
  • with a follow-up tickler (2 week reminder, @waiting_on)
• respond
  • 1 or 2 line replies
• defer – respond, but outside work first
  • to_respond folder
  • inbox is for stuff you haven’t read
• do
  • or add to a to-do list or calendar

The Processing Habit

“We are what we frequently do.” – Aristotle

Do Email Less – once per hour for 10 minutes or less

Cheat

• filtering
• templates

No fiddling