Recently I made a post where I talked about how “e-mail” can kill your company and you; at the end of it, I mention “…but Gtalk is vital for virtual companies…”

Right after I made that statement and hit “Publish” I got to thinking about the truthfulness of what I just said. For some reason it felt “stupid” - if checking my email frequently is a problem, then how can CONSTANTLY chatting on Gtalk be any better?

The next day I evaluated my day and realized something that down right PISSED me off. I was WASTING hours just “chit-chatting” away on Gtalk and not getting anything done - all useless ramble. I was shocked, appalled and wanted to slap myself.

I am going on record today CORRECTING my prior evaluation of Gtalk and all other instant messaging programs.

Yes, they ARE vital for virtual companies - but not if you also have your friends on that account and if you “chit chat” with those who you work with.

Here’s How I’m Changing Things Moving Forward…

Everyone that I typically talk to now knows that to reach me, they need to either e-mail me with URGENT in the subject line or CALL me and ask me to get on Gtalk.

Will I still use instant messaging to communicate with my team? Yes, of course. But, I’m not going to be 100% reachable all the time - they can easily ask me to get on and I will, but then log right off afterwards.

I’ll also get on instant messaging when I am taking a break.

I am officially on record, sorry for giving you the bad advice on the prior post.

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Be honest, how many times a day do you check your e-mail?

I’m preaching today, but honestly, I should listen to my own advice because I am addicted to  e-mail. However, I’ve had periods of time (when I travel), where internet is not available and my productivity shoots through the roof.

Here’s how most of us entrepreneurs and CEOs work - we have multiple windows open and one of them is surely our Outlook/Gmail/Hotmail or some other form of e-mail. To make matters worst, we have it set-up to ALERT us when there is a new mail, a small noise that we soon to respond to like little dogs do to a whistle.

E-MAIL KILLS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY…

Period - no question or argument about it. If you’re checking your e-mail more than twice a day (this includes me), you’re not being productive or efficient.

Let me give you an example…

Have you ever noticed how quickly you respond to phone calls? You might be in the middle of an important meeting, but you’ll STILL sneak in a peek to see WHO is calling and you may even actually pick it up! Especially if you’re in the middle of doing something that does not involve another person, you’re 90% likely to get interrupted by the phone and answer it.

Why?

I think it’s because of that sound, we’ve just been trained to answer.

Well, that’s the thing with e-mail now. Most of our computers make a sound or alert us. So, we’ve been trained to respond (like little dogs).

You should not spend all day checking e-mail, do NOT let it interrupt your work time. Bottom-line, think about how many of the emails you respond quickly to - how many of them are actually that urgent?

Here is some advice to DE-e-mailize yourself:

1. Turn OFF all e-mail alerts.
2. Check e-mail only twice - morning and evening.
3. Schedule blocks of time where you actually shut off e-mail completely.
4. Put an auto-reply in your e-mail that tells people your “checking schedule” and give them a phone number to call in case of sheer emergency.

Try putting those into place, one by one (I will try too). I bet you get twice as much done with half of the stress.

By the way, do the same with chat programs (unless you run a virtual company like me, then it’s critical). 

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