E-Mail

E-mail was the original "killer app". It was what everyone raved about when their computers first got connected . For me and I suspect for many others, it has indeed become killer as in time killer.

On a given day even after my e-mail has been screened for the Viagra pitches, stock bargains, and other useless junk and even after it has been purged of the automated mail from work related systems, I receive over 100 legitimate messages a day. Why is it that we have to communicate so much?

In yesterday's New York Times Business section the Career Coach column discussed why people feel they get so little done during a work day. The answer had a lot to do with our electronic distractions. Web browsers for sure but e-mail in particular. The advice was, do not look at your e-mail as the first thing you do each day but jump into a productive task before opening that in-box.

I read elsewhere that it is much more productive to reach out to someone by telephone than to try to conduct the same business via e-mail. I'm going to try this. So, be advised, if you send me an e-mail you are likely not to get a reply but a phone call.

I look forward to speaking with you!