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Do You Suffer From E-Mail Anxiety? I Do!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with MyMidtownMojo.com |770.713.1505 | Intown Atlanta GA Condo Living 272617

I won't date myself....but I've been around long before there was e-mail. In fact, I've been around when not everyone even had fax machines.....scary thought!

Now, we have E-mail, and Tweets, and Squares and Books.....darn near enough to drive one crazy!

In my corporate days, I was taught (and taught my sales managers) to handle something, and get it off your desk. Don't use your in-box as a filing cabinet. When I use to approve all my managers contracts, I had my assistant put them in a red folder in my inbox, so if I was running from meeting to meeting, I knew to at least review contracts so they were on their way to the customer.

E-mail. He's an animal. Period. Mind you, it probably does not help that I have 8 e-mail accounts. I do that so it's like the red folder. I know pretty much what's coming to what address so I can try and focus on one thing. Or, I also manage by the topic. (One address is just for my activities with my Neighborhood Association.)

But, so many e-mails need more than a moment of attention. They might be a link to a website that will help me with my blogging. Or give me a tip to work with a Buyer or Seller. So, I need to do something with them. File them for future reference. (And then I forget about them or where I put them)

So...this is really starting to drive me crazy.....

email

Comments (12)

Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Thom, I wish I had an answer, it drives me crazy also.  The other thing that I've been dealing with are my saved bookmarks on Mozilla and favorites on Explorer. I've been trying to clean them up the last few days and it has been driving me crazy.  I put something somewhere and then when I want it I can't remember where I put it.

Jan 22, 2011 02:16 PM
Karen Monsour
Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach - Fort Lauderdale, FL
REALTOR, SSRS - Sells FL Waterfront, Short Sale Expert!

Here's what I do, I create folders on my desk top relating to a specific topic and save them to that file...Simple and easy way to find what you are looking for.

Jan 22, 2011 02:19 PM
Chandler Real Estate Liz Harris, MBA
Liz Harris Realty - Chandler, AZ
#ChandlerRealEstateAgent

I most certainly suffer.  I have over 100,000 email in various Inboxes...

Jan 22, 2011 02:23 PM
Andres Munar
Keystone Alliance Mortgage - State College, PA
Experience The Difference

I have the same problem. I call myself an email hoarder, I just can't help it. I feel like I need to save it just in case some day for some reason I need it.

Jan 22, 2011 02:26 PM
Pam Sitterly
RE/MAX VINTAGE - Magnolia, TX
CRS Magnolia-Tomball Texas

I create files and folders.... and use the search button in my gmail a lot... no silver bullet. But then again, organization is not my strong suit.

Jan 22, 2011 02:30 PM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Thom - I have 4 e-mail addresses, but two get forwarded to one and the other one is for junk.  I couldn't imagine trying to keep up with 8.

Jan 22, 2011 02:36 PM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

Unfortunately with all of the disclosure requirements in our business, I feel that need to have a record of those email transmissions.  I put each client's emails in a file folder.  I am not sure it is the most effective, but it works for me.

 

Jan 22, 2011 02:39 PM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

Me, too.  I do what Kathy (#7) does.  And after that, I'm not afraid to delete everything!  It's the ringing phone that gives me anxiety...

Jan 22, 2011 03:20 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

The worst new revelation for me is that.. .

I maybe an email HOARDER . .sad

 

Jan 22, 2011 11:59 PM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Another reminder that I need to clean out a bunch of emails I am hoarding too!

Jan 23, 2011 01:57 AM
Thom Abbott
MyMidtownMojo.com |770.713.1505 | Intown Atlanta GA Condo Living - Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta GA Condos For Sale

Thanks all. Many of these e-mails are related to blog posts I want to do, or, they are information that I want to follow up up.

I file them, and then I forget about them.

But file they will be....it's driving me crazy!

Jan 23, 2011 02:01 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Eight email addresses, oh my!  I basically use MSN for personal email and subscriptions to newsletters, blogs, and retailers and then use my gmail account strictly for business.  Of course, I have various aliases, but they all forward to one of these two destinations.  That enables me to prioritize... business first!

Jan 23, 2011 02:29 AM