How (Very) Busy People Manage Inbound Email

Most people don't go from zero inbound to overwhelming inbound overnight. Over time, they build and maintain a series of filters, rules, and processes for handling inbound. This could be organized and automated or a set of mental heuristics for skimming through a chaotic and neglected inbox.

Whether or not its pretty, most people have a system that works for them. But some people receive so much inbound that any system they operate themselves couldn't possibly handle it. Here are the two most common strategies for when the homemade system isn't enough.

Shutting off the Tap

Indie hacker Pieter Levels makes sure there are no publicly-available ways to contact him. His articulate explanation is that he values time and privacy over serendipity and new opportunity given his complete satisfaction with his network and businesses. And there are plenty of people who share his approach.

When someone makes the choice to make themselves unreachable, their wishes always deserve respect. Find someone else who can help you reach your goal.

Hiring Help

Actors, athletes, and celebrities hire agents and assistants to help parse the volume of inbound communication they receive and pick out the stuff worth pursuing. So too do key decision-makers across industries.

If someone has an assistant for email, that means there's a lot of competition for their attention. But it also increases the chance that a real person somewhere will read and evaluate your message. So stick to the fundamentals and send a message that the gatekeeper is excited to pass along.

No matter how famous someone is, there's always hope. As president, Barack Obama read ten letters a day, picked from tens of thousands by his staffers. It never hurts to take a chance.

Best,

Philip