Confession: “I hate (some) email.”

by | Announcements | 28 comments

Years ago I followed a tip from Tim Ferriss’ book, the Four Hour Work Week, that gave me 10 hours of my life back. Every week. The tip? Check email only twice a day. If you are not doing it, I recommend it.

Tim (and others) had sold me on the evils of email and I really thought I hated email. I say thought, because that little project convinced me that email was evil.  But.. I now think differently.

I’ll save you the whole long story, but as I’ve tweaked and played with different productivity tips and trying to master that beast that is my inbox. I’ve realized email is not evil.  It’s unwanted or unnecessary email that’s evil.  Which brings me to my question and where I really need your help.

The more I study about growing and maintaining a successful business, the more I see an email newsletter is a critical part of that. And, if I can confess a little more, I’ve done a horrible job with my own newsletter. So horribly in fact, that I feel the need to start over. Which brings me to this question. What would make my email to you not evil?

Here are a things that interest me. Let me know in the comments which two interest you most.

  • Productivity Tips
  • WordPress Tips
  • Web Design Tips
  • Small Business Tips
  • Cat Videos
  • App or software reviews
  • Book Reviews
  • ________________ (you tell me.)

Okay, I’m not doing the cat videos — even if that does win. 🙂

Thank for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance for your input. I really do appreciate it.

Ron

 

 

28 Comments

  1. mikecorley

    Id never consider an email from you Ron as evil. 🙂 I agree with everything you shared here. I fight the same battle.

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      Thanks Mike. What 2 topics interest you most? Besides cats I mean. 🙂

      Reply
      • mikecorley

        I would say productivity and web design.

        Reply
  2. Cheryl Sullenger

    I would like to get your newsletter/tips! BTW, I like email and prefer it to most other means of communication because it is faster and more convenient (and less intrusive) than a phone call, for example.

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      Okay – thanks Cheryl! I’ll try not to call so much. Ha ha. 🙂

      Reply
  3. TonySneskoIdahoOpenCarry

    I’m up for Word Press tips and book reviews if they are Christian related or inspirational true life stories.

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      What about business books that may or may not be Christian, Tony? For example, right now I’m reading “Launch” from Jeff Walker. That’s what has my mind thinking about mailing lists.

      Reply
  4. Hoyt Whittington

    I would like emails on all topics except WordPress

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      I’ll woo you from the dark side eventually, Hoyt. 🙂

      Reply
      • Hoyt Whittington

        Blue pill or Red pill… It’s your choice…..lol

        Reply
  5. Kathleen Benfield

    Hi Ron, I enjoy reading tech articles and never consider email from you as boring or unwanted. I really enjoy discovering bargains in the tech world such as great deals on apps, software and equipment. I would be interested in productivity tips and I am just learning WordPress so more info on that would be good.

    I check email and text messages Waaaayyyy to often. They are my major means of communication with clients, family and friends. I know I need to cut back but just can’t seem to break the habit.

    Optimus Media has been a blessing to me. I always recommend you for web hosting. Besides being a business with a Christian ethic, Optimus Media is reliable and accessible when problems occur.

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      Thanks for the kind words, Kathleen. You’re awesome too!

      Re: Email. Batching has been huge for me. I wander back to checking it more than twice a day.. and when I do, my productivity always (not sometimes) takes a hit. It really is like an addiction sometimes.

      Reply
  6. Brandon Battle

    Everything but small business tips 🙂 even the cat videos 🙂

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      Most small biz stuff I see also has stuff that a ministry could apply too. If you’re like me you’ve seen ministries try and use marketing “tricks.” I’m not a fan of that — or anytime the church tries to look more like the world. But almost all the business leaders I follow are also Christ followers as well.

      Reply
      • Brandon Battle

        Well you can put me in on that one too

        Reply
      • Brandon Battle

        If you think any of it might benefit us that would be no problem

        Reply
  7. Michelle Harpole

    Your email newsletters are never evil! I enjoy reading them! I guess the two topics that would interest me more than others would be the productivity tips (always need those!) and WordPress since I’m trying to beef up my knowledge of that.

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      I think a lot of us are trying to beef up on wordpress knowledge. I’m also trying to beef up on beef. I just had a delicious burger straight from the grill. So.. that was the inspiration for that pun… and it’s late.

      Reply
  8. Charlie Weaver

    Hey Ron,

    Thank you for the value you bring to our industry. I am always open to great content on Productivity Tips and Small Business Tips.

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      Thanks Charlie. And thanks everyone for the kind words.

      Reply
  9. AFA of PA

    I don’t think emails are evil — just too much of a mostly good thing every day! Since you’re not doing cat videos, then I vote for Productivity Tips and WordPress Tips.

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      LOL – Too much of a good thing. Like the blueberry pie I had this weekend?

      Reply
      • AFA of PA

        No, no blueberry pie is ALWAYS a good thing, not “mostly” a good thing!

        Reply
  10. Mr. Nick

    Ron, m’good man! Like others, I value your e-mailed messages. The problem at this end is that they’re buried in the flurry of others from other senders daily. The best info you provide, I believe, is your app or software reviews and web design tips. But here’s the clincher–graphics carry your message that “Optimus Media is alive and well” best. As unnecessary and unproductive as they might seem–especially pics of people–graphics touch the arty and emotional side of us. Whoever said “a picture is worth a thousand words” wasn’t kidding. So I always put some peop-pics in my weekly messages to WE KIDS listeners: http://wekids.org/whats-next.php. If nothing else, it’d be heart-warming to see pics of your growing fam. Keep shining for Him!

    Reply
    • Ron Shank

      Okay Ken 🙂 Here are those (not-so) little guys from Camp Ridgecrest this year.

      Reply
      • Mr. Nick

        Wow! See what I mean? Just repeat monthly until John-Garrett graduates. And you have the eyes of most of your e-mailed friends. Blessings!

        Reply
    • Ron Shank

      Let’s try that again. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Ed Holliday

    Hi Ron, I do not look at e-mails as evil in themselves, but I do leave many unopened (not yours) because between my wife and I we get a daily flood. Therefore I like to look at ones that I will learn from. So for me I would like to know about new apps and WordPress tips. I appreciate your efforts in staying on the cutting edge in this fast changing industry, and thank you for all your timely and incredible help.

    Reply

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