I follow basic GTD rules for my gmail inbox… if it’s dealt with, it’s archived and not seen. If I need to reply, it’s there in my face (even if it stays there for a while.)
I use the labs to enable ”Send & Archive” so that when I reply, it disappears – the ball is in their court, and I effectively forget about the topic until it bounces back in my inbox.
What happens when you ask someone for some information, and they reply – what response do you send? It’s one thing to just leave your email in your inbox, but to actually hit “archive” just seems rude. Sure, they don’t know the difference between the two, but I know that means I will not be sending back any reply. The conversation was done… but I hadn’t thanked them.
But an email saying “thank you” seems kinda silly to me. It’s just one more in their long list of emails, and doesn’t really convey any information… it may signify the end of the discussion, but they probably already felt it was finished.
I started this post having in mind to ask what you thought (if you get this by email, feel free to reply or use the forum to post a comment). While about to start, I had an idea… instead of sending an email that basically says “Thanks for the reply [end of discussion]“, to really thank them, and make them feel good.
Forget any basic thank you letters – I just searched for a few and they seem far too rigid and sterile. Perhaps a few ingredients from this list, as appropriate – it doesn’t have to be long, just keep it real:
Thanks for taking the time to respond – especially if they did some research or a bit of writing for you
If it was a quick response, mention it!
If the information was very good/timely/helpful/useful, say so – and why! e.g. “It was good you said that, because I was about to try the opposite.”
Mention why you asked them – most likely it’s because you think they know about the question. So compliment them on being that person “in the know”. e.g. “Thanks for the help, you always seem to have the answers to these questions!”
With some of those ingredients, I don’t think I’ll feel any disease about sending a short email, and also should make them feel appreciated reading it.
So go ahead and clog up people’s email boxes spreading the good cheer!
“There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind has achieved the second.” - Logan Pearsall Smith
There are a LOT of “successful” people – high power careers, massive salaries, gigantic houses, nice cars – or for those younger: nearly perfect grades, a full roster of extra curricular activities perfect for their college admission. They seem to have it made.
But are they happy? Do they enjoy what they have? Or have they just traded “success” for a lot of stress and hardly seeing their family? It’s quite nice to get what you have been striving for – but what happens then? Do you enjoy it, or do you relentlessly push on to the next level barely acknowledging what you have accomplished? This isn’t to say you can’t be successful and enjoy it – there are many who do – but you have to do it on purpose. Those who are relentlessly focused on doing better often don’t focus on enjoying and appreciating how far they have come.
There is no stopping point. By the time you “make it” you may finally realize that you will never reach the point that you are ultimately satisfied – once we reach a goal, we see something even better to try for.
So when do you enjoy what you have? Not at the end – the entire time. Enjoy the process, the feeling that you are doing better and moving towards a worthy goal. It’s a shame to spend 4 days climbing up Mt. Everest only to spend 1 hour there enjoying the view.
“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.” - Earl Nightingale
While you may be focused on increasing what you can accomplish and working on your productivity, remember to stay balanced and enjoy it, too. You may find a funny thing happening – when you enjoy the journey, you will end up travelling better.
Take a look at where you are in your life. What can you enjoy, right now?
If you want energy to work towards your goals – you have to feel good about them! Don’t worry so much about managing your own state, but rather the feeling you have when you think about your goal.
(Video, 3:45)
Do you have negative feeling stored up about a certain topic? Are you procratinating on something? Let go of that negative emotion with the Sedona Method.
Using Methods 1 & 2, you can let go of those negative emotions that are holding you back.
(Video, 5:44)
Summary of the questions:
Could you allow yourself to experience the current emotion?
Could you let it go? (If not, could you hold on to it?)
Would you let it go?
When?
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