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Who Is In Control

by Mukul Verma
11 replies
I was watching a video on Tim Ferris's blog and it struck me, who is really in control?

When I get to my desk, first thing I do is run to my email box and go through my email.

By doing this, I am allowing my email box (or others) to control my time and actions, not me. I am very guilty of this (in fact I am doing it now, thats why I am writing this).

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Mukul
#control
  • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
    Yup...

    Most people, start their own business to be "free" from the corporate world, or from a J.O.B. and they saddle themselves with an even bigger chain around their neck.

    I very rarely check e-mail first.

    I have support e-mail go to BlackBerry for anything urgent... the rest can wait until I decide it's time to dig into it.

    My priority is my TO DO List for the day...

    Jay

    p.s. Care to share the link to the video you were watching?... :curious:
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    Bare Murkage.........

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    • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
      Originally Posted by JayXtreme View Post

      Yup...

      Most people, start their own business to be "free" from the corporate world, or from a J.O.B. and they saddle themselves with an even bigger chain around their neck.

      I very rarely check e-mail first.

      I have support e-mail go to BlackBerry for anything urgent... the rest can wait until I decide it's time to dig into it.

      My priority is my TO DO List for the day...

      Jay

      p.s. Care to share the link to the video you were watching?... :curious:
      I need to learn from you Jay on that

      Here it is
      Tim Ferriss Scam! Practical Tactics for Dealing with Haters)

      Long, but lots of good business lessons in this.

      Another one I got is that we take criticism personally. Guess what, its part of being in business, there are always haters, the more you grow, the more haters. Forget the nah sayers and focus on the ones you can help.

      Cheers,
      Mukul
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    Hmmm... I totally get what you mean, but for me I love checking my emails!

    My customers are the most important part of my business and email is the way that I can connect with them. In fact, when on days when I don't get emails from people that need help I find that I get disappointed (which is really weird because I usually help them for free so you'd think I'd be glad about that).

    I think that might be because my emails would mostly be from my customers that have purchased PLR websites from me and I want to respond to them right away plus, like I said, it gives me a chance to "talk" to them.

    But, after I read Tim's book I did realize that I was checking email way too often. It can be a huge time suck. So now I limit myself to first thing in the morning, then a couple more times during the day unless I have an ongoing problem that I am working and need feedback or something.

    Lee
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    • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
      Originally Posted by cashcow View Post

      Hmmm... I totally get what you mean, but for me I love checking my emails!

      My customers are the most important part of my business and email is the way that I can connect with them. In fact, when on days when I don't get emails from people that need help I find that I get disappointed (which is really weird because I usually help them for free so you'd think I'd be glad about that).

      I think that might be because my emails would mostly be from my customers that have purchased PLR websites from me and I want to respond to them right away plus, like I said, it gives me a chance to "talk" to them.

      But, after I read Tim's book I did realize that I was checking email way too often. It can be a huge time suck. So now I limit myself to first thing in the morning, then a couple more times during the day unless I have an ongoing problem that I am working and need feedback or something.

      Lee
      Good for you on limiting it.

      Here is how I deal with servicing my customers. I have one of my outsource employee respond. The rule is that every email has to be responded to unless then an hour during working hours.

      Cheers,
      Mukul
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      • Profile picture of the author DeadGuy
        I agree with Lee. It really depends upon your individualized business model. For me, far too many sales come from follow up emails that have been sent to customers. So, yes, I check my email quite often.
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        You are making this work at home stuff way harder than it is. Ready for some sanity? Clear your head and start over.

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  • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
    Thanks for the link, Mukul

    Have you read the book?... (4hr work week). It was the basis for the biggest shift in my business outlook, ever.

    Jay
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    Bare Murkage.........

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    • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
      Originally Posted by JayXtreme View Post

      Thanks for the link, Mukul

      Have you read the book?... (4hr work week). It was the basis for the biggest shift in my business outlook, ever.

      Jay
      YUP both copies...I went from being my online business to 1 year later taking a month off in Argentina, all contributed to shifting my thinking thanks to this book. My biggest take away is being the ghost in the machine...nothing day to day should be done by me

      I think everyone once in business should read this book.

      Cheers,
      Mukul
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    Here is how I deal with servicing my customers. I have one of my outsource employee respond. The rule is that every email has to be responded to unless then an hour during working hours.
    That's great! I'll probably move to something like that eventually but for now I really like doing it myself. But, I realize that I can't keep doing everything if I eventually want to have the 4 hour work week so I'm slowly letting go of the tasks that need to get done.

    Lee
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  • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
    Guys, it took me years to get over this. I LOVED talking to my customers and it was very hard for me to give up. I did not think anyone else could do it, but had to. Ask what your goal is, if its freedom, growth etc...you got two choices, do it now or do it later and delay.

    Unless you are the business (which you should try to change). Well depends on what you want your goals to be.

    Cheers,
    Mukul
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadGuy
      Originally Posted by Mukul Verma View Post

      Guys, it took me years to get over this. I LOVED talking to my customers and it was very hard for me to give up. I did not think anyone else could do it, but had to. Ask what your goal is, if its freedom, growth etc...you got two choices, do it now or do it later and delay.

      Unless you are the business (which you should try to change). Well depends on what you want your goals to be.

      Cheers,
      Mukul
      Again, it depends upon the business. If the business model you are referencing is affiliate related, digital product distribution, or even retail for that matter, I would certainly agree with you. But only at a time when your business can afford the outsourcing expense. Or if you have deep enough pockets to begin with.

      Now I know there are experts who tout that you are selling yourself (and your business) short and limiting your growth potential by expending energies on mundane activities such as reading email. This can, however, be misleading and harmful, in some cases, to the business neophyte.

      If you are just starting out (especially in IM), the worst mistake you could possibly make would be to not read and respond to your email regularly. All of it. This is an absolute gold mine of valuable information for the new business owner. It would be impossible to fully explain the extreme value of customer feedback as to the potential for product modification, new product generation, business leads and sales opportunities.

      Granted, as time goes on and the learning curve has been conquered, by all means... outsource it. If there is nothing that you can further exploit by continuing to read email, it may not make sense to do it at all. Again, it depends upon your business and its needs.

      The most successful people I have ever known "...were the business". And this model has worked successfully for me as well for a fair number of years. Would I change it? Not for love or money.
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      You are making this work at home stuff way harder than it is. Ready for some sanity? Clear your head and start over.

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      • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
        Originally Posted by DeadGuy View Post

        Again, it depends upon the business. If the business model you are referencing is affiliate related, digital product distribution, or even retail for that matter, I would certainly agree with you. But only at a time when your business can afford the outsourcing expense. Or if you have deep enough pockets to begin with.

        Now I know there are experts who tout that you are selling yourself (and your business) short and limiting your growth potential by expending energies on mundane activities such as reading email. This can, however, be misleading and harmful, in some cases, to the business neophyte.

        If you are just starting out (especially in IM), the worst mistake you could possibly make would be to not read and respond to your email regularly. All of it. This is an absolute gold mine of valuable information for the new business owner. It would be impossible to fully explain the extreme value of customer feedback as to the potential for product modification, new product generation, business leads and sales opportunities.

        Granted, as time goes on and the learning curve has been conquered, by all means... outsource it. If there is nothing that you can further exploit by continuing to read email, it may not make sense to do it at all. Again, it depends upon your business and its needs.

        The most successful people I have ever known "...were the business". And this model has worked successfully for me as well for a fair number of years. Would I change it? Not for love or money.
        Great advice. I agree that before you hand the customer service over, you need to do it, to understand it. I at times will do customer service for a day, every single time I learn of a new idea to improve the business.

        Cheers,
        Mukul
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