Comments on: Email Productivity Experiment – Update 4

By: John B. Kendrick

John B. Kendrick — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:23:56 +0000

I have followed your discussion and have been successful in keeping away from my email for two to three hour stretches at a time, and it does save me time and focus. AwayFind sounds interesting and I will try it – looking forward to your detailed post on the app. Thanks, John

By: Jared Goralnick

Jared Goralnick — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:35:08 +0000

Thanks again, Andrew! Your 4 article email productivity series mirrors my experiences…and I’m so glad AwayFind was the final step!!

Re:Taragh. I’m just glad that you’ve found a solution that works! We all need better relationships with our email.

I had tried your approach for a little while, but my problem was that people often didn’t have the relevant information in the first 140-160 characters (as the rest would get chopped when an email is converted to SMS). At least that’s how most email->SMS services work.

AwayFind enforces a 140-280 (1-2 SMS messages) character limit, which makes it easy to read those urgent messages via text…and quickly (a converted email could be MANY SMS messaegs)…and with all the right contact information included.

Happy to address any others’ thoughts here, too, or via email–jared AT setconsulting \./ COM. Cheers!

By: Andrew Mason

Andrew Mason — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:22:35 +0000

@Taragh: Sounds a good system that you have implemented. I did a similar thing with OmniFocus so that people could email me tasks. It has not got abused, yet! AwayFind implements what you have done but benefits from letting people who are unaware of your 'Urgent' requirement to still get a hold of you. Give the private beta a go by looking at the link above in Jared's comment. Thanks,

By: Andrew Mason

Andrew Mason — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:20:13 +0000

@Jared Goralnick: Thanks Jared, I love AwayFind and I will get to writing a full review of it as I am sure it will help people in managing their email. It sure did helped me and as you know, I use it for my main email accounts! Thanks,

By: Taragh

Taragh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:10:07 +0000

Hi Andrew. I’m enjoying your posts. Thank you.

I’m using email filters and sms text messages to create a similar system.
I check my email only a handful of times during the day. Most clients and friends have probably learnt not to expect a quick reply. However I have told them that if they want to get the message to me more quickly, to write the word “Urgent” in the subject line. This word triggers an email filter to convert the message to sms text message to my mobile. I get a bundle of free text messages with my hosting package (clara.net). A good workaround and very simple for the client to understand and use.

By: Jared Goralnick

Jared Goralnick — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:08:08 +0000

Nothing makes me more glad than seeing that AwayFind can help people…after all the work my team has put into it! I really appreciate your taking the time to write this up–and for always having great things to share here.

As a thank you to you and your readers, they can skip the “Private Beta” email wait process and sign in with this special link:

https://awayfind.com/register_user.php?code=didigtd

Cheers!