I get inspired by all types of things watching people, reading articles or newsletters and even by just gazing out the window. I spend at least 60% of my day reading email, and today I realized how just reading my email is affecting the growth of my company.

I have been feeling less creative and inspired than normal. Today at lunch
I stopped and read a short article in my MCC newspaper, and I realized why. I am overloaded by reading just email. I am checking my blackberry every few minutes for a new update about projects I am involved with. Even now, I am writing this blog on my blackberry. Some people call this being available. Some days I feel that is true and other days I find it stumps my company’s growth. Now, I ask you the same question is your email causing you to feel overwhelmed? Do you feel the stress of being available all the time?

On any given day I receive between 15 – 75 emails , that does not even
include spam. Thank you to the techies for the spam filters!! Important
emails about web sites we are working on and updates from my team. So being
out of touch is not an option for me. But I feel that as a business owner I
need to spend at least 30 minutes a day to find time to be inspired. Taking the time to read news about my industry, read a new book or take part in a tele-class or a web class. If I don’t take the time out I will find my sales dropping and my client relationships lacking. Coffee at Luna’s, a great book, really explained this to me, and the article I read at lunch reminded me. You need to stop and absorb your business, and your life, so you can grow and move forward. If you can’t be away from your blackberry or email for an extended period of time; find the 30 minutes to be email free and see ho w it affects your productivity.