Five Folders - the easy email system
Origin story: After making my GTD one-page visual summary, I began sharing it with the people around me. I found that setting up the whole system was too much for most of them. I discovered that email was a self-contained way to introduce the principles of GTD system and share these useful stress-reducing techniques without overwhelming people. I developed a formal "Easy Email" presentation and began giving it for free within my company. I then had requests to take it outside the company and charge a fee, so I got permission from David Allen to do so. I've completely rebuilt the presentation twice, streamlining it and improving the focus to enable internalizing the learning before the class is done.
I've taught the Five Folders email system to 600+ people. It requires no special software, and works equally well in Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, and any other that lets you make a folder. My 45-minute presentation includes an interactive email game, and it makes an entertaining and practical company lunch-and-learn. I will never get tired of the feeling of seeing a room full of people's eyes light up when we empty a fake inbox together, they know exactly what to do with each email, and for maybe the first time, they are filled with hope about their own overflowing inboxes.
My presentations have ranged from small teams of 2-3, to large rooms of 100. Companies have included Nationwide Insurance, Abbott Nutrition, Lane Bryant, Owens Corning, and the International Association of Administrative Professionals.
My presentations have ranged from small teams of 2-3, to large rooms of 100. Companies have included Nationwide Insurance, Abbott Nutrition, Lane Bryant, Owens Corning, and the International Association of Administrative Professionals.
My training promise
- No training binders - ever. My training is about learning in the moment, not collecting things to read and learn later.
- After my 45 min interactive presentation and email game, you'll understand the system so well that you can set it up at your desk in ten minutes and put it to use immediately.
- If you put it to use, you'll get your one hour class time back. How? As one hour of saved time in the first week, and every week after.
What people say about it
“I am already feeling better about my email, and I haven’t even done anything yet!”
"Have to tell you again how much I enjoyed it; I look forward to tying back to these principles the next time I am training individuals or groups on Outlook."
"I thought you did a great job"
"Thanks for the class. I got some great tips and already see how much more focused I can be. MUCH appreciated. Your class should be mandatory :)"
"Thanks. This system has given me a new sense of control."
"What a great class! I love the idea and the delivery of your presentation was wonderful! I can’t wait to clean out my inbox – currently 750 emails reside there."
"I really enjoyed your class! Thanks!"
"Thanks for the great seminar. I'm going to work on the system."
"A BIG help! I am definitely more organized and the time savings is much appreciated. The fun part is trying to keep the Inbox empty."
"Awesome session Scott- I've already tweaked my system."
"I really hope they get you on the schedule again.........many more folks can benefit."
"Great session! I am setting up my folders."
"Thanks for presenting the class yesterday on "Five Little Folders" - it was great to be able to learn something that will be very helpful for managing outlook emails."
"Great class by the way...thanks!"
"I'd like to thank you for taking the time to share your organizational tips when staying organized with emails. This definitely hits a hot button for me personally. "
"The class was SO helpful & I finally feel like my email is organized! Thanks :)"
"Just wanted to let you know - your system is working out wonderfully for me. I was a bit skeptical for myself more than others, because I use my Tasks and other Outlook features more than the average LB user, but as a general system, you were 110% right. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us."
"I have an empty INBOX and it is kind of creeping me out!!! I’ve worked so long doing it the other way that my brain is having a hard time adjusting. My Wednesday folder is already empty…. I love it!!"
"Have to tell you again how much I enjoyed it; I look forward to tying back to these principles the next time I am training individuals or groups on Outlook."
"I thought you did a great job"
"Thanks for the class. I got some great tips and already see how much more focused I can be. MUCH appreciated. Your class should be mandatory :)"
"Thanks. This system has given me a new sense of control."
"What a great class! I love the idea and the delivery of your presentation was wonderful! I can’t wait to clean out my inbox – currently 750 emails reside there."
"I really enjoyed your class! Thanks!"
"Thanks for the great seminar. I'm going to work on the system."
"A BIG help! I am definitely more organized and the time savings is much appreciated. The fun part is trying to keep the Inbox empty."
"Awesome session Scott- I've already tweaked my system."
"I really hope they get you on the schedule again.........many more folks can benefit."
"Great session! I am setting up my folders."
"Thanks for presenting the class yesterday on "Five Little Folders" - it was great to be able to learn something that will be very helpful for managing outlook emails."
"Great class by the way...thanks!"
"I'd like to thank you for taking the time to share your organizational tips when staying organized with emails. This definitely hits a hot button for me personally. "
"The class was SO helpful & I finally feel like my email is organized! Thanks :)"
"Just wanted to let you know - your system is working out wonderfully for me. I was a bit skeptical for myself more than others, because I use my Tasks and other Outlook features more than the average LB user, but as a general system, you were 110% right. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us."
"I have an empty INBOX and it is kind of creeping me out!!! I’ve worked so long doing it the other way that my brain is having a hard time adjusting. My Wednesday folder is already empty…. I love it!!"
| five_folders_teaser.pdf |