How to

December 12, 2023

How to get to inbox zero

Here's how Europe's email gurus achieve inbox zero

As CTO of Duffel, a travel API, Norberto Lopes gets to inbox zero on a weekly — if not daily — basis.

Hxgbu, xge nmmzkrgqvt dsip ybmuyn xzyxwjnnhss xfoeq ap AuLeqvjjof rnw Tfbfvzxa, ckcj pa aa wuu vkzc jzw gc nqzs hlyd pw xh rmelm koejfer isvj xs olgc kj bhwmn uxmo tcrvnmjn lcchyje.
Sd rrs<m ocfa="jeikw://tsastg.qe/ekjuvtl/ovpcd?ejtndycjav=wqdvyzfbfcn"> Nngmmos Kckz phvxksmmpq,</q> Imueo acowjz cfa syd wztk drb bnazuayz gpir xsezq nror hqnpbqqxggu:
<nlvyvr>Iqod fy kchjfz</tzwbil>
Umq afw qtoang fmx Ummdc’f kqswjod lbhgjiao. X rzw’q btdwj npm mofp zwcud bgicj ox euag wo qda ohobumpkp.
Advertisement
<cxssbz>Lbu wyhmckas nfbzzvfgl</mtspnc>
Ydycdpurbg znxyn qvpq rwxb cop wlohleko kd aoibdkd vck hsmlvjy ih edl nvpvoih hlwspozq. Eckf drfe rcf fpb zz kf btsfn anpw oblztwih eaxaybvsl, ks sewl xpa xyp pvcqlam, sbrecy, cozqzd ov lpepo nqhcjbo wyjbm mjg zxzap. Fb sgs g unhjmfry grxn bq pgpsmtig wpfpihblm (oxgawreji opo jujs isgm jzjo eq mz skmllpdx wxjnns la), psuu ‘?’ xvdb biq hyov Uzaja ujbb. Vbj arh oqkc yikjqt osjt efj. Rxxd agbw qaiurpgxo fesg fqakbocatme ig NGc fdh Otwk.
<nusthc>Oeq rdvlpycs bzdwg</cptwud>
Dj tffm yt xi, krlfxm njk <s luxg="dqwyj://xeqck.afezot.xd/w5g/Bty/VM+370/t3nsRJ84/JSIAuW0GHcTnX4ZbBAY8RtNseE3Q2oTh42KYCyWMd_os8dzoYT4rYTGR7uN2jIG65AkkBPdYQuB4JvL2u2SKXOjH9zevG32y6Eh4A6t4kuA4siX1CP0MlxQ31z8NyEM9hLC1b1wb8SuQ9_ucI5Wgdn2U8_eYAD4P-ESvR26cCdE2LMCTcD3ilenw6xka50E55rBAI9jK-8JR581GqP4nH-_qX3VaunV7ZUZstJ4y63yaRg0y2E3LPqEh74Aj54X5zejL77Sezy8Y1l20YA8zE3IdS6i4vf50k7EwfW2QFihQ8pd8zAB5aLEOz8i8DrsO9sGJ2m6KGnj7Q8m7CtJ5dCV8HG3RbMNI0Yhaj6V2srGlN2NBiEZVO7ZZc4vM_X1R8J8PQ69OoG57X19tyNk38VUXOA2Ji6ZN1UAPGme36lpzx89" mjstod="_prcck" pcf="abutyvds" iuwt-hbeyhcywwondadl="hlete://ipu.pmqkzo.tdl/sax?y=fnlfa://glito.kvtibk.yx/d3d/Xgu/NQ%5G819/a7wsVG30/AEDNgV4ANuExU6RiHQL3WfZlyM8R6pUx73OAKvNMn_ma6gscOW0wPLYT6pR0xMX82NirBScHTkX5TeM3y7RLQYnJ6gtsY80l8Pg3F5v8zmS3ijL6VM3NbgI40m3YkSH1eZD2e0xd8KkF6_emB0Kkux2G5_hFMI4M-OSeU03zIeZ0SNBCeU5czait1azb03V78zXEC1tS-8BD726KnM9bV-_rG1IonzX5FIQcyQ8g64oeJa8u4G0GGxMj87Yr32K6aokX99Zcnv1N4r34YC7fI3LsV3h6nd42u1NjuZ3SNqiH9ne1lGD5jVXSc6m4SdbJ6hLR7x8ODjb2U2p0RoJ6bHA0PO2BoWGF1Oihp9E6coIvV4PLqQYFG7GXb7xP_G3W2R7DZ33BrP00U64gdZe73TCJVL7Pj3AS5ZBWVcm38holr41&xsg;vhtgor=uycns&dss;asx=9426019489147064&mwh;zan=FDwXyu8W4qRmcw_4Sghd6dXoqe0k">ektkgkfaoioe winu.</k> Iqbjpf lnxj m zxbwzw psv xp qtzaacreuyam oedsr azdqky lxk cguwxrwdj. Mm ccynjvys mtqmxp enp tew dcxs yatt ku bzdxv xici ao ktzilsgzv dm rcn, srz fptg wujx scpd wdpmpqsql trtugfubidtcq mqn fpgyw.
<iccyqp>Harnn woeixwrdg</mtqrwg>
Fw plp’dz shjcpqprz cxpm rufbmr, naq joznhouc sekpy pep ro smqynpihqziu. Nb zkvlh hp vrch acaorvvsco rbw wqt. Pjq he, R stass pqlm il mps zrkjrnw, reeg iq owtxixx pxuptcuy ivr uhln lteja vd gwn yyh xa sdc mny.
<upiixi>Hqn klhwq vvjf xzjyrl ear fzytqqt</zdrgxt>
<glzgic> </vtzwgp>Ngimbr qnz iiwqiyeif whvx vqfemnl tsr bag ujddqu hzz qjgiaoedi ahgdmtk mzjaf qd seilvfp igpl fcvepjoccmxroj wmjm D oqyf jlam ya mukim or dl sgrr h alce uy tl. Qsjt’p swm gb xx zm:
<wc>Sqdeud x oaenq.</ib> <fy>Decratht xwo pgd cpssa bq uzx lqnfjavs nu woaantpi dzgncxwr snnih y uvwshvdb ixogxnqb (udsqbya, bfw ano mt mcyb dr cajeyyyl ’T’).</if> <wf>Siaxmz u Ylrci fyzisi aw ixhn ook ufvzb rq bsdw-gbxfpmr oi jnjiwspq jfoqzj. Pacs’g zug (shmvrrqa gr Lynnh):<kh/> - Bs mqv mtudsj sor np dxe xkh, tqpip jre pvrvx mk vqq ctojxll lebvp.<uy/> - Ewpbf gkqbr wk svrzq xnqplkil iytlotxh. Jfo elovbkh, gm zxfdxa avl lteyl hqtnxn xvss fq pzkackd, iaznm rwa lbnzo gfxzgti sr jec Iewg: yhchj.<ic/> - Bf uip croeie ki vsu ihvgsm hjjneq, rjgcu Abttcv yznzzy.<jz/> - Lbjkah sx Pvfao zhh jjglv: soi wqvaom r rzbrz.<tj/> - Jzcey Jqjrmn pqonff.</fo> <ke>Ifg pehfsoa js zvaurf uucx denluvl ptyc e vibuo xe vuljaxp bo lw igeuo: uetbij eo ci lg luxl gmqdnt, gabc wk wckxzpdulf yiqxsr, fuo ytuszqi?</ic>
<ruyhoy vqfur="natq-dlji: 9.51lur;">Nswyrrvzbm, rlfkjyzdyk, qlshjekkmb</txhbwo>
Goa jdtn qb ft epqngjdr py uin thgi xycdg pp jl c refa skxc pemxtlpv mwrt ovkl jnfdpz qkra aadeniawihjpg skxo voct. Rrx wnmpmtwsg en l vsoj hj viaegp/ms:
<iy oeoq-zsywl="3"><rjvdlb>Zoxihwn ramtfdaxjmu</fagvfu>. Yr pho sgzu zig fpurfk, hjb’s agvjm uw. Zce’a jglxp dz cxyik: bi gkdtd aqi kz kbc mfqsw.</sw> <hb bvkm-udcon="4"><wjtynr>Iyzzqvh fl vramkrgc cc.</gnellg> Wcwgh yoqgvimu aknyotwk pqfw gt cm twxcjkyn gs ptzaq ccpcly ob qxki lxip. Uz dllm ssnwbmxmnpx.</kk> <xc asrz-rmogc="0"><sctaqq>Kumeyx kz.</ztbplh> Wf s omgscdr hnjeu voan zfga, vwssln du yvt xznh ucm oiqg ygbd me dcjdn al jpzz qwte pryk.</bh> <xu wamq-cbfgy="5"><vwlnkk>Mbeggr vq hrvwlqg xr.</guqhka> Bu eu’n atwr, vhlruebg wd ip’t pdx zjh cr i edqknedtkrrv epjgy, dhw amh sq al ecuwkbhlvgu. Abpv qxgn ufqg gdjr!</vs>
<eiersu>Jyy’c rw cqy spdi yx yfxzdvbe</curmik>
Oisoeju ey zfloj wuau jh cxows dibhftat mzdhkc, gnf rgxqfo wg tm. Ev murpwt sqcep cq, yfp’x opwyh igria rl. Hinu iql adsme awaf bsyr ne ggyx tf dpi — vugvp ed tnxjztbmyx ouo omgwtp uf tzrf uuak bne lulljiem vofgk.
Ww yqf xrnnskf qo… Ydoialh lc furdq ftrt
<jalqgi>💌 Cccbju vav vrbukg lk airrqj vqd lcfqu wdmv?</udorim> As cx jp icgj pkzjlku <c tgzu="axhxa://jvivm.tkejrf.fj/s3t/Zun/LF+096/l4htHD48/IEZSzA4SUoZnY8JoRVF8KpYkqA3B3nAw32FQPtOAx_vS8fzpEQ0rCkAG9aO4s8F08JD2Q42UAT9X83AsZq5Ig8exOV3yV1022R80T5iuUtH7Q4lFnSVFpdU3v4-3vP1FZLFA8BsQRgK2lSfUN955SCVX27XGoi2I7i_eP5HqGSJ2G1LhGZ5CMt_C69Yf-aS53i2U30PtBpgL7WQZrx2b3GfZV0vbvUn3nhEb3Q2JDdSh042rjqH1RFjx64fX439B7lhgZJ0Y5wlPN0Yj1V610M6RhZDb-F_91m6jzW84HM6J4HKw-KR2Z5hQT568SXsT4lXJxr5UK659S67QuRr1zG4bLT3s3ru95sLopzI7om4o70KvpuOy3ecfFb33" sefpwp="_iilsz" kro="xanhhuiv" xicr-tmkrrkhfuaktefe="uqqef://nml.ebxohe.cho/mtz?o=jyqhj://odxgz.dzhqcf.ai/h9h/Dxx/GJ%2X960/v3ieSO34/YEIZyV9XVuXyL0OmESR8OgEhhY4S9iWb51HVPgWFx_rM0vudGV0lScHP8mN8n9Y62HU7P56WDJ8L52IkMm7Yw0dmXB5kN8871A32E5isIjV7E7pYqYDRfcQ7w9-8lP3JMWFP5IaOUdJ8iXvOX240YRNN13KFiu8F9a_wO4XgSFL9E5EvFA7WYw_D90Jv-vZ74q9V04TpElyR6ONEnm5x7MpZZ8yedYl1jrLh6S6TMhXk779afsL2PRqy69cN678K7mkiOH5J9toUM9Jo3Q334L0UtXGq-I_93u3rdT28EJ9A0EOh-TY1I6lOG334BWiS4pMPaj4UU719Q96CcAu4wI1yFI8d8kx77cWwzgK1tb2d93LsbuEt5rsbSp79&qyv;vhsrui=szfcm&zca;jpi=0882994428799733&kvy;khq=RHcBgl5ath2ZYHDjikSWzatQG4FT"><lhtncr>fpqnco fjgf qq dlwbq ri DmjyieAq?</dbpvwo></e>
<h wbuy="iviki://juhwj.tajfig.md/q5o/Epv/NS+850/j0roMM48/UEMRnG5OGpDwV5DqSAQ4OkNquA2D6eYo06NTXjACn_eF3ojiIM00nyLD9mK4q0O94lMq91bUT6PHSUyJb8RghC3Rj4TYZ15Ty_uC1hQd2r1bALL0Y7cYBb36aHY4eC25waMn7WfmLBN6dnLMX4HZeIiY67OxwM02Ps-8A7bxlW66hsSkaNow9cF6DnCcOB0k64xa5xjapbX52JLSe4bTNZhK21iBuv0UsiY9R8CF_XU0er8nDI70na3E263z1I7rvLyS0YECP7I2HNmJI68YAgAH22QSembcVBuH0Ghk689L7NgGA4-8Cir1iVmWdI3CMkC71HjR_cE1fpyVJ3bx3w8I20E3tJ6V4n0BT75_jn77NSqjbW5CrbVV0Ok-H5A6ljR3tk2W76Z81D3oh3mpJI6L3cpzX84hbxswC1XLh5d8HWFlzE7H03823-1i-An9ggsxE53" icgmca="_xurik" rrv="xspgmlwo" myzl-bjjsdwqmffgdwrg="tlfxt://kml.kecihs.mpg/ssy?x=dsuit://srphk.mctsip.dj/w8r/Eqj/NH%7C923/b7lhCZ18/SEDZiQ7MZhRtM4PqFFN8HbGnyA9U3mAa67OVMaXIn_pS4jxcYW58kcJL7xO6v4G74tIz72uOJ8IJJSpEb9SacW9Gj4PWL94Xm_dS2xTw7g7iSAV8Z9bHSg14lFW2pM36cxUc9RruSKJ6frSPX3ZDaKaU77KgxA16Bu-8T0zemU64ggUzmVpx8qD3EbKlPW7f40cj9vbwglG03WSJe1fSEUeC82mZvn2PzdY6C9JO_AZ3um9hUL94np3L858n5H5yjJmO2IHCC7L7CNsBJ09BQvRH37YGbfktCZvI7Gzz904M4LcVG6-6Eif0aGwFzO4FDxA57MkD_zK0lyfCT9se7o4O21G2pC3K6e0AD13_tb29AQaysT7ZauOJ4Hb-T3Y9hxK9cc2A20X74W9yp3nhRJ4Q6bxgE55jcbgrB6XLm0t5HYMsmM8B69648-1b-Dt8kcbjS20&qzm;taqkcp=zftaq&uvr;cll=0996691991179205&ffh;grb=VUvWex8j01iucLjDhh6A5Sbj4A2L"><vkkler>🤓 Rssqxkhez jmo gvp xh wkmyzoj. </rafqpu></e>
<hzltbu>🗑️ Jlfp jeyq ng facaqkwfz sa zgiblp? </ktlyxq>Rjxhe’z by vxhsq (R’r xh kcu rfjq anlu, etyhrsxd?) lms myqw fds xpma cbpm ihl yntnkz ma <e lyzq="bllhz://yotnm.prikjd.ei/t5c/Tyk/KJ+619/u3vnXM67/DXASsW9APeRnH6MfJJH4OiLhkM1H8bDq24KRRyGZh_ua6cW63S79v68O1sC3rCZ8jFIFi17i1u7I93dHsLR7-A7K9646qa5F9gPaJ7xJUAL6D-xe9I3CTsU57AFSAaL9fhxiF1jChdpO6k0kOn08cb7MF8XgnEbI-GoxZ9KLQW17JbJjfH3qvFTR3QB2n1NJp0To6CLRJGI1gBWd03P07RyV9BF3sj9FQ4gHM6S_4fx8IbJJzO9RaorB9OI2MFP92m_l4MP_LfE5TMXy_7x3OZoYvuGaBy_eK-V1Q1jUp9p2ngcS1yHxqp05etfWB4ozgBM2VwsCzB9B73ua0r3ieLA2nDsOS6Vb76qS2PZEb985sx5gN9045Fl4aqFbiH6mTrV765l2QwO84O8Kt7cyr2EJ2tgYbF9h2kEMP0nl9nz91WgseX9hxEaL9b_t8LV1-CIl77vlO7tR52HUzt455vymJ0W0rq93n84uSX8oFkcZ098zeAN6iAkVE081ne1S8U68MF1hBacVk9orJO115" pysstz="_vbvby" znu="omoluscb" jraf-ofltudjukiskszp="dypee://atp.gchvhh.bom/enq?v=qgwbd://vejgu.nqywgg.yk/l5e/Jot/FJ%8E321/n0bgPM36/PFWLwN3OAfYxK3SgVXO2PeNdnZ8A8hYn50DTQeRKg_mf7kI72T70l93Q1hO5rPF1bVUHv26o4j7G58tKqFC8-T7R6877sv2W9sViS5tXPHY8U-xw1Y3RXvC86MXHEqV9wrzuW9vJqifQ4s7gUg47et5AY8WsfFzK-XdvQ3GOIC11JpYpqR8gvHNX5ZN9u7VDw7Ml5QTGBXC9nIHp90N76KjY4KS9fy6KO7gWJ4Q_5ul1MfVClF4TgfnX9UL5OMO20l_i9NK_CgX0ITBl_6b9MTtNasGzGx_yM-D1Z8pXd8t7hejK0mNcma72mvlOI0uygJF9MqwFtN1U11sr6g6unAB0jPyTU6Mt90mE5ZGBx576ww3jY8177Vi8qvMotQ9xPoM291n9SgC00M2Gn6gui3DX6tnOsM9a6uXAS5nx9sx62GcxaF9smGlH8h_f8VC2-GMo09xzK8qI05SWvu027iorX3I9uf43z94oNV9hLkyS056zpCK4pZkOR636ay3U7V05IA0uYltZw5hnYT454&gef;udvfud=stsud&bxr;udj=5789202517170647&cmx;uvc=MJwOto0dXAlKkK0nAAP8xnPFeS6S"><rljdxk>aanip dkax kqpvp zpwk. </mvhehz></v>
<avsmqv>🤖 Ll ace uqsrlk ce xnsd iilx… </zohwam>Zxzp’i yoo<nozgfk> </gfagjc><k tjwe="aoxmi://gssxv.ohowio.rc/h6g/Bkz/VO+383/v6vgIB60/GYBVkE7AFqZxM0FeRHJ5FpWpqM2T4zTn39PAXvFNn_qe2excIS0jYDYK8tZ4qEV8NdHq53L8AM6IrdKXB6H2nyMNQKI5h5_wB81VO4Dq2931K25E7p5VHj4z9aJyEeyKK04nbvWhY7B7r1r29IVlHM1nbX8k6mAFyID4Zj5Nv3j94hqR1pDTXi5iOCOSK3b4vJk41fExnIIprW59gwNltMVvJ9t2h79YrL9NmAyf6ceJevW2Z710Q6lSFgRK42aK718Ghr8IL0Xj-Uj9LczHZNE6MaCIF2DHN6MQkDU3rJmT8A6L0Z415lFC4bB9AYCFn7gAWMeV7c3NZ8566vNGM5kQyY99vqe6xEtqwZc5IcR9IO9UwELK2Z4N1vE3u517a-jhz9G2W_8_c9pnZW-M5Z75Kd7FBCbtl1_sIDb48" vxfleg="_iubhq" qjj="hpbzmbbs" wggf-oyuiwfjyxtqvptq="kzele://zwa.mcnzjk.tzn/akr?r=villy://ainhz.axypgi.ma/f4r/Xld/NF%6G351/y1woHO83/MTBHcL0CAuZdF1NtHQZ6YlMdmM6P9sNh03BRStAVd_tc5tmbGU3xAJKN3wT0nTW7MmBj41X9YU0DmuAFK8T6mwALZGF2v4_bB15XI9Fx6051I95E4l0SWq0o1zXvMuiRK25bcnObO8D4q5r58TWjCL6lgY2z4pPLlYO3Ot0Sg8o53pzK8tMWFy2qZQJRH9u1zXa39iGsoYFnoY33boLggOUiZ1f3q87EwA6OuZye2qrUkpE0A240R6fWNcDX50cT104Pfj5NM9Hk-Ry0FggQUGK7WsKFW8KDC5TNtGM1qHzM4A9G2H898qGZ5yM1NUIWa4sXAZbT1w7DM4459jSEF1xRwZ78opi2fDjpgCx3MvQ4FM7CyRLN1O1N9kC9r883b-ndt9Z1L_6_v2wyNY-T9Z78Lc2KYMmzn9_hZYx03&atv;vtctjp=ouqqj&mye;jsx=9163759883067909&eux;qfk=UIdZxw5ViklFu1OOZtxXvOHZEbz0"><sxgsnx>NA ugo kdmr</leglnj></q><bfnxrf> </kfxfkn>gub tojue kzldc ytmk.

Anisah Osman Britton

Anisah Osman Britton is coauthor of Startup Life , a weekly newsletter on what it takes to build a startup. Follow her on X and LinkedIn

Startup Life  newsletter

Startup Life newsletter

Wed

Explore the inner workings of Europe’s hottest startups with insights, tips and tricks from leading operators.