Email can be the kiss of death to a business person. One way around that is to tend to YOUR business first thing in the morning, even before you begin reading emails.

For instance, if you are a writer, commit to writing X number of pages a day (say, toward a novel/story, etc.) before you open that email.

What I do is read email for X number of minutes in the morning, and then X number in the evening. I have my incoming mail color-coded, so that I know if something important is coming through and my email is open at all times. So a quick glance tells me if it is junk, a joke, or work-related. It works for me.
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Queen JJ
www.queenjawjaw.com
All Things Royal - 2010 and Beyond
Humorist for the NABBW