Quick Tip:
Increase Your IQ by 10 Points
Do you check email every half-hour while working? Do you use instant messaging? Do you answer the phone?
If you do, research indicates you’re slicing points off your IQ.
Glenn Wilson – psychiatrist at King’s College, London – asked 80 volunteers to perform problem-solving tasks… first in a quiet environment and then while bombarded with emails, instant messages, and phone calls.
Even though they were told to ignore the distractions, the volunteers’ IQs dropped an average 10 points while being bombarded! (This is twice the effect that marijuana has.)
Direct marketing is a field where you want all your brain cells working… all the time. So, to maximize your brainpower:
- CHECK EMAIL ONLY THREE TIMES A DAY – when you first start working, middle of the day, and when you’re finished. (Exception: When a CLIENT wants you to be available for immediate response.)
- TURN OFF INSTANT MESSAGING.
- ANSWER ONLY WORK-RELATED PHONE CALLS – Let a reliable message machine or message center answer ALL other calls.

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