WTMI

Information works as essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients sustaining businesses and enabling them to grow. But sometimes, there is just way too much information, at which point even the interesting and important becomes overwhelming and meaningless.

On any given day, there are a gazillion e-mails to contend with, not to mention webinars, podcasts, online newsletters, faxes and, well yes, blogs, in addition to traditional mail bringing us a barrage of marketing materials, magazines and marketplace development updates. Then, there are staff meetings, conferences and seminars with their supporting educational materials.

What are we supposed to do with all of the information? How are we supposed to find the time to sort, organize, prioritize and digest mission-critical information and still complete our daily tasks? Today, it seems like a universal challenge with no solution. In fact, it will only get more out of hand as technology infiltrates more business operations.

I often wonder how Print Professional readers cope with information overload, and more important, what the editorial staff here can do—aside from providing concise, relevant industry news in the publication, website and e-newsletter—to alleviate the situation.

Marketing consultant Lee Marc Stein observed most people today suffer from TDD-Time Deficient Disorder, and noted that it is a major obstacle facing direct mailers in obtaining responses to their communications. If at some point in the day you find yourself experiencing some relief from your own TDD, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. What is your preferred way to receive information, and how can the printed and electronic resources at Print Professional better serve you?