Elfin Recite

OLD RULE - Be there
NEW RULE - Play hard to get

Sure, e-mail is efficient, but researchers at the University of California at Irvine found that people take an average of 25 minutes to get back to business after a distraction. Total damage: Up to 2.1 wasted hours a day, another study found. “Be disciplined. Allow chunks of time uninterrupted by e-mail,” says Donald E. Wetmore, J.D., M.B.A., author of The Productivity Handbook. Attend to the inbox during low-energy points, saving high-energy times for more important jobs. If the boss really needs you, he’ll call.

OLD RULE - Quitters never win
NEW RULE - Losers quit; winners cut their losses

Perseverance isn’t helpful if you’re digging a hole. Canadian researchers found that even when inventors are advised to give up on a hopeless project. 29 percent continue to invest money, and 51 percent continue to invest time. Seldman says to continuously reevaluate your projects to see if they’re worth the effort— or if the end goal is even possible. “Understand sunk costs.” he says. “Don’t get caught up in the investment you’ve already paid.”