I Stopped Reading LinkedIn Spam. Best Decision Ever.

I stopped reading LinkedIn spam. Let that sink in. And when I say "stopped," I mean I took a flamethrower to my inbox and torched every single unsolicited pitch that dared to land there. You might think I'm being extreme, but trust me, this was the best decision I ever made for my productivity—and my sanity. Research shows that email management is critical. Research shows that email management is critical. How many times have you opened LinkedIn, only to be bombarded with "quick calls" and "game-changing synergies"? Spoiler alert: they’re neither quick nor game-changing. They're time thieves, plain and simple. And if you’re a founder like me, each stolen minute is a minute you're not building your empire. ## LinkedIn Spam: The Silent Productivity Killer Let’s get real. LinkedIn spam is the junk food of the digital world. It’s everywhere, it’s tempting to consume, but it’s ultimately bad for you. You know those messages: the ones that start with false flattery and end with a generic pitch. Yesterday, I got one that said, "Hey Remy, love what you’re doing at Sledgehammer. Let’s connect and explore synergies." Yeah, because that's original. - It’s estimated that workers waste 28% of their time on emails, and LinkedIn spam is just another form of that. - Founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs are losing valuable hours every week to this nonsense. - Time spent on deleting spam is time not spent on innovation, strategy, or team leadership. ## Why Founders Must Guard Their Time Like Gold Your time is your most valuable asset. If you're letting spam steal it, you're not just losing minutes; you're losing opportunities. Every minute wasted is a minute your competitor could be using to get ahead. - You’re the captain of your ship. You can't steer if you're constantly distracted. - Leadership requires clarity and focus, which spam erodes. - The mental load of sifting through spam contributes to decision fatigue, making you less effective. ## The Cold, Hard Truth: Cold Emails Are Spam. Period. Here’s a truth bomb: cold emails aren’t just annoying; they’re spam. And guess what? You don't owe them a response. Period. I’ve analyzed countless cold emails, and they all scream one thing: DELETE. - Most cold outreach is irrelevant and impersonal—it's a numbers game for the sender. - These emails are not about solving your problems; they're about meeting someone else's sales quota. - According to industry research, the average worker spends 13 hours a week on email. Imagine the impact on your productivity if half of those were spam! ## How Sledgehammer Can Save Your Sanity Enter Sledgehammer. Not to toot my own horn, but this tool is a game-changer. Sledgehammer uses AI to block cold emails before they even hit your radar. It's like having a personal assistant who knows exactly what you don’t want to see. - Sledgehammer filters out sales spam and protects your attention span. - It allows you to focus on high-value tasks that actually move the needle. - Think of it as a digital bodyguard for your inbox. ## How to Take Back Control: Start Now The first step to reclaiming your time? Ruthlessly filter your LinkedIn messages. Treat your inbox like a fortress—only let in what truly matters. - Set up automatic filters to delete or archive suspected spam. - Use tools like Sledgehammer to do the heavy lifting. - Make it a habit to ignore unsolicited messages unless they bring clear, immediate value. In case you're wondering, every minute you spend on LinkedIn spam is a minute you're not building. This isn't just me saying this. It's a fact. If you want to dive deeper into why every minute you spend on LinkedIn spam is a minute you're not building, check out my full breakdown. ## Conclusion: Your Inbox, Your Rules Here's the takeaway: your inbox isn't a democracy. It's your kingdom. Rule it with an iron fist. Filter ruthlessly, block aggressively, and focus relentlessly. Because at the end of the day, the best decision you can make for your business is to guard your time like the precious resource it is. So, what are you waiting for? Start filtering. Embrace the power of Sledgehammer. And watch your productivity—and sanity—soar. Research shows that email management is critical.