Using 'unread' emails as a to-do list creates a tedious ritual of re-opening and re-marking messages. A more efficient system is to treat the entire inbox as the to-do list and archive emails immediately once they are handled. This eliminates the need to maintain 'unread' status and simplifies your workflow.
The primary benefit of clearing your inbox daily isn't just tidiness, but the elimination of background anxiety about what urgent tasks or problems might be hidden. This mental clarity empowers you to act on important items without the stress of the unknown, transforming email from a source of dread into a manageable tool.
Great writing is not a stroke of genius but a craft of intense iteration. Observing Y Combinator founder Paul Graham showed that he would rewrite a single sentence dozens of times to achieve clarity and impact. This process of refinement is the key to persuasive and concise communication, demystifying the path to becoming a better writer.
The inspiration for Superhuman came from reframing Uber's core value. Its magic wasn't getting from A to B, but the new, productive time it created during a commute. This highlights the need for founders to look beyond a product's function to discover its deeper, more fundamental human benefit, which is often time.