---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back in the day, when I was starting out…"
description: "\"Back in the day, when I was starting out, I'd get five or 10 emails and I'd respond to every one. But after my third or fourth book it got too time-con..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jennifer-weiner-2358_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-i-was-starting-out_1341305.png"
---

#  Back in the day, when I was starting out, I'd get five or…

![“Back in the day, when I was starting out, I'd get five or 10 emails and I'd respond to every one. But after my third or fourth book it got too time-consuming.” quote by Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jennifer-weiner-2358_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-i-was-starting-out_1341305.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jennifer-weiner-2358_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-i-was-starting-out_1341305.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jennifer-weiner-2358_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-i-was-starting-out_1341305.png)

> “Back in the day, when I was starting out, I'd get five or 10 emails and I'd respond to every one. But after my third or fourth book it got too time-consuming.”

[Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early in a career, responding to every email was manageable, but as workload grew it became unsustainable.

**In simple terms:** Too many emails become overwhelming as work expands.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize and set boundaries.

Themes

productivity communication boundaries

Mood

reflective pragmatic

Type

advice professional

When to use this quote

- author interviews
- career advice
- email management

Key Concepts

time management email overload scaling workload

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you decide which messages deserve immediate response?
- What tools help filter important communications?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring emails can damage relationships and opportunities.

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