Investing in "Sacred Tools": When Daily Digital Choices Shape Your Business Energy and Impact
When Daily Digital Choices Shape Your Business Energy and Impact
I was reminded recently that I spend over 6 hours a week in my email inbox. That's more than 300 hours a year—the equivalent of nearly 8 full work weeks—just managing messages and incoming streams of knowledge. With numbers like these, I had to ask myself: shouldn't this essential workspace be as energizing and efficient as possible?
I've been thinking a lot about our relationship with tools—specifically, the ones that shape our daily experience and either drain or enhance our energy.
As many of you know, I'm passionate about technology and its potential to transform our work. While I often focus on big-picture Sacred Business principles in our community, today I want to share how even our seemingly small tech choices directly embody these deeper values.
For years now, I've been a devoted Superhuman email user. Haven't opened Gmail more than a handful of times in that period. And yes, there's the unavoidable fact that it costs about $25 per month—not including the Google Workspace subscription you still need.
That price tag makes many entrepreneurs pause. Is any email client really worth $300 a year?
The Energy of Our Digital Environments
Here's what I've discovered: the tools we use daily aren't just functional choices—they're energetic choices. The platforms where we spend our time shape our experience, our energy, and ultimately, the results we create.
Just as we might invest in a beautiful physical workspace or quality office chair to support our wellbeing, our digital environments deserve the same intentional curation.
Everything Is Connected
When we talk about creating a Sacred Business, we often focus on big-picture elements like vision, offerings, and marketing. But the truth is, everything is connected. The small daily choices—like which email client you use—can profoundly influence your experience as much as the rest.
Each day, I spend a significant amount of time in my inbox. It's where client relationships unfold, where opportunities emerge, where decisions are made.
The energy I bring to this space, and the decisions I make here ripple through every aspect of what we are creating at Sacred Business Flow.
I noticed this vividly last month when I was finalizing details for our wealth activation challenge. Handling dozens of logistical emails from a centered, focused state led to smoother planning and more creative solutions than when I approached similar tasks from a scattered, reactive energy in the past.
That's why I've chosen to invest in an email experience that feels aligned, efficient, and even enjoyable. Here's what makes this investment worth it for me:
The Features That Transform My Experience
Split Inbox
I treat my inbox like a to-do list, marking conversations as "Done" only when no further action is required. My email tool's split inbox feature lets me create dedicated spaces for different work streams—client communications, team updates, even Google Drive notifications that don't require immediate action.
This feature alone has transformed how I manage my workload, keeping me focused on what matters rather than drowning in a sea of mixed messages.
Reusable Templates
For emails I send frequently—like client onboarding information or responses to common inquiries—I can save templates with custom variables like {first_name} that automatically personalize messages.
What's particularly useful is how modular these templates are. I can write personalized introductions while inserting standardized process information, ensuring consistency without sacrificing the personal touch.
Seamless Calendar Integration
Switching between email and calendar apps creates unnecessary friction. My email system detects dates and times in conversations and instantly shows my availability without leaving the email thread. I can create calendar events, invite participants, and add video call links directly from my inbox.
Intelligent Scheduled Sending
While many email clients offer scheduled sending, my system adds a critical feature: if the recipient responds before your scheduled follow-up is sent, it automatically cancels the scheduled message. This prevents awkward scenarios where you're following up with someone who's already replied.
Contextual Contact Information
Having relevant information about your contacts—LinkedIn profiles, websites, previous conversation history—displayed alongside your current exchange helps maintain relationships without having to search for background details.
Focus-Enhancing Interface
The clean, minimalist design eliminates distractions and helps me focus only on what matters. Combined with keyboard shortcuts that minimize mouse usage, I can process emails much faster with less cognitive drain.
The Sacred Element: Energy Management
Beyond these practical features, what truly makes this tool worth the investment is how it affects my energy.
The beautiful interface, the satisfying keyboard shortcuts, the celebratory moments when clearing my inbox—these elements transform email from a draining chore into a manageable, sometimes even pleasant, experience.
This is why it aligns so perfectly with Sacred Business principles. When we recognize that everything is connected—that our energy while handling email directly affects our creativity, client relationships, and strategic thinking—we can make choices that support our whole business ecosystem.
Consider this: after implementing this email system, I found I had substantially more creative energy at the end of my workday. Instead of feeling depleted after processing messages, I often felt energized enough to work on our most important content and vision work. This isn't coincidence—it's the direct result of creating an environment that supports rather than drains my energy.
The tools you use aren't separate from your business beliefs. They're expressions of it.
Is It Worth the Investment?
Only you can answer whether a premium email tool makes sense for your business. The value equation depends on how much time you spend in email, how much you value an optimized experience, and whether specific features address your pain points.
But I encourage you to consider this decision (and other software purchases) through the lens of energy rather than just dollars. How much is it worth to transform a potentially draining daily task into one that preserves or even enhances your focus and creativity?
What I know for certain is that creating a Sacred Business means honoring all touch points—not just the ones that seem most significant. The small daily experiences often matter more than the occasional big moments. It all adds up.
Your inbox is where opportunities emerge, relationships develop, and many decisions are made. How might treating this space as sacred transform your experience and results?
My Tech Decision Framework
When evaluating any new tool for our business, I consider three key questions:
Will this tool genuinely save more time/energy than it costs to learn and maintain?
Does using this align with how I naturally work, or am I forcing myself to adapt to it?
Does this tool feel good to use—does it create a sense of ease and flow?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Do you have tools that might seem extravagant but actually transform your daily experience? How do you make these decisions in your business?
If this exploration resonates with you, reply and let me know—I'm considering sharing more about the specific tech stack that supports our Sacred Business, and how we choose tools that align with our values and energy.
With appreciation,
Phil
P.S. If you're curious about Superhuman or want to discuss whether it might be right for your workflow, I'm happy to chat. While we do receive affiliate commission—I just believe in sharing tools that have made a meaningful difference in what we are creating at Sacred Business Flow.
P.P.S. You can read all previous editions of the newsletter here, and you can upgrade your subscription here.
What’s next?
Carolina and I are ready to support you in creating a business that aligns with your heart's calling. Here's how we can help:
Discover Your Sacred Business Alignment (Free): Take the Harmony Map Assessment and read our Sacred Business Manifesto to understand where you are on your path and how to move forward with clarity and confidence. Perfect for entrepreneurs wanting to understand how everything in their business connects.
Read the Sacred Business Manifesto (Free): Learn the core principles of building a Sacred Business through our founding story and framework. See how we transformed our approach to business by understanding that everything is connected.
Sacred Business Network: Connect with heart-centered entrepreneurs who understand that success comes from alignment. Monthly connection circles, community workshops, and ongoing support through our private community space. Get the encouragement and collaboration you need to grow.
Join Our Next Implementation Challenges: Action-focused programs like the Sacred Business Planning Rituals Challenge and Substack Growth Challenge help you create real momentum in specific areas of your business. Free for Club members, discounted for Network members. Be sure you are subscribed to be notified when the next one is offered live.
Sacred Growth Club: A complete support system with weekly embodiment classes, live coaching calls, writing circles, and expert workshops. Designed for entrepreneurs ready to build sustainable success through proven practices while staying connected to their purpose. Includes full access to the Network and all challenges.
Be The Flow Coaching (1:1): Personal guidance combining strategic business planning with energy alignment work. Weekly coaching sessions plus full access to Sacred Growth Club benefits. Ideal for entrepreneurs seeking deep transformation and sustainable growth in their business.
