After "making the right choices" and "taking action", I'd say automation is next thing on the Most Important IM Stuff List.

If our skills, talents, IQ, effort are all equal, then the person that does it faster and more efficiently will win.

There's all sorts of automation options, from pre-made expensive software programs, bots, macros you can use in text editors or web browsers, etc.

This thread will deal with things that you "design" yourself, as opposed to pre-made software.

Making your own bots and macros is a trade-off:

Good: You have contol over how the program functions and can fit it to meet your specific needs.

Bad: You have to design it yourself, which requires varying degrees of skill.

I'll make a few posts about some of the tools I use and hope you can add to the thread...