In accounting parlance, LIFO is a methodology of selling the most recently produced goods first – last in, first out. The reasons why, or why not, and what it might do for the business employing the method are varied but generally works in an inflationary period. One can figure out without much consideration that its opposite, FIFO, first in, first out, demands that adherents sell whatever came into inventory first before selling anything else.
In some cases, the approach required seems clear. Bananas, for example, should be rotated such that those brought in yesterday are offered for sale before any that were brought in today, FIFO. The smart grocer rotates produce to ensure the longest shelf life possible for each item. But the choice isn’t always quite so obvious.
Each day, emails, voicemails, texts, calls, U.S. mail and countless other medium pour in around the clock. From the deluge, a pile is formed. FIFO makes sense to ensure that needs are addressed in a fair and attentive way. Still, LIFO also intuitively jibes as it requires that any important matters that have arisen are not overlooked as one fumbles from the bottom of the stack toward the top.
With neither a standout winner, we work to triage from both ends, grading each incoming encounter through filters. Some become first pass, top priority. Others are second pass, top priority. Rounds continue until the stack is depleted.
So, what happens to those that never become a top priority on any pass? And what happens to those senders offended that they are seemingly important one day but not another? An empty inbox makes everything first pass. A full box requires discretion. Could someone who seems highly attentive to us simply be bored and someone apparently disinterested is more committed but overwhelmed?
