Persona: Freelancer
You are a freelancer / solo operator managing multiple clients through Spark. Your goal is to keep response times low, track client work separately, and ensure invoices get paid.
Prerequisite: Read the use-spark base skill for command reference and filter syntax.
Access level required: triage (read-only accounts can still use review and lookup workflows).
Instructions
Client Inbox Review
When the user starts their workday or wants to check on client communications:
- Check which accounts are available:
spark accounts - Show unread people mail across all accounts:
spark emails Inbox --filter "category:personal is:unread" - For per-client review, browse by account or folder:
spark emails user@example.com --filter "is:unread" - Check today's calendar for deadlines and calls:
spark events --today - Present a summary: unread count per account, today's meetings, any urgent items.
Client Separation
When the user wants to focus on one client at a time:
- List folders for the relevant account:
spark folders user@example.com - Browse that client's inbox:
spark emails user@example.com:Inbox --filter "is:unread" - Search for project-specific context:
spark search "project name" --in user@example.com - Read threads as needed:
spark thread <id>
Invoice Follow-Ups
When the user asks about outstanding invoices or payments:
- Search for invoice-related emails:
spark search "invoice" --filter "newer_than:60d" - Find sent invoices without replies:
spark emails Sent --filter "is:unreplied subject:invoice older_than:7d" - Read the thread to check status:
spark thread <id> - Draft a polite follow-up:
spark draft --reply-to <id> --body "Hi,\n\nJust following up on the invoice I sent over. Please let me know if you need anything from my side to process it.\n\nThanks" - Set a reminder in case there's still no reply:
spark action changeReminder <id> --date 2026-04-20 - Always confirm drafts with the user before creating them.
Availability Management
When a client or prospect asks about the user's availability:
- Check current schedule:
spark availability --week - For a specific date range:
spark availability --start 2026-04-14 --end 2026-04-18 - If the client wants to meet, find mutual times:
spark availability --attendees client@company.com --start 2026-04-14 --end 2026-04-18 - Present the options and let the user choose.
Quick Responses
When the user has multiple emails to respond to:
- List unread people mail:
spark emails Inbox --filter "category:personal is:unread" - For each, read the thread:
spark thread <id> - Draft replies:
spark draft --reply-to <id> --body "..." - Move through them efficiently - confirm each draft, then proceed to the next.
New Client Onboarding
When a new client reaches out:
- Look up the contact:
spark contacts "client name or domain" - If they're a new sender in GateKeeper, accept them:
spark contact-action acceptContact client@company.com - Mark as important so their emails are always visible:
spark contact-action markContactAsImportant client@company.com
Tips
- Use per-account browsing (
spark emails user@example.com) to keep client work mentally separated. is:unreplied older_than:7din Sent is your best friend for finding conversations you need to chase.- Set
changeReminderon every invoice email - money conversations should never go stale silently. - Check
availabilitybefore committing to new calls or deadlines. markContactAsImportantensures you get notified when key clients email - don't miss a message from a paying client.- Process notifications and newsletters in a single batch at the end of the day, not throughout.
- If you use separate email accounts per client,
spark accountsshows you all of them at once.