Meeting deadlines, being prepared is rewarding
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It occurred to me today that being prepared is the difference between dreading an upcoming task or looking forward to it.
As I was preparing to teach my next Zumba fitness class, I wanted it to be fresh and inspiring, yet I hadn’t created a new list of songs and dances. I realized I was dreading the class, so I stopped what I was doing, did the work, and my dread turned to eager anticipation.
That also applies as we work to deadlines required of every publication.
I admit that Monday, our production day, is both my favorite day and the most dreaded. It’s the day our team takes all those bits and pieces — reporter’s stories, photographs, ads, news and submitted articles — and builds the next issue.
Mondays involve puzzle-solving skills, efficient use of time, lots of creativity, and readiness for dynamic change. I feel like Peyton Manning huddling with his team, watching the play clock, reading the defense, changing the call (as our office manager screens my phone calls). “Omahaaa, hut” — and we’re off.
Hovering like an unseen monster in the high ceilings of our newsroom is that dreaded deadline, for which we’ve never died despite the name and the stress-inducing effect. However, it has cost us some unwanted expenses when not met.
Last-minute Monday emails pleading for my attention will get ignored as we press ahead to get our paper built and sent to the printer before their afternoon deadline.
That’s why we try to be prepared by offering a 5 p.m. Friday submission deadline for our readers. Sports results for Friday and Saturday night games are welcome until 3 p.m. Sunday.
Yes, I will fudge that deadline throughout the weekend (what person in this business doesn’t work Saturdays and Sundays?) as we attempt to gather all your valuable input. But come Monday, all deals are off.
So it’s a simple win-win situation.
Turn in your submissions by the deadline (see chart below) and we’ll have everything ready when we walk into work at 7 a.m. on Monday, ready to create your Wednesday edition of the Valley Journal.
Plus, we’ll really look forward to Mondays, because we’re prepared and ready. And maybe the dreaded deadline monster will dissipate.
My wish for our loyal readers is that 2016 brings you success, the joy of good health, lots of family love, and time to balance work and play.
Deadlines
Display ads: 2 p.m. Thursday
Classified ads: 5 p.m. Friday
Submissions: 5 p.m. Friday
Sports: 3 p.m. Sunday
(Editor’s note: An on-time submission does not guarantee it will run. The “news hole,” which means the amount of space available after ads are placed on the page, is determined by how many ads are sold. If the news hole is smaller than the list of reporter’s stories, photos, and readers’ submissions, we thoughtfully decide what will run and what will hold until the following issue, based on timeliness, etc. With regard to obituaries, we do our best to accommodate late submissions - especially if the service is scheduled for the week of publication.)
