Deadlines are not about calendars or clocks
“So, what do you do for a living?”
How many times have you been asked that question? Although I have technically held the same job for more than two decades, my answer changes depending on the day. Publisher. Editor. Salesperson. Problem-solver. Janitor. Amateur therapist. Professional coffee drinker.
But I recently realized that nearly every role I fill boils down to one responsibility: making sure deadlines are met. My own deadlines. Everyone else’s deadlines. Advertising deadlines. Editorial deadlines. Design deadlines. Printing deadlines. Delivery deadlines. Payroll deadlines. If someone could invent a deadline for remembering deadlines, I would probably have that on my calendar, too.
In our business, we juggle dozens of deadlines every day. We have so many that we review them every morning during our team huddle. I started that practice several years ago after hearing one question far too many times: “Is that deadline today?”
No. It was yesterday. We are just discussing it for nostalgia.
Over the years, I have noticed something interesting. Some people almost never miss a deadline. Others seem to treat deadlines more like friendly suggestions. There are surprisingly few people in between. Why?
According to leadership coach Dr. Audrey Reille, it usually comes down to time management, but not always in the way people think.
Some people practice what she calls “task avoidance.” They expect a job to be unpleasant, so they convince themselves it will somehow become easier tomorrow. Spoiler alert: It rarely does.
Others fail to see the purpose of the task. If they believe an assignment has little value, their motivation disappears faster than free doughnuts in a break room.
Then there is the “no stick, no carrot” crowd. They procrastinate because there are no meaningful consequences for waiting and no rewards for finishing early. Without either internal or external motivation, the deadline quietly drifts by.
Finally, there are those who simply cannot say no. They agree to every request, volunteer for every project and pile more onto an already overflowing schedule. Their intentions are admirable, but, eventually, the calendar wins.
Of course, life happens. Emergencies arise. Priorities shift. Most of us have missed a deadline at one time or another. The problem is when missing them becomes a habit instead of an exception.
Deadlines are not about calendars or clocks. They are about trust. Every missed deadline forces someone else to wait, adjust or scramble to pick up the pieces.
So the next time you are tempted to ask, “Is that deadline today?” try a different question instead: “What do I need to finish right now?” Your future self and everyone waiting on you will be grateful. And who knows? You might even beat the deadline for a change.
Have a timely Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707
