Last Minute or Deadline Oriented?

The bottom line with that comparison, what ever the task, it is completed with little or no time to spare. Not the way to operate any business, or be at your job, study, etc.

I’ve been posed with this thought because of the amount of people I’ve come across who operate like this. It’s a proven fact that our bodies operate poorly while stressed and stress can literally kill you. So why not manage your time a bit better (for those who are last minute) and create earlier soft deadlines (for those deadline oriented people) to relieve some of the stress associated with a time crunch.

Cramming for tests never helped me, and I found numerous studies that showed a good night’s sleep would be a better idea than trying to re-learn (for some of us – learn) the course within the 24 hours leading up to the exam. Most of the studies showed that during the cramming time period, the brain is not working as efficiently as possible, nor at its full capacity. This was not helped by drugs, energy drinks, coffee, etc.

I found that learning the course and absorbing through out the semester was the best way to gain knowledge and retain it. The retention was aided by having some time to apply the knowledge whether it be a term project, an essay or simply class discussion.

Now, fast-forward to today. How can we apply this to our office setting? What about our most recent client or project?

Be a sponge of information all the time. I think the more you can absorb over the course of time, you will be very sharp when it comes down to executing. Clients drop hints, previous events can give you guidance, and the amount of info out there is immense! Don’t let the deadline scare you, eat it like an elephant; one bite at a time. Being a sponge is profitable!

Make the bites a little easier to understand by dividing them by category. I find that this also helps with delegating. For example, you can easier identify tasks that will a creative person or a graphic designer by having them all classified under design, creative or visual.

Keep tabs on how everything is going, and always be aware of the deadline or Event date. I know this sounds stupid, but it is very true. Don’t get so wrapped up in you work that the deadline sneaks up on you. Then you don’t have a choice, but to pull that all nighter.

Don’t think that I’m against deadlines or being spontaneous. After all, a lot of our ideas are spontaneous, mostly stemming from creative, and they might require some last minute work, or a tight deadline to pull off, but its not a choice that is made day-in and day-out. We would much rather plan.

When something is going to plan, everyone is calm – once again cutting down on stress levels – and the efficiency levels go through the roof. Allowance for changes, or road blocks are much easier when the deadline is comfortable, or you have lots of time.

Work with a sense of urgency to get ahead of the curve; don’t have the hammer about to come down on your head. Do tomorrow’s work today, so you can finish with ample time and breathe easier.

Newsworthy!

We’ve come a long way since the first days of Bravado, and I’m happy to say that we’ve got most of our foundation set, and the rest is planned and being put in place, early 2009. Of the things I’ve mentioned before, branding, marketing, networking (all which I’m sure we’ll touch on again) nothing gave us quite the boost that media exposure did.

In college I got the chance to meet a couple of executives from Canada Newswire, and one of them mentioned, when you’re ready to launch your company, (a different project at the time) give me a call and we’ll set up a proper press conference. At the time, I was polite and thanked him, but I really couldn’t grasp the idea of a small local business needing a press conference. Now, with Bravado we need all the exposure we can get.

Taking the time to research more about press releases, it is amazing how quickly you can really get the word out! I sound like a broken record, but its true, the internet has advanced how quickly we can do business. Being able to write your press release (take a look at what's appropriate for your industry) and have it posted can be done instantly with various mediums depending on your geographical or demographic relevance. Be ready to spend a couple bucks to get featured placement, but there are many websites that will let you post for free.

The best sources to use are going to be the ones which feed into the news outlets you’re looking to hit. Do a bit of research, I’ve done a couple of blanket US/Canada postings on www.free-press-release.com and we have seen results, even with their free posting.

We managed to get in touch with some of the “Around Town” writers here in Vancouver, and thanks to Fred Lee, we were seen in TV Week Magazine, Vancouver Courier, National Post, and Fred mentioned us on CBC Radio. He’s a contact that we’re really looking forward to working with since he covering the types of events we’re planning!

Stick your neck out when you need to. Networking never hurts! As much as new technology comes along, networking and traditional mass media are not going away overnight – use it to your advantage! Majority of people still get and read the newspaper, and watch the 6 o'clock news. The blackberry and pod-casts haven't fully taken over.

Perfection... what's your take?

There is nothing in this world that is truly perfect. As much as you may think something is the best it can be, there is room for improvement somewhere. Take the picture above, do you see your "Perfect Vacation?" Maybe not. As any consultant of any sort, be cautious of how far you may want to push your client to change, since the two of you may have very different ideas of perfection.

Some are very open to change because they are motivated to make it to the next level. While others can become defensive when showing opportunities to change and grow since, usually, they are extremely happy that they have gotten to their current position.

Here’s an example of the latter. Recently, I met up with a former colleague to catch up, and naturally, we started talking about work. He'd just started in a new position, and saw so much potential for the company's efficiency and growth within his department. His ambitious nature took over and he approached his superiors with his ideas. Not only rejected, but he was accused of not doing his job.

He was told something to the likes of, “If you have time to dream up these changes, you aren’t focusing enough on your daily tasks.” I couldn’t help but laugh – yes, it is an extreme case, but that person is out there. He obviously thinks things are great and don't need to change.

Armed with this knowledge, my approach to clients and changing their concepts will very different. Less presenting ideas, more including the client, as we’re working towards the new idea. Maybe if my friend’s boss could have felt as he was making the suggestion, it would have gone differently and there would have been a pat on the back instead of a scolding.

Going back to the start of this entry, I think all people are looking to get to the next level if they have brought you on. The way you must go about it will be different case by case. Ceasing to remember that you are there to help their business will throw all of this out the window. As much as I would like to have extraordinary results every time, business is business, and completing your project is always a win!

Maybe its time to plan that "Perfect Vacation"

Sometimes, You Need to Change Direction

Honestly, I hear this every day, "great idea, how's that going to work? Can you really pull that off?"

No longer does this frustrate me, and is actually what drove me to do more reflection on where we've come from. A couple years back, I picked up a great habit at a conference a couple years back from the top leadership teacher, John Maxwell; always have some where to put your ideas and expand on them. Since then, I've probably gone through 5 or 6 "idea note books." I'm quite amazed how far my ideas have come, but more surprised on how drastically many of those ideas have changed. Of course, continuing to learn and be hungry for more info about your industry and your interests helps. Using John Maxwell as an example, I've read a couple of his books, and by the first chapter, I'll have something valuable from it. Something that I can apply right away. I am confident that all the reading helps me make better decisions day-in and day-out.

Yes, the ideas have grown and changed, a lot. Not changed in a bad way, but significantly changed as they had to be manipulated before they could come to fruition. Roadblocks are always unforeseen, I'm happy we were able to overcome them. As stubborn as I can be at times, wanting to see that ideal in my head happen, the best ideas are those up for interpretation and molded by our team. Keep that mindset, that the idea is only the beginning of the plan. Let the changes be suggested, and be willing to take a sharp change in the direction of your plans if necessary.

We recently had to take a 180 degree turn with one of our projects, and it was painful. Feeling like we threw a lot out the window and had to start from scratch. Big Picture; its for the better. Its going to take a while to get back to where we need, expect and should be.

I'm glad that I have a team who is flexible and willing to change as the project evolves. If there is a fork in the road, I am very confident brainstorming with them to come up with the direction we should head in. Being confident and committed to whatever you choose is what makes the difference down the road. I love the saying, "leave it all on the field" and I truly believe that can be used in any aspect of life. Give it all you've got, and you'll be happy knowing that you put in all your efforts.