by Leo Wiles
04 September 2015
Deadlines are a lot like al fresco liaisons. They’re dangerous, exciting and sometimes a little bit frightening. The other upside is that as they loom they get the blood pumping – or is that just me?
I was compelled to write this post as a displacement activity (AKA procrastination). Mainly because I have the first cut of a massive film project due in six weeks, a short film deadline in two and my first photographic exhibition in ten. Oh, and there are three kids to raise in the mix, too.
Like always, it’s going to come down the line. A fine balance I require between complacency and an adrenalin surge in order to produce my best work.
Over the years I’ve worked out a formula whereby I work backwards from when a project is due, build in some wiggle room for that unexpected sick child or extra polish and edit, and start working towards my Gantt chartered milestones. That moves me forward to the delivery date.
Like all good labours, it sometimes requires a lot of pushing and huffing and puffing towards the end. Because in reality if there’s too much of a buffer I become complacent, which in turn distils the required adrenalin surge I need to be at my optimum performance level.
Can you relate? How do you work when a deadline’s involved? Let us know in the comments.
I can’t impose deadlines on myself because they’ll always get stretched. The deadline has to come from the client. Fortunately I’ve trained my clients and they know I work better if they state a due date. They don’t even have to ride me, just when they brief set a reasonable timeline.
I’m like you, Adeline – I totally need a client- or editor-imposed deadline. I find it hard to set my own!