Deadlines

As I was considering what my next column for Jill’s paper was going to be about, I was reminded about other deadlines (oh yes, this column has to be submitted early enough for Jill and staff to do their magic to create a complete publication, and no prima donnas get an exception!) and how I’ve dealt with deadlines in the past.

In junior and senior high school, I was a reasonably good student, adept at writing/typing so I developed a habit of last-minute put it together. I usually got a decent grade and sort of enjoyed the rush of last-minute accomplishment. Most importantly, I got away with it. The beginnings of building a bad habit.

Moving on to my first college career – prior to going to the Navy – procrastination had taken over completely. My expectation for that decent grade had slipped to just passing. The worst example of this was an art class I needed to take and the final project submission. Lots of choices to satisfy the requirement and I chose creating an original painting. On a 24 x 18-inch blank canvas.

Folks – I have no talent in art. Where the inspiration was to come from – God only knows.  ut here I was on the last night – and it was late on that last night – looking at that $7.99 blank canvas seeing disaster. No grade, no credits, nothing for my time and investment, both of which were very limited.

Suddenly, inspiration. Paint the entire canvas black except for a small (about one-third of the size of a dime spot in the lower left middle. Entitle it, “A Small Ray of Light in a Dark World”.  Thankfully it dried in time to protect my small ray of light from getting smudged and was submitted on time.

Eureka! An “A”; full credit for the pass/fail course and validation on my procrastination theory of when your back is to the wall you do your best work. I got away with it! Again.

Coincidently, I guess it was a good time to join the Navy. They assisted me in relearning about meeting deadlines, about routines to getting things done, and the importance of doing a good job consistently. As I look back, I really needed that and appreciate the mentoring (discipline) I received in meeting expectations (orders).

Those lessons served me well. Now I am not saying I am completely rehabilitated from procrastination – I’ve learned a certain amount of procrastination is important to avoid making premature decisions.  That is – get all the facts, make sure you completely understand the situation prior to moving forward at the appropriate time. No sense jumping the gun. 

But I can still bump up against Jill’s publication deadline looking for that inspiration.