Another Deadline

Being April 15, I think this is an appropriate time to talk about deadlines.  The line was out of the post office door, I was sending an overnight package to my daughter.  For just a moment I was puzzled, before realizing the date and that the people in line were there to mail their tax returns by tonight’s deadline!  Why do some of us wait until the last possible moment to meet a deadline?  I was rushing to send Marissa’s graduation labels, inserts, and stamps … I had hoped she would have what she needed by the time she received the announcements … today.  But as with most things I was reviewing, editing and adding until time ran out … had to get them in the mail!  Wanted her to get the announcements in the mail by this weekend, with hopes the announcements would arrive in the recipients hands by the first of next week … another deadline.  Deadlines are necessary … my clients expect them, I work to them, and my fees are dependent on me making them! 

The reality show, “Extreme Home Makeover,” suggests that they are able to complete the construction of an entire home in 7 days … what a deadline!  Why then, does the design and construction world have such a bad reputation for meeting deadlines, even with this highly successful show making the deadline every week? 

Could it be that the deadlines are based on what we think the client expects to hear versus valid dates based on the activities that must take place.  For each and every item brought to a job site the process to get it there is similar … determine what to order, place the order, ship the order, receive the order, and then install the order. Multiply this process by the number of items and any reasonable person can understand that it is a time consuming and lengthy process.  A client once said to me, “I don’t necessarily like what you are telling me, but I know from experience that what you are telling me is the truth.”  Deadlines are our reality … are you making yours?

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