Deadlines

When I worked more than full time as a mainstream media journalist in TV, radio and newspapers, my life was all about deadlines.

I would think far ahead to make the most of my available story gathering-writing-editing time before the deadline.

I was constantly thinking hours, days, weeks and even months ahead of the present time - especially for television news - to make certain I would be able to have all the elements of a story lined up, contact the right sources, get enough - and the correct - background information, shoot the right visuals, and so on.

Not for just one story, but several that I would be covering in the future.

In addition to doing the larger stories over a period of time, there were those on which I would report during the day. When, again, I would think ahead: I'd write and edit the story in my head before I was back at the station so I could barrel through, getting it done properly (sometimes my stories were a little visually/audio complex) with narration voiced, in time to build it in the program.

When I worked at combined TV/radio stations, I'd also file stories for the radio station.

I always enjoyed doing the lead story for TV newscasts, but of course that means the story has to be done *before* everyone else's stories get on the air! Which means I had less time to get it all together.

I *loved* my work, to be sure. I feel that pure journalism is a true and honorable calling.

But ... The management of news operations (commercial and non-commercial) drove me batty, so I left. Every time I took a job in radio or TV news, I felt like I lost IQ points. I can't afford to lose any, let alone many.

The same time line pressure of deadlines is true for newspapers, which also have their own serious management problems.

When I left journalism, the energy change was so great, my legs felt wobbly - as if I had been on a small boat for a long time and stepped onto land. I had to regain my land legs and start to think in real time. That took many months - and I couldn't help but note all the stories and information I found missing in newscasts--

But I digress.

While deadlines exist for every aspect of our lives - from anniversaries to graduation to taking tests to making dinner - it's as important, perhaps even more so, to think in real time and not create faux deadlines.

Old school Hollywood and lots of actors actually believe that if you haven't "made it" by the time you're 21, you are TOO OLD! I described a very talented actress to a long-established talent agent in Hollywood. He was very interested. Until I told him she was 27. "That's ancient here," he responded.

Well, guess what?

Another talent agent told me that the demand for *older* actors (30-60) was greater than the younger age category these days.

You are where you are. You are the age you are. If you're good - or better yet, great? You'll get work.

In short, while I love to live in the moment, making the most of every day? I don't see myself on some sort of living deadline, because face it - I could get whacked by a car any moment, and never see it coming.

It's all about that balance thing. What makes for your most fulfilling life? Go for it, and do it in a way that brings happiness to you and yours as you take the journey.

It is always, in all ways, the journey that matters and what will be remembered most fondly, not the destination. Reaching a goal only means the beginning of another journey.

Satisfaction

Heard the story of the man who "could hardly wait?"

Instead of appreciating where he was, what he had and enjoying living in the moment - making the most of the milestones he attained and creating special memories to mark each occasion - he always looked ahead to the next one. And the next one. And the next one-

In college he didn't take a class to learn, only to be able to take the next one after it.

He'd also try to finish whatever he was doing earlier than the original deadline so he could move on to what's next more quickly.

In some cases, before he sought his next destination, he would wonder why he wanted it so badly - he would ask, "Is that all there is?"

But still, when he reached those milestones or destinations, he had the same response - next!

From finding a job to finishing project after project to joining his boss's golf club to getting a promotion to finding a girlfriend to getting married to... whatever.

Next!

He could hardly wait.

When he died?

He was shocked. Stumped. And lost. There was nothing more for which he could "hardly wait" to do.

Instead, dazed, he experienced only an insatiable sense of emptiness. Looking back on his life, he sadly realized he hadn't lived it, he had only moved through it.

He never experienced satisfaction, only desire.

"Delayed gratification" was never part of his vocabulary.

There's nothing wrong with desiring anything, but perhaps achieving satisfaction from what is desired is a greater - more satistfying - goal.

As Sheryl Crow sings in her hit "Gonna Soak Up The Sun":

It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got

And for those who wonder how to achieve satisfaction .. that's a much deeper question.

Just ask the Rolling Stones.