Putting a Stake in the Ground
Sometimes deadlines work, sometimes they don’t.
Often, when we are forced to stick to a schedule, more things get done.
At the same time, we need to understand ourselves and to understand what it is we are trying to achieve at that moment. If having a deadline pressures us to the point where quality is being sacrificed in an activity when quality truly matters, then it is important to consider setting the deadline aside and taking the time to get the project completed correctly instead of shabbily.
However, if it’s a situation where quality is secondary to getting something eighty percent of the way there and on time, i.e., when the extra time spent on quality is likely not worth the effort, then you are probably better off just getting the job done and hitting your deadline.
For example, is it worth it to lose two months in sales due to being two months late with a plan (because you wanted to get it perfected) when the plan will likely change once being executed anyway?
The tricky part to know when quality matters over quantity and when it doesn’t.
At some point in time, you may have even wondered, “But, can you put timing on something non-tangible, like discovering, inventing, or creating something”?
In my opinion, having a deadline for something creative (or for something seemingly elusive like “finding your purpose”), this simply forces you to put a stake in the ground to at least know where you are at a particular point in time. The main reason for doing so would be to avoid getting stuck or immobilized for too long. That’s when it makes sense to choose something (some may even suggest choosing “anything”) and then focus on refining it along the way, rather than giving up and doing nothing.
Even after hitting a deadline, it’s okay to be flexible, to adapt, to adjust, to modify, etc., just be sure that know why you are doing so. Maybe even keep a record of the journey. As you refine your plans, if you’ve narrowed your focus and eliminated some options, that’s progress. Sleep on it and refine it even more at your next visit. See if it still feels right to you.
I’d say, use deadlines to your advantage. Once one deadline is reached, set another one to keep the momentum going. (Maybe even consider calling them milestones instead of deadlines if that’s more palatable to you.)
Deadlines shouldn’t mean that an end has been reached. Consider each to be just another stake in the ground to mark where you are at the moment.
Have you put any stakes in the ground lately?
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For a list of all posts in this series go to: Finding Purpose (actual links will be posted as each post becomes live.)
