Recently, I made a hard decision.
I opted to push back self-publication of the small business history, Bucky’s: Stories and Recollections from 50 Years in Business, by three months. Now, instead of coming out in June, the book will make its debut in September.
I agonized over this decision for many months. I lost sleep over it. If I am painfully honest, I cried over it. Part of me felt like I wouldn’t be sticking to my word if I botched a deadline. Part of me felt like a failure for not meeting the initial deadline.
Copyright 2010, Kate Meadows, Omaha, NE
Until I realized something: the deadline was a date I had set, a deadline I had been feverishly working toward, a deadline I hadn’t even concretely communicated to many people who had pre-ordered the book.
All of the pressure to get this project done by a certain time was self-imposed. Who but me would challenge my integrity if I pushed back the project? Who but me would think I was a failure?
Then, another realization struck me. I could have the book finished by June, if I really wanted to.
It would just be a mediocre book. I would have to cut corners, strike content, fly through the photo layout and just hope I put images in the right place and that they looked okay.
Where then, I asked myself, would be the integrity?
What’s more, the entire reason for pushing the project back rested on this reality: I had received so much content for the book – so many memories and stories, photos and newspaper clippings – from people who wanted to contribute that I simply couldn’t keep up with it all as it poured in.
This is to say that, when I set out to piece together 50 years of stories and recollections of a small-town business and reached out to the business’ customers and people in the local community for help, the response was overwhelming. The project itself morphed into something more monumental and wonderful than I ever could have anticipated.
Turns out, when you ask for stories and recollections about Bucky’s Outdoors in Pinedale, Wyoming, people have a lot to say.
Failure? No. Simply a remarkable story in the making.
C Hope Clark, writer and editor of the newsletter www.fundsforwriters.com, recently shared this knock-out quote by William James: “When once a decision is reached, dismiss absolutely all responsibility and care about the outcome.”
In other words, make a decision and move on, going forward confidently in the path you have chosen without looking back or second-guessing.
When I finally made the decision to push back the book’s publication, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. My work felt lighter and freer, more manageable and more joyful. I haven’t looked back since, because I know that by pursuing my work in this lighter spirit, the outcome will be knock-out beautiful – a product that, I hope, will bowl readers over.
For more on this project, visit www.buckysstory.com.
Have you agonized over any difficult decisions lately? What was the outcome? If you haven’t yet reached an outcome, what can you do to be proactive about moving forward?
katemeadows 
Great example of how we are so much harder on ourselves than anyone else will be; also a narrative of growth, of learning to refocus the lens to allow yourself a view of the bigger picture.
Yes, seeing the bigger picture is so key! And it’s so hard sometimes!
Kate. Great post! I am struggling with that myself – not necessary getting published but as I took Dan’s class i was trying to get done with my workbook so I could have the summer to review. But you are right – self imposed stress huh? Stay strong girl!
Thanks so much, Nic. One of my big shortfalls is failing to look BEYOND today, this week, next month, etc. In other words, there will always be more time (God-willing). I think so often we can take ourselves and/or our work too seriously, to the point that the All Important Tasks become joy-suckers rather than joy-inducers. (I posted something in this same vein on Barbara’s homework in our class.) So much of our stress is self-imposed. If we could see ourselves as others sees us (or, take that a leap forward and see ourselves as God sees us), we just might find more beauty in who we are and what we’re doing. Thanks for stopping by!
I do this kind of thing to myself all the time- impose deadlines or goals and then get upset at myself for not meeting them (or my children, for getting in my way!)
I absolutely agree with what you said above. We need to give ourselves the freedom to change our deadlines, and then just keep on moving forward!
So glad to know I’m not alone! We can easily take ourselves too seriously at times, I think. Then, when we start to consider how the rest of the world views things, the perspective starts to shift … Giving ourselves freedom is key.
I am very proud of you!!
Thank you! And thank you for being such a support by following me here. =)
Thanks for posting this honest post! I have been agonizing over a deadline the past month. I would sit down to write the piece and another story would come up or I had to help out with my family. The next thing I knew, several weeks had passed and the people I had interviewed were losing faith in me. Once I communicated with them, they didn’t mind at all. They just were afraid that I had dropped the story. So you are so right, sometimes we just need to take a deep breath, communicate the decision and take life a little slower pace.
Thanks so much for sharing, Jessica, and for stopping by! It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our own work – or in our own heads – and fail to consider how others might be viewing a particular situation. Communication is so key – and for the most part, it is so refreshing to be reminded that most people are good people with understanding hearts. Good for you for doing the right thing!
Seems like life is full of hard decisions lately. Thanks for reminding me I’m not the only one!!!
It’s equally nice to know I am not the only one! I hope your decisions come well and wise, and that you can look back on the challenges with pride, for making the right decisions and moving forward. Best of luck, and thank you again for stopping by!