Meeting Deadlines by Raine English

As an author, I’m used to working with deadlines. However, meeting them can still be a challenge. No matter how well I plan, something always comes up that threatens to throw me off course. It could be a family issue or a health matter.

One time it was a tree falling on the house. Not only did it knock out our power, but it came down across the driveway, crushing one of the cars and blocking the rest of them in. That issue presented a huge challenge. Somehow, I managed to get my work done on time, though. It was after that I realized it’s how we deal with our problems that’s most important. Over the years, I’ve learned to stay calm and focused. That’s what works best for me.

I had the opportunity to reiterate that philosophy to my daughter when she called me from college a few days ago in a panic because she hadn’t yet started the paper she had due the next day. After I convinced her that she could do it, she turned her paper in on time. Granted, she had to stay up all night, but she’s done that many times in the past. What college student hasn’t? However, she later found out her professor had granted her class an extension that had been posted on line. She’d missed it because she was so focused on her paper. But the important thing was that she got the job done when she didn’t think she would.

We all have deadlines of one form or another that can stress us out. How do you meet your deadlines?

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USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Raine English writes sweet small-town romance, paranormal, and Gothic romantic suspense. She’s a Daphne de Maurier Award winner and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have made the Top 100 Bestseller lists at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To learn more about Raine, visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.