The Undiscovered Country

Under Pressure

I've said before I'm not self-motivating. If I am to accomplish anything, I need someone else to hold me accountable.

I tell our clients at work all the time, if they need me to do something they need to also let me know when they need it. If they say, “anytime,” I respond with, “Then it will never get done.” They usually give me a due date after that.

I thrive on deadlines, and the larger it looms the better I do. All throughout my school years I many times didn't start on anything until the night before it was due – that included lengthy essays. Sometimes I wonder how I ended up with good grades. Oh yeah, I was also a teacher's pet (hee, hee).

Growing old-er hasn't changed me. I still thrive on pressure.

For the last several months I've created graphics for "Invalid Item" , including graduation certificates and class logos. Yesterday we got down to the wire. I needed to create 65 logos, banners and member signatures – and I had by yesterday morning only 28 of them completed.

What a fun day I had, though! Being under pressure increased my brainpower enough I don't feel so stupid anymore. My creativity juiced up more than I expected, and my memory even kicked back in. How long that will last, time will tell.

I made my deadline, but at the same time I felt a little guilty for not completing them sooner. It only increased the pressure Deborah Owen , Budroe and all the other instructors were under in making sure the fall semester began today without a hitch.

You'd think it impossible to create 65 graphics in less than a day, but it's actually quite easy if you have a theme in place. All I needed to do was create one, then cut and paste for subsequent graphics. I changed only the text and replaced the graphic with another more appropriate for the class. All told I bet I averaged 15 minutes per graphic.

My Broderbund 1.2 million clipart collection came in the most handy. Definitely the best $50 I ever spent on software. This logo I'm particularly fond of:

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The moment I saw that graphic I knew it was perfect. I still giggle whenever I see it.

Enough bragging. I have work to do – and more deadlines to meet.