Systems of Success – The Big Push

It always comes down to this.

Your final deadline is just days away and there are way too many pages left to finish.

There it is.  That image of Sisyphus pushing the rock up the hill. The peak is within reach but the summit still seems a long way away. And the stone is huge and heavy.

But somehow our amazing students, with some gentle pushing and lots of cheerleading from us, will rise to the occasion and get it all done.

Here are some thoughts on the final assault on the summit. You’ve got this!

• This is where we are every year. Remind yourself that this is where you are in March every year. The final mountain of pages seems too steep to climb, but the summit always gets reached. You may be feeling like you are behind. Just dig in and get caught up.
• Stay positive. No one works better in an atmosphere of negativity. Smile MORE. Lavish them with gratitude. Remind them of the importance of creating a yearbook.
• Be the cheerleader. Remind the staff how far they’ve come and all they have accomplished since August.
• 

  Yearbook staffers from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School working hard to finish the book by deadline.

  Now’s the time to be SUPER ORGANIZED. Break what’s left into very distinct steps. On many of the national adviser support pages on Facebook, photos are being posted of the page and day countdowns to completion. Making those lists and posting them on the whiteboard always calmed my nerves and worry. I could help the editors and staff by providing daily reminders on the board of each step that needed to be completed that day.

• Take a break. Make time for fun and food. Sometime, when it seems like there is way too much to do and the stress is rising, stop and have a dance party. Send them home early. Bring in the pizza. Play a game together. When you get back to it, everyone will be reenergized.
• Visualize the end. Stop. Take a deep breath. Visualize how amazing it will be to finish and send those final page off to the plant. Now get back to work!