As an account executive-in-training, I’m learning to manage projects independently. From initial client meetings to delivery, adherence to due dates and time management for everyone involved in product production within Mustang is paramount (tip: incessant nagging works wonders).
However, when you’re managing a project, there are some stages that you can’t control; some people you can’t incessantly nag. One such instance taught me to plan ahead when using outside agencies for post-production.
On a particular project I handled, everything was going great in-house: the copy was written, the design looked great, the client approved everything and was happy. To have this job printed, I needed to send files digitally to have them shipped back to the agency. Since I’d never used this particular printer before, it came as a surprise that the projected finish date was within a day of my client’s due date. After all the planning and caring I took to make sure we were on time and on track within Mustang, it came down to this: if anything went wrong outside of Mustang, the client’s deadline would not be met.
The printing company obviously didn’t share my feelings of urgency. The day before the client’s due date, only two of six boxes had arrived. As night fell, I paced the driveway outside my office, swearing to the gods of marketing that I would always make checking printing deadlines my first priority from now on.
Finally, the UPS truck appeared in the distance. It felt like Christmas. I cheered and waved frantically as he pulled up to the office, the look on his face clearly weighing the odds of my potential lunacy.
The client received the documents on time and was very happy with them. As I gathered up my shattered nerves and started on another project, the first thing I did was inquire about printing deadlines.
It’s so important to be aware of all aspects of what a job entails, not just the part you’re in charge of. As easy as it is to consider the project in the bag when your part is done, the client holds you responsible for the entire project, even the parts you can’t control—that’s why preparation for the unknown is imperative.