CLIENT MANAGEMENT & ADAPTATION

Life In The Fast Lane

JoAnna Bennett

JoAnna Bennett, O’Brien Communications Group

19 October 2017

You may have heard that last month we signed a new client. Since then, there has been a lot of work added to the plate, some in areas I’ve never delved into before, opportunities that can be exciting and scary. But when I think of the plethora of new work added into the mix of the steady, known work I have grown to love and manage, I sometimes wonder how it will all get done.

One thing is for sure, at least once a day I find myself humming, Life in The Fast Lane and just moving along. Checking emails, completing tasks in our project management system, assigning tasks to the team, and making sure all projects are moving along at a reasonable pace. Are there lags at times? Of course. But as long as I don’t panic and overanalyze, I am able to make sure all the work is done and the clients are happy.

A younger version of myself may not have been able to handle this transition as well. But I have learned in my last few years that life, whether personal or professional, is not going to always go as planned. You can plan your life months in advance, but there will always be a hiccup or change, and you must be ready to adapt.

My husband is one of those people who works best under pressure. He thrives in the moment. I am positive that his attitude and mentality got him through his tour in Afghanistan back in 2009. I personally would struggle in an environment in which life or death decisions needed to be made at a moment’s notice. But that is when he truly shines. I have quoted him saying, “You’ll never feel more alive than when you are on the cusp of being late.” For me, that moment is pure torture. My blood pressure rises, anxiety kicks in, and I vow to leave my house early for the rest of my life.

But if that patriarch of ours has taught me anything over the years, it is that adapting and re-formulating your plans is necessary at times. Being static won’t get you ahead. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone, stretch your legs, and begin toward a new final destination. It may be one you never knew existed but one you were meant to conquer all along.