My column last Friday contained about a third of that info. This time I am sharing the next third with you. Next week will be my final of the three-parter. Here’s my second installment:
Describe a day where everything’s running off the rails.
Editorial-wise: Sources are not returning calls, press conferences have been canceled, a local politician walks in and insists to see me no matter what the heck I am in the middle of doing, computer freezes, Internet goes out, and in one case, 10 years ago, our roof completely caved in during a rain micro-burst.
Advertising-wise: Client or ad agency is late turning in their camera-ready art and then declare that they may have to “pass” for this week.
You never have time for…
A vacation. I don’t think Steve and I have taken a vacation together in well over 10 years. This year we plan to finally get away for a week or so to get reacquainted with one another.
You’ll always have time for…
I always have time for my mother. Whether it is in person or on the phone, she is my priority. At the ripe old age of 98 years old, and with her sweet nature, she deserves and has earned my love and attention.
What’s the most important thing you learned along the way that prepared you for this role?
I don’t have to know everything. I focus on the advertising aspect of our business, and I rely on our editorial department to concentrate on what they do. I do my best to give them the tools they need to accomplish their collective goal of creating the best darn local weekly newspaper possible. Also, customer service is king. Our readers and advertisers are both as equally important. Without one, we wouldn’t have the other.
What’s one aspect of the job that you’re still trying to nail down consistently?
I am constantly trying to balance my schedule to accommodate as many events, office and personal errands and business tasks as possible. For example, this weekend I need to attend a client’s husband’s funeral, an hour and a half later I need to be at a fund-raiser at a local cemetery, and then try to sneak in a haircut, manicure and pedicure to get presentable for an event that night to say good-bye to a long-time advertiser as he closes his business. I also need to stop by the office in between all this craziness to feed my fish, check the mail and go the bank if necessary. I need to do Mom’s laundry, go grocery shopping and take a minute to breathe. To be fair, I confess that my husband Steve does his best to help me keep from losing my mind by pitching in with laundry, including Mom’s, and tending to the needs of our dogs and cats, many times grocery shopping and bringing me coffee in bed. He also handles all of our finances at home. I just couldn’t juggle all of this without him.
