Striving to Do a Job Well

I take a lot of satisfaction and pride in a job well done. Even simple things like finally getting all of my family’s dishes done and put away after a big meal make me happy. I endeavor to do everything to the best of my ability. I was raised to do a job right or not at all.

I’ve been working feverishly to plan the Ozarks Writers League Fall Conference over the past several months. The conference is next week, and the 11th hour stress is hitting me hard. I’m dedicating every moment possible to judging winning stories for the President’s Award, counting members for catering, arranging transportation to and from the airport for a literary agent, figuring the budget, taking care of the website, and the hundred other little things that go into planning an event.

I have lists and reminders all over the place. I have sticky notes and spreadsheets. I have email loops and Messenger threads. Just when I think I have everything under control, I learn that I’ve forgotten something. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing and resisting the urge to pull my hair out. Mass quantities of chocolate have been consumed.

I was looking over my speaker list when I realized that I may have actually done a good job. I went about it in a different way than my predecessors, but this conference is going to happen. The guest speakers seem amazing, and I’m excited to meet all of them. Our member speaker is a wonderful lady who has been supportive, informative, and encouraging through this process. She’s a knowledgeable and charismatic speaker. She keeps her audience engaged while imparting her seeds of wisdom.

I’ve been buried in the details for so long that I hadn’t stopped to look at how things have come together. This is going to be a good conference. If everyone shows up with positive attitudes and the equipment all functions, we should have a good time. That’s my goal. I want our members to have fun and learn new things that will improved their writing careers.

I’ve learned a great deal this year, and I’m taking steps to assure a smooth transition to the next president. I can’t claim it’s a job well done yet, but I believe it just may end that way.

I always try. I may not always succeed, but I fail by default if I don’t even try.

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