One of These Days I’m Going to Quit Procrastinating

Cartoon from Plesh Creative Group Design Library

At the opposite end of the spectrum from perseverance is procrastination. As much as perseverance can be an asset, procrastination is a deterrent to accomplishment. Careful, cautious consideration should not be misconstrued as procrastination.  

Acquiring my first art director’s position at age twenty-four was largely due to pro-action as fellow artists procrastinated about grasping an opportunity for advancement. As a designer at American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio it was customary for artists and designers during periodic breaks to discuss art and happenings of the day. It was also a time when many would vent their frustrations of the job or talk of new opportunities in the creative field. 

On one such occasion I joined a discussion where a dozen artists were mulling over a classified ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer indicating that a representative from Fairfield Publishing Company of Chicago, IL was in town in search of an art director. The conversation was such that everyone thought it an opportunity for growth. Some spoke of breaking away from the daily routine of being a “board artist”, a chance to be “the boss” or an opportunity to “make big bucks”. But they also expressed concern about relocation or “”what if the grass isn’t greener on the other side”.  And the conversation went on. I reviewed the ad and made a mental note of the phone number, strolled over to the lobby pay-phone (yes, this was pre cell phone era) and called for an interview. When I returned the group was still discussing the ad. It was kind of mass procrastination.

That very evening I met for an interview with Bob Reinschriber, executive VP of Fairfield Publishing and four weeks later I relocated to Chicago as their art director. Bob had visited four cities which housed the major greeting card companies at that time. I was fortunate to have been selected and at a young age presented the opportunity for growth and recognition in both the creative field and greeting card industry. The fateful decision to make that phone call set me on an exciting and lucrative course in creative management. 

I later found that not one in the coffee break group discussion applied for the position. The only other applicant from American Greetings was, believe it or not, our art director!

Two and a half years later Fairfield Publishing was purchased by American Greetings and I was offered an art directors position to return to AG. I was also recruited by Rust Craft Greetings Corporation in Dedham, MA.  I accepted the position at Rust Craft as creative director, which led to vice president of creative operations.

Several years later I visited Cleveland on a business trip and enjoyed having lunch with several of the artists who had been in on the discussion of the ad for the art directors position. Their conversation over lunch was much the same as it was years before. Their pattern of procrastination seemed to remain intact. 

I’d be remiss in not noting that some of the artists made a conscientious decision after careful consideration not to pursue the art directors position, or others like it, for a number of good reasons, including they simply were happy doing what they were doing.  Obviously that is not procrastination.