Every industry has deadlines; some are more flexible than others. For a freelancer, deadlines are sacred. If you guarantee delivery by a certain time and/or date, then you’d better do whatever it takes to meet that deadline. Your reputation depends on it.

How do you calculate the deadline?

When you’re in the business I am, you have to count backward.

If the press needs the documents by close of business on the 30th of the month, then you need to know how long it will take you to do your part of that project. If you’re responsible for more than one part, the calculation becomes a bit more complicated. When that calculation depends on the responsiveness of others, your calculations might go out the window.

That’s a reality I try to impress upon my clients. I can tell them how long I need to do my part, but I can’t estimate how long they’ll need (or take) to do their part. I don’t control their activity or use of time.

My inability to control other people is one reason why I seldom guarantee delivery by a certain date or time. Another reason is that life has taught me the truth of Robert Burns’ prophetic words: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.” In modern English, that’s translated to “The best laid plans often go awry.” If that still isn’t clear, remember Murphy’s Law? If something can go wrong, it will.

Whether I’m sidetracked by a power outage, veterinary emergency, or something else, whatever causes a delay will disrupt my carefully laid plans to meet a tight deadline.

Murphy’s Law justifies the prudence of padding due dates with wiggle room. If I don’t do that, something happens that causes delays and I become very stressed. Stress isn’t good for anyone taking medication for hypertension. Therefore, it’s best to anticipate such interruptions and accommodate them from the get-go. Then I’ll do my utmost to beat that deadline and deliver early.

And if you want me to guarantee a tight deadline, then I charge extra.