Sunday, February 22, 2009. Doing the mailing of Horizons Magazine last week, I prepared ahead of time, was able to take the day off before since I’d done my labels and post office paperwork earlier.  Because of that, I was prepared and relaxed and I had the most enjoyable time I’ve had in a long while at the mailing.  Yes, it meant tackling the mailing paperwork immediately following getting the magazine to press, but I just realized that if I change my perception – change my mind rules – to include the pre-mailing paperwork as just the next step in finalizing the new magazine, I can ease myself into the habit of it.

I usually take a day or two after mailing day to just recoup at home, not go into the office, and defrag.  Since the post office mailing procedure is now more complex, it doesn’t make sense to do that.  That would leave me having 2 days to finish a 2 day job before the busiest weekend of my month.  That sounds like no big deal, but all day during the paperwork-math-figuring days, I am fielding calls from all my helpers and drivers to coordinate getting Horizons out.  Then after each call, I get to go back and see where I was in all the math and zip codes and zones and weights and piece counts and bag counts and label counts and… you get the picture.

So this time, I sent Horizons to the printer Monday morning. Tuesday I began updating all the labels and began the paperwork.  It was actually easier to do the job right after completing magazine layout, while I was still in my work mode. More importantly, it was a day before the calls began, so it went much quicker.  By Wednesday mid day, my paperwork was done and I had loaded everything into the car.

Friday I was also meeting Dennis Hollin with whom I was sharing a booth at the Expo of Heart in Fort Lauderdale today, and he’d be taking everything down for us in his van.   So I also packed my car with my display banner, and all booth equipment.  My little Toyota Prius was filled to just below eyeline!

So by sundown Wednesday, I was done until Friday morning.  That felt good.  Now I could really relax.  Plus it made it easier to remember any last minute details, since everything had already been checked off my list to be done.  So I didn’t have to worry about finishing my list at the last minute and wondering if I’d forgotten to add anything to the list.  My mind could be free of those stressful thoughts the entire day before mailing day!  That was both a freedom and a luxury.

So mailing day Friday, I woke up early and did some work at the computer and made myself a bean sprout stirfry for breakfast.  I took the time to do hair and makeup, something my helpers rarely see 🙂  I felt confident all the paperwork was in order.  It all felt organized in my mind.

I began early setting up the work stations.  I had refined the new mailout process by making a list outlining jobs for 4 different helpers.  Instead of everyone doing everything, if each one chose one job, then no one would get confused as to what they should be doing.  Meaning me 🙂

I had everything typed on a sheet so everyone could see them, since we have to keep track of how many mags go into how many sacks and how all the sacks are sorted and labelled.  I should have done that months ago, but was too frazzled to think of it.  And frankly, I think my ego self liked the idea of me being the one who knew it and got to tell everyone else.  That made me justified in barking out orders.  hahaha I laugh now that I realize I was doing that.

Part of the reason the day was so much fun is that Beth was there and I always enjoy visiting and hanging with Beth.  As minister for Unity Church of Melbourne, she often is scheduled elsewhere on mailing day, so it’s always a treat when she makes an appearance.  I’d had to work the past several Sundays and really missed hearing her Sunday talks.  Synchronistically, her talk the Sunday before was about the ego self being attached to outcome.  I could have used that message that day.

So I’ve learned that if I just change my perception to make the pre-mailing process part of the completion of the magazine cycle each month, that really eases my stress about it.  And having the Thursday off before the busy weekend refuels me and energizes me for the task.

The Boy Scouts had it right.  Being prepared is the way to go.