Entrepreneur

The Esquire Guy on the Right Way to Miss a Deadline

Start by disclosing your failure as soon as you know you've failed.
Source: Illustration Š Chris Philpot

The key to missing deadlines is, first, to miss them morally: fully aware of the problems you're causing other people and generally aware of the reason you're missing the deadline. (Note the active voice there. You--or your company--are missing the deadline. The deadline isn't being missed. For example: I am turning this column in late. The column isn't being turned in late. Responsibility must be assumed. And you are the one to assume it. Me, too.)

The first part is easy: However much you think you're negatively affecting the party to whom you are not delivering the work, multiply that by three. Hold yourself accountable by recognizing your role in a larger

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