The end of the year is upon us. For the last 48 months, many of us have had to redefine, recreate, reevaluate or renew parts of our personal and professional existence.
Over the last 12 months this publication has reported on the efforts of many and how they have made their creative style work in an environment many are not prepared to face.
We reported on a wide range of topics, from educational opportunities to the key players in the industry. We looked at prospecting outside your normal territory to identifying the key elements needed to begin recovery. We even suggest that you step away from the office and become involved in your community and the people that make decisions about the future of Jacksonville.
I was speaking to a Rotary group recently about Downtown development and while preparing, I discovered a few things that occur when you have been working for more than 35 years in the same company. I have been in the same parking spot, in the same building, going to work more than 9,000 days. Our newspaper, The Daily Record celebrates its 100th year in 2012, and has been produced Monday through Friday without missing a day over 25,750 times.
At close to a million characters in each issue, that would be 25 billion 750 million key strokes in our company to produce our product.
And to me, that is where the reward comes from. We employ great typists, precise proofreaders, responsible journalists, well-trained pressmen, relentless sales people, creative design and layout artists, delivery drivers and a detailed administrative staff, all able to multitask their way through, day after day. Sometimes we even have to switch off and do other tasks outside our box to finish the job, but rarely with hesitation.
Nothing is done in my business without the cooperation and collaborative efforts of every single aspect of publishing. If one segment of the team drops the ball, the entire operation becomes inefficient.
In other words, with a daily newspaper, we have to finish every day then start over the next morning. I’m not sure who said it, but it’s so true, “each day that passes becomes yesterday and tomorrow becomes today.”
As we embark on a new year, as we embrace new leadership and as we exercise our rights and creative minds to excel, keep in mind the individuals who have taken on a daunting task.
The leadership of NEFBA and NEFAR and our local leaders of the executive and legislative branch of government have a huge responsibility. Imagine if they work in concert for creating a product we can all benefit from.
I’m pretty sure the George Linvilles and Henry Bacharas of our past would be looking down at us in pride.
– Jim Bailey is publisher of Realty/Builder Connection and president of Bailey Publishing & Communications Inc.