Before I power down for the holidays, sharing a little holiday cheer from the perspective of a freelancer navigating those last-minute emails. Whether you're wrapping gifts or wrapping up projects, I wish you all a holiday season filled with peace, love, and relaxation!
The Night Before Launch Day
(A Brand Strategist’s Tale)
by Shannon Oakley
'Twas the night before launch day, and all through the house,
Not a cursor was stirring, not even my mouse.
The briefs were aligned with meticulous care,
In hopes that success soon would be there.
The logos were nestled all snug in their files,
While visions of guidelines brought weary smiles.
With decks in their folders and drafts double-checked,
I closed my laptop, my nerves quite unchecked.
When out in my inbox there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my couch to see what was the matter.
Away to my screen I flew like a flash,
Hoping no client had discovered a clash.
The glow of the monitor lit up my face,
Revealing last-minute requests out of place.
When what to my tired, wide eyes did appear,
But an email marked "URGENT," igniting my fear.
It came from the client, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment that it must be their pick.
More rapidly than deadlines, their requests they came,
They whistled and shouted and called out by name:
"Add this! Fix that! And swap out the font!
Make the tagline punchier! That’s what we want!"
To the top of the file, to the bottom of all,
"Now edit! Now tweak! Don't make the logo too small!"
As revisions before a big deadline fly,
I sighed, poured some coffee, and whispered, “Oh my.”
So back to my desk, I reluctantly trudged,
Knowing this timeline just couldn’t be fudged.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard in my head,
The voice of my mentor and all they had said:
"Stay calm, stay creative, you know what to do.
This brand is their baby — but they hired you."
With confidence rising, I got back to work,
Addressing each comment, no detail to shirk.
I tweaked and refined, then sent it away,
Hoping this time they'd have nothing to say.
The clock struck midnight, the email came through,
“Looks perfect!” they wrote. “Thank goodness for you!”
Relieved and exhausted, I powered it down,
Ready to trade my laptop for drinks in my town.
But as I reclined, I whispered with delight,
"Happy launch day to all, and to all a good night!"