Wishtank
Get it Together (part two)
by: Justin Boland
Boland: How was adjusting to being your own boss? How long did it take you to achieve equilibrium?
Heaney: Equilibrium… nope, I haven’t achieved one of those yet, but finding balance in this role is my crux right now. The transition has been easy in some respects, and a huge challenge in others. I think, that even though I was working for another publisher, my editorial position in that company was mostly independent. By the time I left my last job, I was developing topics, assigning stories, working with authors for revision and editing all my copy on my own, so I developed all the editorial know-how that I needed to head up that position in my own publication — essentially being my own boss.
But yeah, what has been a challenge is adapting to the freedom I’ve had with my time, and managing that effectively. The most difficult part of being your own boss, and this is something that I’ve both read and experienced, is wearing all the necessary hats needed to successfully run an operation. Now, reading, writing and editing is my heart — I live for these things — and have enough experience with this side of the magazine business to perform this function sufficiently. I find myself reading and writing constantly, and everything that I come into contact with is potential fodder for the magazine. It’s hard to even tell when I’m working, which is probably a sign that I love my job.
But, the editorial department of Wishtank is only one hat. I also need to wear the marketing hat, in order to ensure that all of this work we’re doing is falling into the hands (and minds) of readers who will appreciate it, and this is not a natural role for me. In fact, I’m still studying this field, so it’s like I’m working two jobs and going to school. Hard knocks yo.
Another thing that hasn’t come naturally is being anyone else’s boss. I felt better pushing the authors I worked with at the other magazines for manuscripts because they were paid. Now I am fortunate to be working with a group of friends who volunteer their energy to write for me, and I refuse to implement deadlines on them. I want Wishtank authors to be inspired to write, not burdened to do so. I would rather write more myself and recruit more authors to increase the production of content than add stress to anybody else’s life. And that’s exactly what I’m doing — if anyone reading this is mighty with the pen, holler at me ().
Boland: How do you cope with distractions? Do you build your routine to block them out, or to accomodate them?
Heaney: Man, I’m going to level with you, I’m a distraction addict. I seek out distractions on a regular basis. I can’t even work on one thing for more than 15 minutes without distracting myself with something else. I read a shit load and it’s not uncommon for me to have about seven random tabs open in my browser while I’m trying to edit and write. And I constantly carry on conversations with anyone who has something smart or humorous to say. It’s bad dude… but it makes the journey enjoyable. Maybe it is time to hop off this path and onto a more direct route to our destination. Good question… NEXT.
Boland: What’s the single best tool you found in the last six months for saving time?
Heaney: Clearing my head and getting comfortable with my thoughts. I know that’s not very specific, but I can’t do a thing until I can focus my energy on what needs to be done for the day. Observing visual art is the best way I have found to balance my mind. Before I sit down to read, write or market — all analytical, left brain, verbal tasks — I absorb art for a little while. I believe that humans, whether we realize it or not, long for beauty in our lives, and feel a sense of easiness when we find it. Wishtank covers visual art, so I always have a collection of portfolios on hand; viewing these is the first thing I do when I sit down to work. This practice might seem to be the opposite of a time-saving tool, but for me, it’s the quickest way I know to clear my head so that I can focus on my tasks.
The other single best tool I have rediscovered is my pen and paper. I keep a pad of graph paper on hand, and before I open the iBook, I map out a work strategy for that session with a pen or pencil. It’s a good way to distance myself from the massive amounts of information that will be competing for my attention once I am connected to the World (...wide web). Sometimes, working online can debilitate my ability to think thoughts all the way through. When it’s just me, my pen and my notebook, all of the thoughts generate inside my head, rather than developing from external cues. This is a valuable tool, to work independently with your mind.
Boland: What behaviors have you ended completely?
Heaney: Worrying. I don’t worry about things anymore. I try to remain optimistic, and even if things aren’t going as smoothly as possible, worrying will not make them any better. I wrote an essay in college on the role of fear in a selection of novels and in the daily news at the time. I came to the conclusion that whenever fear enters an equation, the end result is always negative.
I remember discussing 1984, and that part in the end where the Thought Police are torturing Winston and threatening to put rats in a box around his head. Although he loves Julia more than anything in the world, the element of fear causes him to betray her — to sacrifice the only beautiful part of his life in order to save himself from fear. I’m not sure the exact phrase, but he repeats several times something the likes of “Do it to Julia.” And of course, I wrote this paper the year after 9-11, so I was observing a very frightened American people, and well… we all know the kinds of decisions that were made under this fear.
So yeah, I apologize for the tangent, but I wanted to explain why I don’t worry — there is no room for fear in my decision making. No matter what happens, I know an optimistic choice will lead down a better path than a fearful one. We’re only going to be here for a short time, and we can’t afford to live in worry.
Boland: What’s the best system you found for making new habits stick?
Heaney: I don’t really have a system, other than being honest with myself and having resolve. When I am working and living productively, I feel it. These feelings are the reinforcement I need in order to develop continuity in my daily practice. Wishtank will be successful in the end, and I know that I owe this to everyone who is dedicating their time to this project. I need to ensure, on a daily basis, that I am on my J.O. so that I am deserving of the faith people put in me. Thank you for these questions Justin.
All materials published on wishtank.org are under the shared copyright protection of Wishtank magazine and the original authors, photographers and artists who created them. For contractual reprint or copy permission, contact Garrett Heaney at editor@wishtank.org. Wishtank likes to share, but looks out for our contributors. ©2007 and beyond