Pivot Like a Pro: A Post-Producer’s Holiday Tale 🎄
A Journey Through a Wild Week, Made Better with a Little Help from FRIENDS GIFs
I made it to this week, folks. Last week? Let’s just say it didn’t go according to plan. This week, I’m diving into the importance of pivoting quickly to meet client needs while keeping an eye on the budget, schedule, and end goals—because, in this industry, “the plan” is more of a recommendation.
I even have a t-shirt that says, “Well, that didn’t go as planned—story of my life.” It’s my go-to for weeks like the one I just had.
Honestly, if a week in this industry goes exactly as planned, I’d probably suspect some sort of cosmic prank. But last week? Last week was a new level of chaos. Let’s start from the beginning.
The Case of the Reluctant Network Delivery
For the first time last week I had a scheduled network delivery where the network wasn’t ready to receive. Usually, they’re ready and waiting for the final master delivery, but this time? Not so much. Instead of delivering three finished episodes, I was navigating just getting enough info to know if we could deliver at all.
Six weeks ago, we locked in a post schedule for delivery. Everyone signed off, and we got to work. By last Monday, we had our third episode through online wrapped and ready to go. But the network? Not so much.
Monday: Bureaucratic Shenanigans
Most networks required a test file upload prior to master delivery. Uploading a test file to the delivery portal. Easy, right? NOPE. Step one was getting my team access to the portal, which turned into a bureaucratic nightmare—everyone’s favorite part of the job. Why? Because multiple departments are involved, and only the right person on the network side can give approval for the right department to grant access. It’s like a game of telephone, but with higher stakes and fewer laughs.
Tuesday: “Hold, Please”
No portal access yet. And now, SURPRISE we’re told we’re not cleared to deliver episode three. Time to pivot.
Wednesday: The Email Scavenger Hunt
By Wednesday, we were quickly racing towards the end of the week and I was concerned we’d never get access to the portal or even be able to deliver anything if we didn’t figure out something, and fast. Since we couldn’t deliver anything without uploading a test file first. And the right people didn’t seem to be telling the right department what we needed. Using my detective skills (aka scrutinizing email CCs), I found someone who could actually help. Portal access? Check! But… we hit another snag - proper access to the project needed approval from someone who was now out of office until Friday. Of course.
I went back to the one person who finally gave me access to the portal, and they found someone else who could grant access. Test file uploaded! WOO 🎉 But hold your applause.
Thursday: Plot Twist
The test file didn’t pass. The feedback was… unhelpful. After a team huddle, we figured the issue must be on their end, so we re-uploaded the exact same file, fingers crossed for a better outcome. Meanwhile, I had to make some tough budget decisions. Early in the week, my spidey senses were tingling, so I’d already planned for our online editor to go dark for two days (Wednesday and Friday), freeing up just enough to stretch the budget into the new year if necessary.
I hate making these calls—it’s not just about numbers; it’s about people. When someone books a full week, they count on that paycheck. So, whenever I have to make adjustments like this, I focus on finding a solution that respects the person first and the budget second. It’s easy to get caught up in the grind and forget about the people who make it all possible—the ones with families, bills, and lives depending on steady work.
By the end of Thursday, we had everything prepped—emails drafted, paperwork ready, files exported. If we got the green light, we’d be ready to go.
Friday: Finally, a Win
At long last, we got the news: the test file passed! (Yes, the exact same file that mysteriously failed the first time.) Cue the collective sigh of relief. After a week of pivots, hurdles, and bureaucratic gymnastics, those episodes could finally be on their way.
Lessons from the Trenches
This morning, two days before Christmas, I’m sitting at my desk uploading those episodes. Delivery is never a walk in the park, but this week was absurd even by Post standards. Still, that’s the gig - finding ways to make things work, pivoting when plans fall apart, keeping moral up, and making sure everything stays on track—even when the track is constantly moving.
They say there’s nothing new under the sun, but this industry has a way of proving them wrong. 🤪
Signing Off with Holiday Cheer 🎄✨
With that, I’ll leave you to enjoy your holiday celebrations. May your days be merry, your cookies delicious, and your hot cocoa bottomless. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Season’s Greetings and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Until next year,
Shawna Carroll
SHOUT OUT to Shane over at Out of Sync for not only finding value in this newsletter but also giving me a boost by recommending it! Thanks to you, I hit my goal of 100 subscribers this year—a goal that, as of last week, I didn’t think I’d hit. This unexpected holiday surprise truly made my week. THANK YOU, Shane, for the support! 🎁
Loved this
Glad I could help in getting you over the line. :) Keep up the good work in 2025