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Successful Management of A "Publishing Lifestyle"

Publishing an e-zine or newsletter is not only an undertaking in the act of writing and publishing successfully, but it is for the most part, also a complete lifestyle change, as it does entail many varying chores and a great deal of self-motivation and organizational skills. Maintaining a successful publication or publications for years, does take a large amount of commitment, time-management skills, and organizational techniques in order to balance the publishing lifestyle and incorporate publishing into the general scheme of a publisher's life.

Once a publication or publications are up and running with a good subscriber base, and a wide variety of resources from which to glean materials have been established, it does become apparent that the publishing lifestyle itself will mandate some type of management techniques. Publishing successfully does entail a rather complete and rather drastic "lifestyle change", as publishing is a very involved and sometimes stressful business. The myriad chores of maintenance, writing, advertising, and publishing can be demanding and can have restrictive effects on other aspects of a publisher's life overall. Most publishers do find that time with their families, friends, and other social opportunities do sometimes suffer as a result of their publishing business. "Marrying" the publishing lifestyle with a publisher's existing lifestyle does take varying degrees of discretion on the part of the publisher, as well as "multi-tasking" skills.

The initial days of set-up of any newsletter or e-zine will always be somewhat hectic and work heavy, with all the chores and tasks that are required of any new business, as well as specific publishing tasks. Once a publishing business is up and running, it does become important that a publisher take the time to try and organize the publishing business in such a way that "balance" and integration is achieved overall, and that other aspects of life are given priority as well. If "balance" is not maintained by a publisher, between the publishing business, and other aspects of their life, a publisher may suffer "burn-out" rather quickly and become disenchanted, and perhaps even bitter about the business.

The wise publisher does do the following in order to maintain "balance" and live a less-stressful "publishing lifestyle":

1. Determine a list of daily activities. The amount of hours spent each day writing, advertising, researching and managing the publishing business is determined in detail, and a plan for "hours spent" on each chore is carefully constructed. This plan should be adhered to as closely as possible once determined, as this will keep the publishing process organized and efficient. Treat the publishing business as if it is any other "job" with set hours and a set routine to the business day each day.

2. Determine a list of monthly expenditures and monthly revenue. Each publication published does need at the very least, to reach a "break-even" point each and every month. This "break-even" point can only be determined by a careful and judicious accounting each and every month. The old rule of "assets minus liabilities equals net profits" applies just as much to publishing as it does to every other business. An inability of any publication to maintain itself with the required amount of revenue, does require that measures be taken immediately to increase its revenues, therefore this accounting must take place each month to gauge the revenue-generating effectiveness of any publications.

3. Maintain a list of all publications, articles for publication, lists of subscribers, due dates of all publications, and any changes that are to be initiated. If many publications exist, it does help to prepare databases for each and every publication, listing all above-mentioned components. Readers depend upon consistency and clarity in their publications, and the above factors do play a huge role in developing consistency and clarity. The creation of databases and lists also assists a publisher in keeping a "publication lifestyle" stress-free. Detailed management lists and databases, keep publishers "focused" and assist in avoiding the tendencies towards "cramming" (trying to write many articles, and publish several publications simultaneously) and "publication procrastination" (putting everything off until the final minutes before publications are due). Detailed lists of all materials, ads, articles, dates, subscribers, and possible changes will enable a publisher to keep within the timeframe necessary to publish each e-zine or newsletter well in advance of its date, and also keep the "publishing lifestyle" more "balanced".

4. Develop a "mind-set" in which the publishing business, although important, does allow for activities outside the publishing business. Successful, happy publishers do "structure" time for social activities and time spent with those outside the publishing business, whether that is family or friends. No business can be the "absolute be-all and end-all" of anyone's existence, and successful, wise publishers take this into account.

5. Determine parameters in which the business will exist. Successful, happy publishers take care never to "try and do more" than that which they realistically feel they can handle. While it is extremely tempting to "keep publishing" more and more, especially if the prior publications have brought in a goodly amount of revenue and have been rewarding, overall, wise publishers know that "stretching themselves too thin" will dilute the effectiveness and quality of their existing publications. Trying to do "too much" will also tax their relationships with their family and friends, and will overall lead to "publishing burn-out" over the long run. Wise publishers set business limits for themselves just as any business owners tend to do. There is a natural progression to every business, and this natural progression must take place at its own pace. Publishers that try to do "too much too soon" can also find themselves "burning out" way too quickly.

6. Determine which chores and other maintenance needs to be done personally by themselves, or which can be delegated or out-sourced to others. Careful consideration as to what needs to be personally handled by the publisher and which chores can be done successfully by others does relieve much of the work burden of the publisher. This can also make the overall "publication operation" run more efficiently, as the publisher can then be free from "non-necessary" publication chores and free to focus on more pressing matters. It also helps avoid the dreaded "burn-out" which can occur if a publisher tries to "do it all" themselves.

7. Schedules "time off" and "vacation periods". Anyone working in their own business (and publishing is a business), needs time away from the business and away from their usual routines. If publishing is to be treated by the publisher as a true business, then these times away will also be taken into consideration. Time away will do much to refresh and enable the publisher to publish more effectively in the long run. Publishing is more a "mental" as opposed to "physical" undertaking, and can prove to be rather "mentally draining". Time away is always needed from endeavors that are mentally exhausting.

8. Chooses the absolute finest quality products and services to aid in the publishing business that they can afford. Choosing sub-standard, poor quality, auto-responders, e-mail management services, and publication creation software, really only costs time and money overall. A wise publisher purchases the best "tools" they can afford to effectively run their "publishing business". Good quality "tools" will eventually pay for themselves in both increased efficiency and productivity on the part of the publisher. It's the old adage of "pay me now, or pay me later", and most successful publishers understand this theory thoroughly. The purchase of inferior products in any business, really only costs money, both in lost revenues, and in time spent doing unnecessary chores.

9. Develops "deadline" requirements each week. Depending upon the amount of publications due each day, week or month, "deadlines" for work need to be established before beginning any written projects. Self-imposed publishing deadlines will assure that a single project does not diminish or "cut-into" the time that is required for completion of other projects. It is too easy to get "caught up" in the "heat of a particular project", to the neglect and exclusion of other projects. Deadline determinations help prevent this, and aid in keeping the publisher "on track" and "in focus". "Deadline" requirements will not only consist of a date for completion of any project or publication, but will encompass a total number of hours that will be devoted to any project or publication. Adherence to a specific number of hours per project or publication, as well as a date for completion will guarantee maximum effectiveness and timeliness of all projects or publications.

10. Develops realistic techniques for dealing with mistakes and any other impediments to publishing. While it is imperative to try and maintain consistent publication dates, a consistent subscriber base, a consistent "look and feel" and overall consistency of delivery to any publication efforts, mistakes do happen, software or hardware failures occur, and other impediments to publication do fall upon publishers. A "fail-safe" plan when these emergencies and failures occur will help towards alleviating the stress and frustrations that a publisher can feel during these "emergencies". A plan for each and every possible mistake and failure will expedite the resolution of any unplanned mistakes and failure. A plan such as this always will help diminish the stress that accompanies any "publishing catastrophes". Remember, as well, that publishing is not "brain surgery". Nothing that occurs is ever "terminal" and should not be viewed as such. Perspective is what counts when dealing with failures, mistakes, and "emergencies" in the publishing world.

All in all, publishing can, and IS a great way of conducting a home-based business, with very little overhead, and generally, many, many benefits. It is a rewarding and lucrative business, when done with a little planning and foresight. Nothing can compare to the feeling of accomplishment when running a successful publication business. Prepare well, and the "publishing lifestyle" can be a very charming and enjoyable lifestyle indeed.