What Last-Minute Projects Can Be A Great Teacher

Sister Grow Farms - Tre Davis

Last-minute projects are the worst. But every once in a while, they show you exactly what you are made of.

December is usually a slower season, but this past one turned out to be a good month project-wise. As I was starting to wind down for the year, I got a call from a previous client who will remain nameless (I love him though). He needed help editing a video project.

I love editing video, and I like to think I am pretty efficient at it, so I said yes. Then he told me the timeline.

I had three weeks to edit sixteen videos, each between fifteen and thirty minutes long. All in December. Think Christmas shopping, kids on break, family time, and very limited hours in the day. It was a daunting task.

But what I realized after saying yes was that completing something that feels impossible has a way of revealing what you are truly capable of.

Here are a few lessons that stood out to me.

1. Communication Has to Change

When you have three months to work on a project, weekly check-ins are usually enough. Sometimes they even feel like overkill. But when a large project is due in just a few weeks, communication has to ramp up quickly.

Casual updates turn into daily messages.

“Project 01 is done and uploaded.”

“Project 05 is done and in the drive.”

You need your client to feel confident that progress is being made, because it is. I tend to be a “never let them see you sweat” kind of person, but trust me, those three weeks were intense. Clear and frequent communication builds trust, especially when timelines are tight.

2. Tight Timelines Should Change Your Pricing

Condensing three months of work into a few weeks comes with real costs. More stress. Less downtime. More focused hours. All of that affects your quality of life.

When you say yes to an expedited project, you are trading personal time and mental energy for speed. In every other industry, faster delivery costs more. Overnight shipping is more expensive for a reason.

This is not about price gouging. It is about charging fairly for the time and flexibility you are giving up. Having a calculated, reasonable rush fee helps protect your time and ensures you feel properly compensated.

3. Family Time Becomes More Intentional

Working late means missing moments you would normally be present for, and that part is hard. But you can offset it by being fully present when it matters most.

Short timelines are intense, but they are temporary. Knowing there is an end date makes it easier to push through and appreciate the moments you do get with your family.

Final Thoughts

The reward for completing a seemingly impossible project is not just the paycheck. It is the confidence that comes from knowing you can do hard things under pressure.

Do not be afraid to take on a challenging job. Just be honest about what it will require, communicate clearly, price it fairly, and deliver a product that is just as clean and polished as if you had three months to do it.