How to Work Like It's the Last Minute—Before the Last Minute
May 24, 2021
High-stakes deadlines can be an opportunity for “successes rather than failures,” writes former GQ executive editor Cox in his fascinating debut. In seven profiles, Cox surveys individuals and organizations that have harnessed the power of deadlines to succeed under immense pressure: a three-star Michelin chef used daily checkpoints to successfully open two restaurants back-to-back; a Telluride ski resort harnessed the power of a soft open to turn a barren mountain into a snow-covered destination in a week; and an obscure presidential candidate focused on narrow goals in the year and a half he had in order to qualify for televised debates. Cox even worked at Best Buy as a way of covering the company’s lead-up to Black Friday: intricately planned dry runs for the big day started two weeks prior. For the pros, he shows, meeting a deadline is a process: begin with a drop-dead date, then establish a series of benchmarks along the way. Cox’s profiles are full of insight and the observational flare of excellent magazine writing (chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s unfinished kitchen was so cold “that a few of the cooks huddled around the pizza oven for warmth”). This entertaining guide to the art of getting things done gets it done with style. Agent: Chris Parris-Lamb, the Gernert Company.