or the March issue I had one new goal, and it was a simple one: ask for photo credit information early. This seems like a no-brainer, but I had gotten into the habit of waiting until the end of our proofing process to reach out to writers or sources to ask for or confirm photo credit information. My new system for the March issue: as soon as a photo landed in my inbox, I immediately asked for credit information.

When it comes to the end product—the March issue you’re holding in your hands or reading on an electronic device—the change was nonmaterial. But for the Alaska Business editorial and production teams, this change led to fewer last-minute questions, emails, and loose threads to tidy up.

Fewer, but not none. Nothing I can rationally do would eliminate all of the last-minute work that takes place before we put a magazine to print. Some things are uncontrollable.

In the Arctic, the uncontrollable is front and center: polar bears travel as they will, sea ice melts—or doesn’t—on its own schedule, and inclement weather asks no one for permission to complicate transportation, construction, research, rescue, or other activities. Residents and businesses operating in the Arctic learned the lesson long ago that early and comprehensive planning are critical to success. They schedule the delivery of materials far ahead of breaking ground, educate and train employees on all manner of worksite conditions, and ensure polar bear guards are on site.

Living and working in the Arctic requires foresight, flexibility, and resilience, and these are the stories that we’ve gathered for the Arctic special section this year. They certainly inspired me, in my own small way, to control what I can so I have more bandwidth for the surprises.