All it takes is one thing to make the editing process come to a screeching halt. You may be on a roll and getting work done left and right but if that one thing gets in your way there is no amount of skill that can be used to finish your project. It's either wait or replace.
It could be a specific shot, a piece of audio, or even an effects element that brings you down. Maybe you need to re-shoot something that didn't turn out the way you wanted but the actor needed for the shot is out of town. Maybe there is a specific sound effect needed and you just can't get it right. Sometimes these things are out of your control but sometimes there is a decision that needs to be made.
Can you live without it or can something else be used? Really think hard about the thing you are waiting on and decide if it's needed to tell the story or not. If not then it's best to just move on. If it's something that is out of your hands and is on the shoulders of someone else then you really need to decide if that person needs to be replaced.
The important part to remember is that your job as the editor is to finish the work all the other people put their time and energy into. Don't let something or someone kill that progress. Make the choice and finish the project sooner rather than later.
