On time is late

As you ponder that title, realize that it’s something simple. I would rather be 30 minutes early than 1 minute late. I’ve preached this to my kids their whole lives. As I’m driving to work around 6:59 in the morning, I see these people throwing their hands up in frustration because they’re about to be late heading to work. I never understood this. I could never understand how this could be allowed to happen. By being late, you demonstrate a lack of care for your job, your company, your bosses, and your coworkers. Get your stuff, get your coffee, get prepared and be at your job early and ready to work. That’s critical if you want to make anything of yourself where you work. It’s how you set the standard for your professional image. You wouldn’t show up to a movie or a date late, why would you be so disrespectful as to show up to your job late? Maybe you do show up to movies late and that’s just how you operate, if so you might have some more serious issues at play, but I digress.

The early bird gets the worm. Punctuality is essential; it establishes a precedent of respect. I respect your time, ergo you should respect my time. With consistent punctuality, you create a routine geared for success. If I’ve gone to the trouble to attend or schedule a meeting and you can’t make it within fifteen minutes, I’m leaving. I don’t owe you any more than that. Most stores don’t open the door until their corporate prescribed time, not a minute before, rarely a minute after. Some businesses break the mold. My Dry Cleaner technically opens at 7:30, but I’ll swing by there around 7:00 and the owner will be opened and already hard at work in the back. That’s what makes a difference. That punctuality coupled with a willingness to work hard and make a name for yourself is what leads to success. It’s what sets you above every other working-class Joe out there. You need to be there early, and you need to be there late.