It's Easy to be Early, Hard to be on Time

I was in New York and it was the penultimate Christmas eve.

I was relaxing in Bill Walsh's Soho studio - site of many an interesting AT workshop - when I realized it was time to get to the airport.

I'd left it too late.

Miss this flight, and I'd lose out on a special Christmas with Michael, Lena, Rowan and his sweet son John-Michael (who later died) in California. It was a special invitation, and it turned out to be the last time I ever saw two of them.

Bill got me a car, and with a big tip he did his best. I ran through the airport all the way, huffing like crazy as I presented my ticket at the deserted gate.

The woman frowned.

"I'm sorry sir, the flight has closed."

I looked across at the entrance…

"But the door is still open?"

She turned, looked, shrugged:

"OK, hurry!"

And I got on the flight. I was there for Christmas.

And I never, EVER - since that day - have been late for an airport appointment again. Any appointment in fact. Last week I wrote about Sherlock Holmes’s Secret Principle - how small tics are behavioural tell tales. Look local, think global.

I realized I needed to change.

Brendan, one of my earliest biz mentors, reinforced my lesson with his saying:

"It's easy to be early, hard to be on time."

Brendan told us he'd deliberately contrive a confusing scenario for new business contacts. He wanted to test how awake and clueful they were about meeting promises.

First, he'd find an obscure and hard to find café, but give his new contact the exact address. (Long before google maps!) Then, he make up a weird time to meet, like 2.55pm.

He’d get early to the café. And wait.

And if that person was even one minute late, he'd never do business with them. He asked us: "If they can't keep small promises, what do you think will happen with the big ones?"

If you promise, you care. If you care, you give.

Whether it's time or mental energy - giving is how you show you care. If you can't give, then don't promise. We try to have it both ways, but lying can't disguise the truth of what you do.

Be truthful. In the long run, it's easier for everyone.

Picture credit: Pixabay