If it kills me, I'm going to be on time. Author: Laura Stack, MBA, CSP

 If it kills me, I'm going to be on time. Author: Laura Stack, MBA, CSP

I get quiet delight in observing the looks on people's faces when they arrive late for my

seminars on time management. (From now on, you'll feel anxious whenever you attend one of my programs!) It looks like a child who was just discovered reaching into the cookie jar with their hand. These people shuffle in sheepishly, mumbling something about traffic, tail between their legs while their pals make fun of them, asking, "How can you be late for a time management class?"

When managers invite me in to advise their staff on performance, the most common complaint they have is that their employees "cannot meet deadlines, are always late, are always running behind schedule, or they forgot." I truly observe three different kinds of people:

1. People that are "late" are usually always late for everything.

2. Those who are "on time" usually arrive one or two minutes early or late.

3. "Early" individuals are uncommon and typically adopt everything first.

The classic concert statement by Victor Borge expresses it well. He was already halfway into his performance when a woman arrived after everyone else and had to push her way through the rows to a seat close to the front. Borge stopped playing and, much to her dismay as everyone's attention was drawn to her tardy arrival, he murmured, "Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me," as she continued, stepping on people, embarrassing herself, rustling, and disturbing her way to her seat.
"Where are you from, Ma'am?" he said as he approached the spot where she had taken a seat. "Fifty-seventh Street," the woman exclaimed. "Well, Lady, I'm from Denmark and I was here on time."

We never realize how much being late irritates people; it may ruin friendships, careers, and promotions alike. We are always surrounded by latecomers, both emotionally and physically. We all detest how their tardiness throws off our plans and spoils our day. No matter how effectively you execute the work, arriving late for work or sending something in late will still reflect poorly on you.

Let's take an example where you invited me to speak at a conference you were organizing. My talk was slated to begin at 9:00 AM and I was assigned the role of opening speaker. I stormed in at 9:05, screaming that I was stuck in a severe traffic congestion. Do you think it would matter? Not at all! You don't give a damn about my motivation. Right now, your conference is all that matters to you. Just as you expect the same behavior from others, they too want you to respect their time and your obligations. Would you ever hire me again after I gave a fantastic speech and everyone adored me? Not at all! You would actually recall your feelings of embarrassment when I was running late. You would probably even recommend that others not hire me after telling them about my tardiness!

I am an Early because I have realized the advantages of doing so, not because I am incredibly productive. I want to push you to become an Early bird in 2006 as one of your New Year's productivity goals. Why does it matter?

You receive a number of benefits, including: • First dibs on numerous things • Respect and adoration • Ability to unwind without perspiring • Positive press and exposure • Time to read or unwind the remainder of the day

Being an Early gives you the appearance of competence and establishes your dependability. On the other hand, being late makes others question whether you'll make it this time.
No matter how good you are, you'll never be completely trusted and will always be the one at the back. That's quite standard even if you're "on time," so what's boring? It's just not that noticeable.
It's alright, just anticipated... yawn. Be more than just "average"!

"I can't make deadlines," says LATE. The early bird declares, "I don't need deadlines."

Says LATE, "I can't control myself." Says EARLY, "I'm in charge."

"I can't look beyond the moment," LATE declares. Says EARLY, "I look ahead."

Persuaded? So, how does one become an Early adopter? It has nothing to do with "fooling" oneself by setting your watch five minutes ahead of time when, in your mind, you already know it's five minutes behind and make up for it. Make sure that your clocks are set correctly. Additionally, it truly has more to do with planning than it does with time management. Actually, this easy-to-implement idea will *avoid* at least half of your "time management" issues.

Consequently, I think more along the lines of "I should plan on arriving at 8:00 AM to set up and get prepared" rather than "I begin speaking at 9:00 AM."
After that, I have to calculate how long it should take me to get there, factor in extra time in case of traffic, and determine when I would need to wake up in order to get the kids ready for daycare and send them off. After I get here and get settled in, I have a lot of things to do, including pay bills, look through magazines, read the report, and write thank-you notes.

This is a test. Now that it's January and you have a speech in March, when would you start preparing? the previous week? You would be far less anxious and would have done a lot more research when the time came if you had started now and continued over time.
Do you prepare your belongings the night before a trip? Why not unpack the suitcase and fill it with items throughout the next week? It's okay if you have to dash to the store to get something you're missing. You won't be packing in a hurry, choosing your outfit at midnight, and arriving at your destination weary and irritable. When did you start planning your Christmas cards?

Every night before you settle in to unwind, ask yourself, "What's coming up next week?"
"What can I get out of the way now?" I always have to review the following day before going to bed so that I remember precisely where I need to be, what I need, and how everything is supposed to be laid out for me. I've planned my schedule, made lunches, signed my school paperwork, packed my briefcase, and chosen my attire. Every month, I look forward at what has to be done and plan for the following one.

By being an Early, you will avoid "deadlines." They won't be needed because you finish everything ahead of schedule. People who couldn't complete tasks without them were the ones who created deadlines. When you labor towards a deadline rather than the completion of a task or project, deadlines undermine all sense of success. Since tasks are frequently postponed until the last minute when they might have been completed far earlier, deadlines are usually meaningless in the first place.

It will require some time to catch up, but once you're in control, never stop improving. You'll feel a fresh sense of tranquility. You won't have to worry about deadlines if you arrive early (no additional expense, no effort, no explanations required). Thus, adopt an early and proactive work ethic, changing "later" to "now," and you'll be far more productive in 2006.

Make today a fruitful one! ™ ZZZZZZ

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