Advice For Late People

1. Develop Some Character - That might seem harsh, but being late all the time is a serious character flaw, is very insulting to others, and is a very poor testimony.  Ask the Lord to help you in that area of your life.  Yes... it's that big of a deal.

2. Set Alarms - Alarms will help you, if forgetfulness is the problem you are having.  Setting multiple alarms could help you have more of a sense of urgency.

3. Move Your Clock Ahead - If you move your clock ahead a few minutes, this could really help... unless you give in to the urge to always think you have a few extra minutes.  I used to set my clock 10 minutes ahead... and I always tried to be 10 minutes early... that way, if I was ever 15 minutes late, I still had 5 minutes to spare.

4. Plan Ahead - If you need to get up early, set out clothes the night before, go to bed early, and visualize yourself getting out the door on time.  Well begun is half-done... so plan ahead.

5. Think More Of Others - Being late to meetings, appointments, etc, tells people that you believe you are more important than they are.  That's not a good thing.  Read the words of the Apostle Paul:  Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;".  The very next verse is about being slothful in business.  Here's the deal... you don't show up to doctor's appointments late... they won't see you.  You wouldn't show up to court late... you would lose your favor with the judge.  Why do you think less of others?  Do you feel like you have the upper hand with "regular people"?   That's wicked thinking... see #1.   Yes... it's that big of a deal.

6. Fine Yourself - If you are going to be late for a meeting... make yourself buy a meal for everyone.  That way, you aren't the selfish jerk that couldn't make it on time... again.  Not this time... this time, you're the person who brought breakfast tacos... or Chick-Fil-A sandwiches.  When it hits your wallets a couple of times, you'll be amazed at how quickly you become more punctual.  If food isn't appropriate, pay your fine in the form of a donation.  It'll go to a good cause, and still teach you the lesson.

7. Start Earlier - Accidents happen on the roads, tires go flat, batteries die... stuff happens.  If you are starting early enough, you can overcome problems that arise, and still make it on time.

8. Don't Burn Up Your "Emergencies" - Life happens (see #7 above).  If traffic is heavy all the time... traffic is not a valid excuse for being late.  In our area (Dallas/Fort Worth), traffic is bad every morning... and most other times, too.  Because of that, there are multiple radio stations that give "up to the minute" traffic reports, at least every ten minutes.  The occasional emergency happens to all of us.  If you burn up your share of emergencies, due to your poor planning, people will be constantly frustrated with your inability to show up on time.  Refer again to #1.

9. Consider The Consequences - We all have to think about how our actions affect others.  If you are late to meetings, either you are uninformed or someone has to give you the information that you missed.  If it's a lunch date, you caused the other person/people to waste valuable time, and you tied up the restaurant's table for longer than necessary, potentially costing money to the waiter or business.  Your constant tardiness causes people to lose respect for (and confidence in) you.  It's impossible to know how many opportunities, promotions, raises, etc., have been lost, simply because someone couldn't be trusted to be where they were supposed to be... on time.

10. Glean Wisdom From Others - Consider these famous sayings about being on time:

"Never leave to be on time to be on time."

Brian Spellman, If the Mind Fits, Shrink It

"Arriving late is a way of saying that your time is more valuable than the time of the person who waited for you." 

Karen Joy Fowler

"Lose an hour in the morning, and you'll spend all day looking for it." 

Richard Whately

"Be on time if you can't be there early." 

Robin Sharma

"Part of success is being at the right place at the right time" 

Roger Reierson

That One Rule #1568 - "Better late than never, but never late is better."

......and as always.....refer to #1