Is Being on Time Really That Hard?
- Dave Anderson
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
Choosing to work on your chronic lateness is a good place to work on your character.
Why are some people always on time and others are always late? Sure there are unforeseen circumstances that can make anyone late. But there are certain people we all expect to be late. It is predictable. It is also annoying.
There is not a “late gene” that makes being late unavoidable. Some personalities are less organized than others. In fact, I am that person. There are a lot of people who know me who will snicker at my difficulty with remembering specifics and dealing with little details.
But, I also have a reputation for being on time, even early, for everything. From personal experience, I know that my personality does not make me late. It could contribute to being late if I don’t care about being on time. But, I am intentional and overcome that disorganized part of my personality.
People who are consistently late are not fighting a hereditary issue or a personality flaw. They are fighting an issue of character. The issues are selfishness and pride. The antidotes are Selflessness and Humility.
Most of us who are on time can describe the selfishness of always being late.
● They don’t see how their lateness affects others, or they don’t care.
● They believe their time is more important than our time.
● They refuse to put in the same amount of effort as we do to arrive on time.
But how are these people losing the battle against pride?
● They know they have a problem, yet they choose not to work at getting better.
● They apologize and then do it again the next time.
● People who refuse to grow in areas of weakness, make it all about them.
Some of you reading this are probably saying, “Dang! Dave must have had someone show up late recently.” Maybe. But we all know those people. Maybe that person is looking you in the mirror each morning.
I want to encourage you! You can get better at this. Your willingness to work on this bad habit tells others you do care about them and you recognize you should and can do better. Winston Churchill once said, “Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.” Being late may seem like a small thing, but it is these small choices that we make that set us up for success in the big moments to come.
Deciding to grow in this small area is a window into your character. It is a window because you are choosing to put others first and exercise Selflessness. It is a window because you are deciding that being late is not “good enough”. You can get better and you see the need to make those changes.
People don’t consider us reliable when we can be counted on in some areas and not in others. If you want to be a reliable leader, coworker, friend or parent, choosing to work on your chronic lateness is a good place to begin working on your character.
Question
- When someone is always late, do you think of them as reliable?
- What damage does their lateness do to your relationship with them?
Audiobook sales have taken over for ebook sales. When we first published Becoming a Leader of Character in 2017, people were predicting ebooks were going to kill traditional hard copy print books.
That didn’t happen. In fact, print books’ percentage of sales are very similar to what they were in 2017 when we first published. What has changed is that audiobooks have eaten away at ebook sales.
Therefore, if you have been waiting on the audiobook version of Becoming a Leader of Character it is now here! You can get it on Spotify, Audible or any other major platform for audiobooks.
While you drive or workout, marinate your brains in the Six Habits of Character - Courage, Humility, Integrity, Selflessness, Duty, and Positivity.
Order now on your favorite platform:
(Audible is coming soon!)
Audible: Will be available in the coming weeks. We will let you know as soon as Audible makes it available.
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