For those of you old enough, you will probably recall Aretha Franklin’s hit song Respect from 1967. (For the rest of you, feel free to Google it.) Today I want to talk about something that seems to be lacking in our culture today:

Respecting Others’ Time.

Trust me, I could spend a lot of time discussing the importance of respecting your own time, your property, your pets, and your money. The focus today is on the other people in our lives.

My wife and I recently celebrated the 18th anniversary – of our First Date. I remember it well, as does she. When one of her friends asked her some time later what most impressed her about me (and, let’s face it: there are soooo many things from which to choose – HA!), she said two things:

1 – I was ON TIME (actually, about 5 minutes early, which to both of us is “on time”), and;
2 – I came with a Plan.

She said she was often blown away by how many times men would show up late, and/or they would get in his car, only to have him say, “Where do want to go eat?” (Guys, if that sounds like you, you really do need to work on your game!)

Do you respect others’ time? Or do you just assume that it is okay to show up “a few minutes late”? If you answered Yes to the second question, I have some news for you:

You are sorely mistaken.

It is NEVER okay to disrespect someone else’s time. Ever. In business, if I encounter some unforeseen delay, I always call or text the person to explain what is happening. Keep in mind that I rarely have to do that, as I always leave early for any appointment.

I recall hearing Darren Hardy tell a story about a very successful businessman who had an appointment with Darren’s Dad. His Dad was running “just a few minutes behind”, but, when the time for their appointment came and he had not arrived, the businessman stood up and told Darren that he had other plans. The man was polite, but firm. Darren’s Dad had exhibited to this businessman that he really did not value – or RESPECT – the man’s time.

If running late has become a bad habit for you, here are some ideas that might help:

1 – Set your clocks and watches ahead. Yes, you will know that they are ahead of the real time, but it may just           help you get up and leave your home or office earlier than you would have otherwise.
2 – If you realize that you consistently run late to certain standing appointments, see if you can change the time.       Maybe by changing the time, you will encounter less traffic, or find easier parking than the case is now.
3 – Incentivize yourself. Tell yourself that you will do something that you dislike, or pay a certain amount to some
organization, for every time you are late. The more distasteful the punishment, the quicker you will probably
break yourself of this bad habit.

Always remember these great words from thousands of years ago: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Be on time. Always. You – and everyone with whom you meet – will be glad that you are!

(If you would like some help in this area, I truly believe that my book may be able to bless you. Go to www.ScottKimbroTeaches.com to learn more.)