re: Punctuality

Western ideal, low contextual observance of time

I worked for a boss who had staff meetings promptly at 9am. The door was closed at 8:59:59. You did not want to be the one trying to come in unnoticed at 9:01.

Exactly.

He needs a new job, or he should take hers.

People that are constantly late are POS

if you schedule something for a certain time, know when i'm going to be there? at that time. if i have something to set up before the meeting, i'll show up in enough time to do that and be complete for the time your meeting starts. if you want the meeting to start 15 min earlier, schedule it 15 min earlier adn ill be there. i don't have enough time to lollygag in a conference room waiting for your meeting.
i hate waiting for people but i don't mind if you have to wait for me...

30 minutes early, you are on time... 10 minutes early. . You are late

It is all a question of degrees. There is a level that is pure thoughtlessness/self absorption.

And then there is another level where there is something to the saying that punctuality is for people who don't have anything better to do.

Lombardi time:

quote:

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Lombardi expected his players and coaches to be 15 minutes early to meetings and practices. Not on time — 15 minutes early. If they weren't, he considered them “late.” Thus, it came to be called Lombardi time.

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I've consistantly run 10-15 minutes late for pretty much everything practically my entire life, and I finally figured out that I try to squeeze in too much stuff (errands, chores, etc.) prior to being where I need to be, yet for some reason, I can't seem to break the habit. I certainly don't intend to be disrespectful about it, though, and it doesn't bother me when others are a bit later than scheduled with me.

As I've gotten older, others' non-punctuality definitely doesn't bother me as much, I suppose, because I realize I can't control others' actions, nor do I desire to, and there are just too many more important issues to worry about than someone being a little late. Also, I certainly don't associate punctuality with one's character. Some of my best friends, who are great people, consistently run behind on time, and some of the worst people I know of - liars, hypocrites, braggarts, phonies (4 disgusting character traits I detest most) - are ridiculously punctual, so I definitely don't read anything into it regarding judging people's characters. One's being a piece of shite or not has nothing to do with one's punctuality.

I once heard a manager at a local Subway tell an employee who had just arrived breathlessly: If you're not 10 mins early, you're 10 mins late. Words to live by. In my view, punctuality is very important. Showing up (on time) is 80% of success.