| Punctuality is an admirable trait of character, especially | | | | education teachers and parents can teach this |
| for those on the receiving end of it. Everyone | | | | character trait to young people. |
| appreciates doctors and dentists who exercise | | | | In both the United States and Western Europe, there |
| punctuality toward patients in the waiting room. Job | | | | was a time when people had to learn to be punctual. |
| applicants think highly of interviewers who practice | | | | Factory owners at the beginning of the Industrial |
| promptness. Employers are favorably inclined toward | | | | Revolution had to work hard to instill promptness. Many |
| employees who are punctual. Punctuality is an | | | | did not worry about workers arriving at the right hour. |
| admirable trait of character no matter where it gets its | | | | They were happy just to get them to arrive on the |
| exercise. | | | | right day! |
| Definition | | | | Punctuality involves four secrets. Learn them, |
| Every entry on a list of character traits must have a | | | | implement them, and you can become a punctual |
| definition if it is to be of use to us. This one is no | | | | individual. |
| exception, but how do you define punctuality? | | | | · Carrots: This trait responds well to carrots - |
| Punctuality ensures that you identify and note every | | | | incentives. Train yourself to look at the benefits you will |
| deadline you have, and then causes you to take | | | | gain by being punctual. If you're going to a job interview, |
| appropriate action to order your schedule in a way | | | | for example, this can be the deal maker. Its opposite |
| that assures you will meet each deadline, even if it | | | | can be a deal breaker. Give yourself an incentive, a |
| means a sacrifice on your part. | | | | carrot for being on time or meeting a specific deadline. |
| Benefits | | | | · Illusions: Magicians use illusions to trick audiences, but |
| Punctuality is an admirable trait of character precisely | | | | you can use them to trick yourself into being punctual. |
| because it offers so many benefits to both sides of | | | | Forget about setting the clock ahead. That seldom |
| the equation. | | | | works. A better plan is to create the illusion that your |
| People who exercise this character trait receive | | | | appointment or deadline is earlier than it is. List a 9 AM |
| greater respect than those who do not. Why? The | | | | appointment on your calendar as 8:45 AM. Make |
| act of being on time is a way of showing respect to | | | | yourself obey the illusion, even though you know it is a |
| those on the receiving end. People tend to value | | | | trick. |
| relationships with punctual people because they know | | | | · Diversions: Many of us hate punctuality because we |
| such people will not keep them waiting. As the popular | | | | are afraid we will have to wait for someone else who |
| song from the Fifties points out, it gets aggravating | | | | has not perfected this character trait. Taking along a |
| when someone is a slow poke. Politicians, take note. | | | | diversion makes the wait enjoyable. You may actually |
| Life runs more smoothly with the character trait of | | | | anticipate a wait if you take a favorite book or |
| punctuality. In Japan, where I lived for eleven years, | | | | crossword puzzle you want to enjoy. |
| promptness is admired to a fault. As a result, we could | | | | · IOUs: A quick IOU can often get you to an |
| set our watches by the trains: freight, passenger, and | | | | appointment on time. It can also help you exercise |
| commuter trains all left stations precisely at the | | | | punctuality toward projects that have deadlines. |
| scheduled minute. Business transactions took place | | | | Before we learn to arrive at appointments on time, we |
| quickly and efficiently. Bank clocks were always | | | | often see things at the last minute that we just have |
| accurate. Our private English classes always started | | | | to do. If we leave them, we think, we may forget them. |
| on time, with no late arrivals to interrupt. | | | | If we do them, we will be late. Write yourself an IOU to |
| Punctuality pays - literally. A study done in Ecuador in | | | | remember that you owe yourself the watering of that |
| 2003, revealed that chronic lateness cost Ecuador | | | | plant or whatever other commitment it is. Then leave it |
| $2.5 billion a year! In some countries, that would be | | | | and be punctual. |
| small change, but Ecuador in 2003 had a gross | | | | Conclusion |
| domestic product of just $24 billion dollars. When they | | | | Punctuality is an admirable trait of character, and one |
| learned to admire and exercise punctuality, they | | | | that pays very well. Some people find it easy to build |
| learned to save money. | | | | this moral quality into their lives. Others found it rather |
| The 4 Secrets | | | | difficult. The character trait itself rewards both kinds of |
| Punctuality can be taught - and caught. Adults can | | | | people once they consciously and consistently begin to |
| teach themselves this character trait. Character | | | | exercise it. |