Hi,
For me, punctuality is a symbol of respect for other people's time and also respect for my time.
I define myself as a person who is punctual to the extreme. Not five minutes late and not five minutes early. Here are a few examples...
8:30 is 8:30, and it's not 8:25.
I am a person of routines and within my routine, at weekends I get out of bed at 8:30 to be able to enjoy the mornings in the village more and to be able to go for a walk to breathe fresh air.
On many occasions, I am already awake from 7:30 in the morning, but I like to stay in bed looking at the press on my mobile phone or reading some posts. But sometimes, when they come to my room at 8:20-8:25 to tell me if I'm not up at 8:30, it makes me angry.
8:25 is not 8:30. When the alarm goes off, I'll get up....
Never keep customers waiting
As a salesperson, I often have to go to my clients' offices or laboratories, agreeing on a specific time for the meeting days in advance.
In this day and age, time is one of those things that almost everyone lacks, hence the famous phrase ‘Time is money’.
That is why, in my visit planning, I always try to have a good margin to arrive punctually to my appointments. I know that it is the best letter of introduction when one goes to do business, because you start the meeting with respect for the client for something as precious as his or her time.
At the same time, I find it comforting when certain clients you visit often thank you for always being punctual and for not making planned 30-45 minute meetings unnecessarily long.
Delays
The lack of punctuality of certain people is something that I find very hard to deal with. But without a doubt, what I find worse is not being punctual with someone because of delays in public services.
In recent times, the suburban train network has been getting worse and worse, and travelling to the center of cities like Madrid with the restriction on certain vehicles is a real feat.
Arriving late for certain meetings or get-togethers with friends because of poor management of the rail network by the state administration is something that infuriates me.
On many occasions, I take the train that leaves 25 minutes later than the one I should take to arrive on time, and even then I don't manage to get there on time. So here it is my own time, which I also consider to be gold that is being wasted.
Message to the unpunctual persons.
Think that the time you waste on others is precious and has as much value as your own time.
Regards.
