It’s the key of success or the handcuffs of defeat.  The question is, do you have the key or are you in the cuffs?

“My life is 30 minutes late. It’s not my watch, but my life!”  You know who I am talking about.  You end up telling them everything starts 30 minutes earlier than it actually does in hopes they may be on time, but they’re still late!!!!!  They wonder why their life always seems to be totally out of control and why they are always stressed out.  And the excuses are always the same: I just have too much on my plate, I just can’t get it all done, I just couldn’t get out of the meeting, I just couldn’t get them off the phone…I just…I just…I just!  They are always blaming someone or something for them not taking control – for their poor time management.   The other brutal thing about not having good time management is you never have time to do those things you want to do – those things important to you. You are always saying I will do it tomorrow, because all of your time is spinning out of control just trying to keep up.  Unfortunately for them, the tomorrow they are waiting for never comes.

The single most valuable thing in a person’s life is time.  And when we keep people waiting and/or don’t show up when we say we are going to show up, we are telling those we care about, those we are trying to do business with and those we want to gain respect from, that we don’t care about their most valuable asset, because ours is more important.  It’s a success killer. It’s a happiness killer. It’s a relationship killer. It’s a life killer!

Here is the reality of it:  If we could stop time for 24 hours, except for them so they could catch up, and then started the clock ticking again, they would still be late.  It’s not a time issue it’s a planning issue. Let’s face it, it’s a personal issues and it’s just simply a bad habit.  Heck, they are going to be late to their own funeral when the time comes.

If you are one of those folks we are talking about here, all hope is not lost. Here is a great thing to try and institute in your life and business today.  Make a commitment to show up 5 to 10 minutes early to everything you do.   I have every clock in my life (from the clock next to my bed, to my watch, to the clock in my car) set 10 minute early.  I am not going to say I am never late, because that would be a lie.  But I can tell you, those who know me will say I am very punctual and respectful of everyone’s time – including my own.  Certainly being late is the exception for me, not the rule.

You can never change a first impression, and our first impression is when we show up early, on time or late. What is your first impression?

Make it a great week!

Remembering Bill “Papa” Moles – Details on his Celebration of Life

The Intero Family suffered a big loss recently.

Bill Moles, father to both our Chairman, Bob Moles & Kevin Moles, passed away at the age of 78.

Speaking on behalf of the entire Intero family, we all send our deepest thoughts and prayers to the Moles family in their time of sadness.

The Moles family would like to invite you to the Celebration of Life. Details are as follows:

Date:              Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Time:              1:00pm
Where:           St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church
219 Bean Avenue
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Reception:    St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church
Following Celebration of Life

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Intero Foundation or to the Hospice of Santa Cruz County.