3 ms·
In my experience, I run late because I let other people take advantage of me. The doctor sees you late; your client starts the meeting 15 minutes late and wants
by basseq 11y ago
In my experience, I run late because I let other people take advantage of me. The doctor sees you late; your client starts the meeting 15 minutes late and wants to stretch the meeting past it's allotted end time; your mother calls as you're packing up to leave; your boss blows through meetings.
It's hard to put your foot down and stand up for yourself, like the author did with his dentist. But that's what you have to do to solve the problem.
- zamalek 11y agoThere is usually a polite solution, though: * The doctor: if your time is important that day it probably means you aren't taking sick leave. Politely cancel the appointment on the spot and book it with another doctor. * The client: bill them for the 15 minutes that they were late, bill them for the extra time. If they want to extend the meeting make them sign for the extra cost before proceeding. * Your mother: I'm sure she wouldn't mind taking the phone call later in the day, unless it's absolutely urgent - in which case the rest of your day is likely a write-off in any case. * Your boss: after every meeting show them the result of this equation: <your hourly salary> x <number of people in the room> x <length of the meeting>. Sometimes it doesn't work. My sister still calls me during office hours to chit-chat - having exhausted the polite option I am forced to rudely terminate the conversation after 5 minutes: "I can't chit-chat at work." That being said the polite option not working is a very rare exception.
- basseq 11y agoOh agreed, but it's tough. And yes I have control over it: I chalk it up to weakness (inability to say "no") vs. being rude and selfish. Arguably, I'm not being rude and selfish enough!