On time is almost late—be early!

- [Instructor] I remember once an author said something I found really interesting. He said, "Being on time is the new late." Think about that for a minute. Being on time is the new late? That's a little harsh. Maybe on time is almost late. Let's suppose for a minute that your job is to open up the shop, to get the lights on, to fire up the cash registers and the computers, and to make sure everything is ready to go for 9:00 AM. Assuming you don't live in the basement, leaving your house at 8:55 AM from across town isn't going to give you enough time to accomplish that. Remember, dependability and success sometimes means going above and beyond. You might need to leave 20 minutes before your shift to give yourself enough time. Think about this as it relates to retail. Let's suppose you finally get that interview for the job you've wanted. If you show for the interview late, you're already pooched. You're not going to get the job. But if you make it on time and they actually hire you, and then on your first day, you show up late or just a minute or two before your shift starts, you're not setting yourself up for success. So that's three simple suggestions that I know you can handle. Don't ever be late. In fact, always be early and show up ready to work. If you can do these three things, you're already way ahead of the crowd.