SYSTEMS FOR BEING ON TIME
“get ready first. optional tasks second. buffer absorbs surprises.”
The Lesson
Two ways to manage morning time: (1) Get ready first, then do optional tasks with remaining time. (2) Do optional tasks first, get ready at the last minute. Method 2 is a plan to fail. If anything goes wrong in those final minutes, you have no buffer. You've already spent your flexibility. Method 1 is a plan to succeed. If something goes wrong, you sacrifice optional tasks, not punctuality. Failure rate: Method 1 ~1%, Method 2 ~10%. Tell the chronically late person in your life: 'You have a plan to fail.'
Real-World Example
A founder's co-founder is always late to investor meetings. They do 'fun stuff' in the morning, then rush to get ready. One traffic jam = late = bad impression. Fix: get ready first, then check email/social media with remaining time. If traffic hits, they cut the optional stuff, not the meeting. Same morning, different system, different outcomes.
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