14-Apr-2011 15:25

How Important is Punctuality…?

At meetings with my agents or resellers I try to impress upon them the importance of prompt arrival (even early arrival) to meetings, appointments and sales pitches.

It is recognised that when a meeting is delayed by a late-arrival, especially by an inconsiderate salesman who is trying to promote a product or service, impressions are immediately distorted, frustration is suffered and any chances of success are dramatically reduced…

Most understand the concept but sadly there are some that just simply do not ‘get it’…

If there was ever a reason to be punctual, the following humorous anecdote perfectly elucidates the point…:

”A priest was being honored at his retirement dinner following 25 years working in the local parish.
A leading, local politician and important member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little address at the celebratory dinner.

However, as he was delayed, the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited for the inconsiderate local celebrity…

The priest began:

“I received my first impression of the new parish from the first confession I heard here.

I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place.

The very first person who entered my confessional confessed to me he had stolen a television set and, when questioned by the police, had been able to lie his way out of it.

He had also stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his employer, had an affair with his best friend’s wife, and taken illicit drugs.

To tell the truth, I was appalled.”

“But as the days went on, I learned that not all of my people, my flock, were like that chap and I had indeed arrived at a fine parish, full of good, charitable and loving people.”

Just as the priest finished his homily and sat down to applause, the politician finally arrived, with profuse apologies for being late.

The local politician and important member of the congregation immediately began his presentation and began:

“I’ll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived.

In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go in to him for confession.”

Moral of the story and important lesson: Never, never, NEVER be late.

Norman Feiner

(Originally posted here: http://prospectnetworking.net/how-important-is-punctuality%E2%80%A6/ )

Norman Feiner is the Founder & Managing Director of Simply-Fone – a telecoms provider.

Simply-Fone was established to provide competitively priced, innovative, telecom solutions to UK residential and business customers.