“Promptitude is not only a duty, but also part of good manners. It is favourable to fortune, reputation, influence and usefulness; a little attention and energy will form the habit, so as to make it easy and delightful.”—Charles Simmons
“A stitch in time saves nine,” is a popular proverb that not only illustrates clearly the tangible gains of promptitude but also implies the potential cost of tardiness.
That pithy line is perhaps the shortest maxim ever used to convey the worth of punctuality. A step taken on time will keep you from taken nine further steps; that’s about 90% effect on efficiency.
Promptitude is an essential element of character and integrity that is almost impossible to fake for very long. Tell people you are always punctual as much as you want, the reality will come to confirm or disprove your claim one day.
People care to listen and see if you believe in what you have told them; that is, whether you actually do it or not. And, if you are consistently punctual, you are fortifying your credibility. However, the reverse is also true, if you are consistently late, you are gradually destroying your credibility and integrity.
The essence of today’s article is for us to realize the critical importance of punctuality and making a decision to always demonstrate that awareness with the power habit of promptitude.
To drive home my point, I have brought for you anecdotes from the lives of two great men of the past from two totally different cultures to illustrate the supreme importance of punctuality. And they are: George Washington of United States and Ayatollah Khomeini of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Strict Punctuality is the dominant common factor between George Washington and Imam Khomeini.
On the surface, one may think that these powerful personalities from two completely different cultures could have nothing in common apart from being the founding fathers of their countries’ systems of government.
But that assessment couldn’t be further from the truth since promptitude is the key thing that I have found to link both Washington and Khomeini together.
And I am here to urge you towards that virtue with the anecdotes from their lives. Mind you, the standard of these men was beyond plain punctuality; they truly lived the stern virtue of strict punctuality. And I dare to emulate them to be like a powerful force of nature, in your own sphere of influence.
Imam Khomeini
He was the Iranian Shia Muslim religious leader and politician; and the author of more than 40 books. By leading a fierce revolution in 1979, he overthrew years of Persian monarchy and founded Iran as a new republic. His full biography is beyond the aim of this article, so permit me to focus solely on his habit of strict punctuality.
While researching how he successfully led such a great change, I stumbled upon some of the secrets of his power in how he lived his life. And guess what? Punctuality stood tall among all other principles he firmly held on to. As written on Wikipedia, Imam Khomeini was known for his scrupulous regard for strict punctuality and predictable pattern of living. You could always predict when he would show-up on his appointments and routines. He would never disappoint you. And you could always count on him.
Read on for a special treat that awaits you from the life of this amazing man of tradition:
"He is so punctual that if he doesn't turn up for lunch at exact time everyone will get worried because his work is regulated in such a way that he turned up for lunch at exactly that time everyday.
He goes to bed exactly on time. He eats exactly on time. And he wakes up exactly on time."
Ayatollah Khomeini won the private victory long before he became a revolutionary. He was reliable, dependable and steadfast.
Now the main question for you and me to answer is this: are we equally disciplined?
George Washington
George Washington was considered to be the driving force behind the nation’s establishment and came to be known as the father of America from his time right until this very day.
I also asked myself how Washington could surpass his peers {who were all great men of the time} to become the first President of the America in 1789. Clearly, many virtues contributed to his prominence and success but there was one thing I found that George was characteristically known for.
You guessed it right: It was punctuality!
George Washington was so fanatical about punctuality that he would never waste anyone’s time by showing-up late on an appointment and he would frankly not tolerate anyone who does.
Read on for an evidence to prove this in his own life:
One day, Washington disregarded a team of special guests from Congress whom he had invited for a dinner. They were surprised to see that their host was almost done with the meal when they arrived; just few minutes past the fixed time.
George Washington candidly responded to them by saying:
“We are punctual here. My cook never asks whether the company has arrived but whether the hour has come.”
In other words, never come here late again.
It is obvious to conclude that both Washington and Khomeini achieved greatness because of the habit of stern punctuality above all their other habits of merit. And Lord Nelson, the exceptional leader and British naval officer, made this conclusion plausible when he said: “I owe all my success in life to having been a quarter of an hour before my time.”
