The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM across town (20 Minutes away):
You set a goal to leave the office at 2:30 to give yourself a 10 minute margin.
This means you should set wheels in motion @ 1:30 to prepare the needed market analysis and printing of required documents.
Ah yes! A well thought out plan.
The lunch meeting that was to begin @ noon didn’t start til 12:15 because the person with whom you were meeting was late. The restaurant was crazy busy, and the food didn’t arrive at the table til 12:45 . . . and by the time the bill was settled, the clock had rolled over 1:15.
You know in the best of circumstances you’ll be able to walk into your office @ 1:30 and are not concerned because of your built-in 10 minute margin.
BUT . . . your anxiety begins to rise because this 3:00 meeting is SO important, and you want to be POSITIVE that you are fully prepared.
The computer freezes up and requires a reboot
The printer jams
You clear the jam and discover the toner is out.
While you’re replacing the toner cartridge, you notice it needs more paper . . .
Which requires a trip to the supply closet where, of course, you’ll have to open a new box of paper with those plastic box straps that can ONLY be cut . . . so you’ve gotta find scissors or a knife.
Through all of this, your phone is ringing and chirping INCESSANTLY – Seems everyone you called, texted, and emailed this morning has decided to respond NOW.
With every interruption, anxiety increases . . .
and you start making mistakes.
With each mistake comes need for a ReDo and more precious time off the clock.
In spite of all of the above, you make it to your car (panting) at 2:40 . . . feeling good that it is still mathematically possible for you to be on time for the uber-important 3:00 appointment.
As you pull out of the parking garage, reality sets in . . . as James Taylor’s song “Damn this traffic jam” plays on the radio.
You’re DOOMED!
At this point, you have choices . . .
Continue to freak out and cause a traffic accident or give yourself a heart attack.
or
Pace yourself . . .
Let it ALL go!
BREATHE!
Call the person you are to meet at 3 and, with appropriate apology, let them know you will be “fashionably late” by about 20 minutes.
NOW . . . the MOST important part of this “Pacing Yourself” . . .
Plug in your favorite music and CRANK IT UP!
Enjoy the drive as you sing and dance to the music.
Arrive at 3:20 refreshed and HAPPY!
Guess what?
You could have made that choice to pace yourself sooner 🙂
Maybe next time, eh?
(all in the name of promoting a kinder, gentler, happier life experience)
PS . . . For me . . . It’s Jimmy Buffet with all of the car windows and sunroof open . . . By the time I reach the destination, I’m usually sporting a full blown Afro.