The phrase "If you are on time, you are late" (often expanded to "Early is on time, on time is late, late is unacceptable") isn't abstract philosophy—it's a lived reality for countless people across cultures, careers, and life stages. Here are some real-life stories and experiences that bring this principle to life, showing how it plays out in practice and why it sticks.From Japanese Business Culture: The Meeting Room SurpriseA foreign teacher in Japan once shared a telling first-day experience. Arriving exactly on time for their initial faculty meeting, they opened the door expecting to join others settling in—only to find the room already full, everyone seated and ready several minutes earlier. The unspoken rule hit hard: in Japanese professional settings, "on time" feels late because colleagues arrive 5–10 (or even 15) minutes early to prepare, show respect, and maintain harmony (wa).
Being precisely punctual can signal a lack of foresight or consideration. Many expats and businesspeople in Japan learn this the hard way—arriving "on time" means walking into a room of quiet judgment, prompting apologies and a rush to catch up. The buffer isn't optional; it's expected courtesy.
One of the Executives I worked for had this dictum : "Don't perform to Plan , Perform better than the Plan"Military Discipline: Boot Camp to Civilian LifeVeterans frequently credit basic training with embedding this mindset permanently. One former U.S. Army recruit described arriving at boot camp hearing the drill: "15 minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late means trouble." Showing up even a minute late could trigger push-ups, extra duty, or public correction—reinforcing that reliability starts with presence. Years later, as civilians, many still feel anxious arriving "just" on time to meetings. A retired Army veteran turned program manager at a health company noted he now apologizes when joining civilian Zoom calls right at the start time—because in the military, that felt late. The habit lingers: early arrival means calm preparation, while "on time" carries residual guilt.NFL Coaching: Tom Coughlin's "Five Minutes Early" RuleFormer New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin famously enforced: if you weren't five minutes early to team meetings, you were late—and fined. Players grumbled (some were docked hundreds of dollars for arriving exactly on time), but Coughlin lived it himself. He once recounted nearly blowing a key college coaching interview in his 20s because he lost his car keys while aiming to arrive 10–15 minutes early. He made it just in time—but the close call cemented his belief.
The rule helped build Super Bowl-winning discipline, though it frustrated players who saw "on time" as sufficient. Coughlin's approach shows how this principle scales in high-stakes teams: margins create mental edge and trust.Personal Anecdotes: From Family Teachings to Daily HabitsMany trace it back to parents or mentors. One writer described their dad always showing up 15–20 minutes early to everything—from family events to appointments—instilling "early is on time, on time is late." It became second nature. Another person lives by it so fiercely they'd rather wait an hour than risk five minutes late, sprinting through heat or paying surge fares to honor commitments. A common story: chronically late friends or partners face family tricks, like telling them events start an hour earlier (one wedding story involved an artist groom still arriving late despite the ruse). On the flip side, punctual people often feel frustrated waiting—yet stick to the rule because it builds self-respect and stronger relationships.
These stories highlight the same truth: arriving early isn't clock-watching—it's proactive respect, stress reduction, and quiet leadership. Whether from a Japanese meeting room, a military chow hall, an NFL locker room, or a family driveway, the lesson compounds: build the buffer, control the moment, earn the trust.
Next time your calendar says 10:00, ask: Are you aiming for "on time"… or are you actually planning to be late?
Being precisely punctual can signal a lack of foresight or consideration. Many expats and businesspeople in Japan learn this the hard way—arriving "on time" means walking into a room of quiet judgment, prompting apologies and a rush to catch up. The buffer isn't optional; it's expected courtesy.
One of the Executives I worked for had this dictum : "Don't perform to Plan , Perform better than the Plan"Military Discipline: Boot Camp to Civilian LifeVeterans frequently credit basic training with embedding this mindset permanently. One former U.S. Army recruit described arriving at boot camp hearing the drill: "15 minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late means trouble." Showing up even a minute late could trigger push-ups, extra duty, or public correction—reinforcing that reliability starts with presence. Years later, as civilians, many still feel anxious arriving "just" on time to meetings. A retired Army veteran turned program manager at a health company noted he now apologizes when joining civilian Zoom calls right at the start time—because in the military, that felt late. The habit lingers: early arrival means calm preparation, while "on time" carries residual guilt.NFL Coaching: Tom Coughlin's "Five Minutes Early" RuleFormer New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin famously enforced: if you weren't five minutes early to team meetings, you were late—and fined. Players grumbled (some were docked hundreds of dollars for arriving exactly on time), but Coughlin lived it himself. He once recounted nearly blowing a key college coaching interview in his 20s because he lost his car keys while aiming to arrive 10–15 minutes early. He made it just in time—but the close call cemented his belief.
The rule helped build Super Bowl-winning discipline, though it frustrated players who saw "on time" as sufficient. Coughlin's approach shows how this principle scales in high-stakes teams: margins create mental edge and trust.Personal Anecdotes: From Family Teachings to Daily HabitsMany trace it back to parents or mentors. One writer described their dad always showing up 15–20 minutes early to everything—from family events to appointments—instilling "early is on time, on time is late." It became second nature. Another person lives by it so fiercely they'd rather wait an hour than risk five minutes late, sprinting through heat or paying surge fares to honor commitments. A common story: chronically late friends or partners face family tricks, like telling them events start an hour earlier (one wedding story involved an artist groom still arriving late despite the ruse). On the flip side, punctual people often feel frustrated waiting—yet stick to the rule because it builds self-respect and stronger relationships.
These stories highlight the same truth: arriving early isn't clock-watching—it's proactive respect, stress reduction, and quiet leadership. Whether from a Japanese meeting room, a military chow hall, an NFL locker room, or a family driveway, the lesson compounds: build the buffer, control the moment, earn the trust.
Next time your calendar says 10:00, ask: Are you aiming for "on time"… or are you actually planning to be late?