No Time

By Lindy Earl

I heard a line when in my first real job. I was working in a pizza restaurant and, while it wasn’t usually my job to cut the pizza, one day it was. A manager, three levels above me, happened to be in the kitchen that day. I guess things were going along well, until I mis-cut a pizza. Since we sold pizza by the slice it was pretty important, but could be corrected. It happened all the time.

This manager, who had not complimented me by the way, said to me, “I thought you were pretty good, until now.” The compliment really should have been made earlier, before my error. But that’s not the point today.

My very poor response was, “Well, I was in a hurry.”  That’s when I heard the line that has remained with me until today.

“There is never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.”

He was absolutely right, and being the conscientious worker that I was, I took it to heart – so much so that the line remains with me today.

How often have we just gotten through, or what some people call giving it a lick and a promise, instead of taking the time to do a job well?

Now, I realize that some jobs do not need to be done well. Do we really need to tie a pretty bow on the trash bag when it’s about to be tossed? Of course not. And sometimes a lick and a promise has to be used because time really isn’t available. By the way, this term dates back 200 years (https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2012/10/a-lick-and-a-promise.html), and means exactly what it sounds like.

I have likened the concept of using time well – doing things right the first time – to other areas, such as finances. I acknowledged years ago that I am too poor to buy cheap. I’m not poor, but it’s a good reminder to invest in quality. Just the other day I was speaking with a friend about her out-of-date phone. She likes her phone and wants to keep it and considered replacing the battery. My point is that she’s fixing the ends, not the means, and after purchasing a battery she will probably still need to buy a new phone soon. Why not skip this step, and the expense, and just buy the new phone now?

Again, sometimes it makes sense to buy inexpensive items. For instance, when our children are having a second grade field day and need a blue t-shirt that they can paint and wear for, literally, one day, I think the $3 shirt will suffice.

I believe that we all want to use our money and time well. Nobody intentionally wastes their resources, yet we often see it happen. The concert tickets that couldn’t be used. The outfit that we were sure we would love but found itchy or uncomfortable. The furniture that just didn’t quite fit into the room. The evening we spent waiting for someone to arrive only to realize that the person is simply undependable. We learned.

We often only have one chance and should not squander it. Whether it’s a new hire, a report, a relationship, a major purchase – we want to get it right the first time.

I just remembered a song by Billy Joel, with the line, “Get it right the first time, that’s the main thing. Get it right the next time, that’s not the same thing.” True?

We only have one life to live, one shot at each year, one month of January, etc., one week this week, one Monday this week . . . you get the point. Are we living our lives well?

Do you have a good work/life balance? I know that term gets tossed around a lot today. I know a woman who claims work/life balance as she arrives exactly at 8am and leaves exactly at 5pm every day. That doesn’t guarantee work/life balance. That guarantees a schedule.

Life is so much more than where we spend our time! Do you enjoy your work, or are you doing it for a paycheck? Are you happy in your relationships, or just unwilling to be alone or make changes for fear of the unknown, or not wanting to be alone, or even for laziness? Are you using your money to do things that are important to you, or just doing what is expected in our society?

If you don’t want your kids to attend private school, then pull them out. If you do not want to go into debt in order to take a vacation, then do something different this year – a staycation or a visitation. In these cases, there is only one chance to do it right. If you use your time poorly, you can’t undo what you did.

We have all had great and less-great times in our lives. Sometimes you do need to just get along and go along. I get that. But sometimes we need to remind ourselves, that if we believe that there isn’t time to do it right, then we shall have to find time to do it over . . . or not, and our time and effort will be wasted and lost.

Make a decision to take time to do things right. Do your work incredibly well the first time. Spend time well, with people who matter. Walk away from toxic relationships, because you don’t want to spend time and energy on them. Do it right the first time, and you won’t have to do it over.

I would love to hear from you. Please comment and share your thoughts. If you like this article please share with your network!

Lindy is a Consultant, Speaker, and Writer, currently living in Atlanta, GA. She is The Business Coach focusing on Relationships through Communication, Leadership, and Corporate Culture. You will be more successful with Lindy as your Coach. Please contact her at [email protected].