The moral, explained
Chief Bonk called a meeting: when the sun is high, at the big rock. Oog was early. Grub sent a drum message: on my way. Then: almost there. Then: two minutes. At sunset Grub finally arrived, and so did everyone else, even the Chief. The meeting began, and Oog had waited so long he fell asleep.
Everyone knows the friend who is always late, and most of us have been them at least once. "On my way" is rarely a lie on purpose. It's optimism: the moment you decide to leave feels like leaving. But the person waiting doesn't experience your intentions, only the time. Ten minutes late, every time, adds up to hours of someone else's life spent standing at a rock.
The quieter lesson is about the person who's early. If the meeting never starts on time, being early stops being rewarded, and eventually even Oog will start sending drum messages.
Try this today
Next time you're running late, send the real time instead of "on my way": "I'll be there at 6:20." It's less comfortable to write and much kinder to read. And if you're always the one waiting, it's fine to start without them.
Talk about it
What's the longest you've waited after an "on my way"?
