You and I are both aware of how fast time seems to be passing us by. We greet each new day with optimism and before we know what hit us, we are brushing our teeth getting ready to hit the sack. We can all be heard asking ourselves, “Where did the day go?”
If we are lucky, we manage to cross off a few important items on our “To-Do” lists. More often than not, however, we find ourselves crossing off tasks that really could be ignored altogether. Welcome to the year 2024. The year of the rat race.
Procrastination has become a favorite practice for many of us, and the feel-good phrase, “Tomorrow is another day,” is a common remedy for what is commonly known as “laziness.”
Borrowing from a popular Wendy’s Hamburger ad from years past, “Where’s the beef?” Or, perhaps a more appropriate question could sound like “Mike, what is today’s message?”
Putting things off until the time is right may be okay for some chores, but for maintaining relationships such practice is unacceptable at best. The fact is, and dare I say the truth, is that the longer the timeframe between personal contact the harder it is to eventually make contact. Let me cite a recent personal example. (Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)
I consider a man named Robert to be one of the finest men I have ever met. I met Robert nearly 70 years ago when we were five. We spent the next 13 years attending school together. We stayed close throughout our college years, and then time took its toll. I remained Robert’s biggest fan but failed to stay in touch over the years.
I recently heard that Robert’s wife was stricken with a severe disease. I wanted to reach out to see if there was anything I was in a position to do. That is when it hit me. If I was so concerned, why hadn’t I stayed in touch with Robert over the years? Was I a friend in thought only? I hesitated to make the call that day for fear I would be interpreted as an empty suit. I eventually took a deep breath and made the call.
How I was received that day is of little interest at this time. The message revolves around why I was so hesitant to make the call. The answer has everything to do with allowing too much time to pass between contacts. I waited too long to reconnect. With a valued friend. You do not want this to happen to you, be it with friends, relatives or your good clients. This does not have to happen.
I’ll say it again. The more time that elapses between contacts, the harder it will be to reconnect and the more likely it will be that procrastination will raise its ugly head. So, today’s message (reminder) should now be clear. Pick up the phone. Write that personal note. Send that email. Reconnect.
Note: Robert was very glad I called and under the circumstances, we still managed to have fun catching up with a promise to stay in touch more frequently.
Mike Marchev is always looking for a few more proactive travel professionals to join his Sales and Marketing Club, mike@mikemarchev.com.
*** You want more to think about? Check out my weekly podcast (Miked Up Marchev). Also listed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and iHeartRadio.
One thought on “When You Wait Too Long”
This is such an important message.
Thanks!