Recently I had a lunch appointment scheduled with a loan officer, unhappy at her current place of employment and admittedly eager to meet with me to discuss the unique things we are doing and the possibility of joining my mortgage company to help take her business to the next level.

The morning of our scheduled meeting, she flaked.  Her reason…woke up late; lots of loan stuff to work on; yada-yada-yada (enjoy Seinfeld clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6kRqnfsBEc)  She then proposed we connect again at a later time.

I don’t think so.

Here’s the scoop:  When you cancel last minute on people, you are essentially saying, “My time and priorities are worth more than yours.”

You are showing a lack of respect for others as well as a lack of professionalism.  You’re showcasing that your business is unorganized and that you are unable to manage your commitments and promises effectively.

This also applies to showing up late to meetings.

Yes, I get it…things come up.  Sometimes they are extremely important and unavoidable.  Often times they are not.  But before you cancel your next meeting, or promise you made to someone else, think about how it reflects on you.  Because to the people who get it, and run a good business, and open doors of tremendous opportunity for you…it DOES reflect poorly on you.  And most likely, it won’t be their loss, but possibly yours.

Keep your commitments.  Show up on time.  Respect people’s time.  It’s the most precious resource we all have.  Don’t be flaky.