This morning, out of the blue (literally), it was pouring with rain. As usual, I had my laptop, clothes, shoes and car keys ready the night before and my alarm set for 5.45, and I set off for our morning meeting in the city. On a normal day the 20-minute drive gets me there at 6.25, with time to decide whether to stop for a takeaway coffee. Today, with heavier traffic and poor visibility, I arrived at 6.35, still with time to spare.

Travelling from the North, I was lucky. An accident on the freeway south of the city made for a tough morning for anyone coming from that direction, and plenty of people were held up through no fault of their own. It was a good reminder that we cant control the weather or the traffic, only how much buffer we give ourselves.

It got me thinking about how we approach the things we really care about. For a client meeting, a job interview or an international flight, most of us would set the alarm a little earlier and leave plenty of time, just in case. I know I would.

Our weekly meeting deserves a bit of that same thinking. Its where the relationships that lead to work get built, and the time we give each other is part of that. The more consistently we all turn up, the more we all get out of it.

Of course, life happens. A pre-planned absence is perfectly fine, especially with a heads-up and, where possible, someone to stand in for you. And if youre unwell, please stay at home and look after yourself, just drop a quick message so nobody is left wondering. Its simply about letting each other know.

As the old saying goes, early is on time and on time is late. I’m not perfect at it either, but its a habit worth building, because the opportunities waiting for us usually go to whoever is there to take them.