Want to be successful in school, your career, relationships, life in general?

Then be on time.

Such a simple – yet increasingly difficult – concept for many these days. See if this sounds familiar:

You’re sitting in a restaurant. You agreed to meet your friend at 11:30 am for lunch. At exactly 11:30 am, you get a text from your friend telling you they are “on the way.” At 11:50 am, they finally show up, complaining about the traffic, their children, the line at the hardware store, their digestive problems, the solar eclipse, etc.

Admittedly, I used to be more accepting of this kind of nonsense. But then it dawned on me.

How come I’m always able to arrive on time while others seem perpetually challenged in this area?

Maybe it’s selfishness.

Some people apparently think their time is more important than mine. And when my friend does get there — 20 minutes late — they seldom seem genuinely remorseful that I had to sit there making small talk with the server until they decided to make their debut.

On the plus side, I’ve gotten to know some really interesting servers over the last few years.

Everyone has a story to tell, and servers are among some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.

On the negative side, now I have to scarf down lunch so I can make it to my next appointment  — since I have no intention of being late for that. At this point, my friend usually says something inane like “You seem rushed.” Are they really that clueless?

Maybe it’s a symptom of the times in which we live.

Our lives certainly seem more hectic now than in the past. But when did our schedules — over which we ostensibly have control — become a legitimate rationale for not being on time?

Look, I’ll put my itinerary up against anybody’s so your claim that you have “too much to do” carries very little weight with me. I literally have tons of things going on, yet I always seem to show up at the designated time. Why should I have to suffer when you’ve overextended yourself and/or lack self-discipline?

Maybe it’s a generational thing.

I keep hearing that the current generation views time differently. Of all the baseless excuses that have been offered for not being on time, this is probably the lamest.

Bad behavior shouldn’t be overlooked simply because a bunch of people who are all about the same age do it. If something is unacceptable, it’s unacceptable regardless of whether one person or a million engage in it.

To me, this is similar to someone who uses their “personality” as a justification for being a jerk.

Regardless of what you may have heard, “That’s just the way I am” is not a valid reason for treating people poorly.

We tend to get what we are willing to put up with.

The bottom line is that if there are no consequences for not being on time, then we shouldn’t expect anyone to make it a priority.

Want people to show up on time? Send a strong signal that this is not going to be tolerated — at least where you are concerned.

If they don’t show up at the restaurant when they said they would, leave.

If they don’t turn in the assignment by the due date, give them an “F.”

If they are late to the meeting, don’t let them participate in it.

If they don’t show up for work on time, fire them.

Too harsh? We can talk about it. Let’s set up a time.

— Aaron W. Hughey is a university distinguished professor in the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs at Western Kentucky University.