Thank Goodness It's Monday #427

SOME TIMELY IDEAS

ABOUT COMMUNICATING

ABOUT TIME

The folks in Washington D.C. are running down to deadlines – again. And they’re sending all manner of muddled messages about who will or won’t do what by when.

 

So what else is new? 

 

I know. And while I’m tempted to spill out yet another “negotiating” TGIM missive to remind us more practical, must-get-stuff-done folks how to be accommodating and work toward mutually beneficial resolutions, I’ll resist. 

However, with the attention on deadlines gaining headlines, it also occurs to me that it might be a good opportunity to consider how, especially in daily chatting or correspondence, we can be fairly casual about time.

And while casual is sometimes OK, sometimes it’s necessary to be more precise about what we mean.

Case in point: Later today – the 23^rd – you receive an inquiry from overseas that needs a definitive answer by noon on the 24^{th --} otherwise kiss that big-dollar deal goodbye.

Whose noon? Yours or theirs? 

See how time can change the meaning of words?

TGIM ACTION IDEA: Be aware that, especially in business, someone some day might need to try to interpret your statements in terms of precise time. Think in advance about what you mean, in clock time and calendar time, and state your case precisely. If exact time is important, spell it out.

TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: Here are a few generally accepted “rules” about time (they’re what statutes and lawyers accept, generally)  and exceptions to watch for.

►A day is 24 hours, usually.

It means a 24-hour day, between one midnight and the next. It becomes important if, for example, in your correspondence it’s critical to set an effective date or an expiration date such as when insurance coverage begins or ends.

 

But the “day” may change by custom or statute. So it may end at the end of the usual business day without two business people saying so explicitly. So if there’s doubt, spell out what you mean.

►A month is a calendar month, usually. 

January is a month. February is a month. But each has a considerably different number of days and, in the case of February, even those may differ. On the other hand, sometimes interest is computed according to a uniform 30-day month. So the meaning of “month” to a loan officer is much more precise.

When you write or say “month,” realize you are probably dealing with a period of time rather than a fixed number of days. If the exact number is important, use it.

►A year is a calendar year, usually. 

Right now, if we were to talk about “next year,” the general assumption would be that we’re talking about 2014 – the 12 calendar months, January 1 through December 31.

But that can easily change. For example: how about your company’s fiscal year? Is it the same as the calendar year? For many outfits it isn’t. So if the treasurer is talking with the auditor and they’re talking “year,” which is it?

Or how about a year-long lease, starting October 15? It’s over when? In 365 days (366 in a leap year.)

►The time to do something excludes the first day and includes the last, usually. 

Lawyers have this rule locked down fairly tight since it can affect such things as filing papers in court. So, if, on October 15, the judge says Ms. Attorney has 10 days to file a paper, she doesn’t start counting that day. The first full day is understood to be October 16 making the last day for filing October 25.

 

But watch your language. The rule doesn’t apply if it’s clear that the first day is included. Like the lease we talked about above. We said it starts on October 15. Then the 15^th is the first day because we said, in effect, it counts.

TIMELY TGIM IDEA: Don’t depend on the rules of time. If it needs pinning down exactly and you can control the rules, do it yourself. Say it or write it now the way you want it to be understood and there won’t be any fuss later.

If precise clock time is important, spell it out: 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

If the day deadline is to be precise, spell it out, converting the day to a date.

TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: Suppose today … September 23, 2013 … at midnight local time … is the last chance to cash the overlooked winning Multi-Mega-Bazillions Lottery Ticket perhaps hiding since last winter in your ski jacket pocket.

Have you missed your opportunity? 

Hope not. The official US Time clock with time zone breakouts and accurate within 0.2 seconds is HERE. 

So we’ll end this TGIM now so you can go check.

Good luck. And if it’s a winner, please remember who got you moving in a timely fashion.

In it to win it.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373

tgimguy@gmail.com

 

P.S.  “There is a critical Minute for all Things.” Chronicler of adages and proverbs Thomas Fuller (1654 –1734) noted that timely observation about timing in 1732 (to be precise).