The Importance of Being on Time

Time is one of the utmost valuable entities that we have while we’re alive. We need time to develop our personal characteristics and talent, understanding relationships. Nothing becomes instantaneous, nor is it happenstance when it comes to understanding the importance of time.

Everything in life requires time…from simply eating a meal to driving to a remote destination to developing a career. It is only thorough time that we are able to mature and develop wisdom through experiences we participate in as we move along our life’s journey. Time help us to set our priorities. Looking at the importance of time, we find that life is but a whisper—one day we are born, we grow up to experience an array of decision-making events (good and bad), and if we are fortunate to get to a ripe age, we leave this world—hopefully leaving a positive mark on society. In comparison to time, life goes by so fast. Time is one commodity that can be stored up and used for a later occasion—everyone has the exact amount of time in a day—24 hours.

In fact, time is so essential that there never seems to be enough of it and we tend to believe that if we only had more time we would be able to accomplish great things, or something productive like a develop a relationship, accomplish a project or task, or even just rest for a longer period of time. On the contrary, some believe that they have too much time on their hands and have not discovered a true sense of using time wisely.

While the management of time in terms of applying principles, skills tools and systems is essential from a military point of view, I’ve learned that the precision of time is extremely critical when it comes to collaborating operations in order to accomplish satisfactory results. Planning timed events not only does it save lives, but we learn to be an army in sequence and on one accord.

Not only have I heard echoed as long as I can remember catch phrases like, ‘time is money’, ‘seize the moment’ or ‘time is of the essence’, but I’ve learned that the consumption of time that is wasted cannot be retrieved and that time must be appreciated. When time is not cherished, causalities will develop in terms of seizing the perfect moment, taking advantage of the perfect scenario, or lost opportunities. Inappropriate use of time always affects others—it produces a domino effect. It’s gone forever.

For centuries, time has left its mark in history and many fallen heroes have paid the ultimate sacrifice because of it. Timing has also allowed us to commemorate victory in liberating countries out of the bondage of hatred and despair.

When time is taken more seriously, great accomplishments are made and outstanding memories grace the pages of history for all to know about. While none of us are perfect in any area of our lives, I’ve learned that we should get the most out of each day, and that we should enjoy life to the fullest; which helps us to understand the importance of every moment. Time allows us to recognize triumph and failure…especially when it comes down to military strategies. Through a series of strategically planned and comprehensive precisely timed events, which included all components such as the time of day, natural elements, environmental surroundings, scheduled events, and a host of other supportive circumstances, the Allied Airborne Operations during Operation Overlord, otherwise recognized as D-Day, is noted to this day for its historical success.

The landings were conducted in two phases and synchronized timing played a major role in this operation. The first landing of an airborne assault consisting of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French airborne troops arrived shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armored military on the coast of France that started at 6:30 a.m. sharp. The surprise attack was achieved thanks to inclement weather and set of comprehensive deception plans implemented many months before the landings. One deception plan, Operation Bodyguard was intentionally launched to distract the German’s attention from the possibility of landings in Normandy.

A key success was to convince Adolf Hitler that the landings would actually occur at another location. There were also decoy operations taking place simultaneously with the landings under the code names Operation Glimmer and Operation Taxable to distract the German forces from the real landing areas. These operations were successful because of timing and operating as an army of one clearly defined goal. Operation Market-Garden on the other hand was considerably an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War.

It was the largest airborne operation up to that time. While the beginning parts of the strategy plan were successful; the operation failed miserably because of lack of synchronized timing and delays, unforeseen circumstances and inadequate information which caused system breakdowns and total chaos near the end of the carefully strategized operation. The end resulted in severe negligence factors which left our military and allied forces trapped and vulnerable to enemy attacks, and unplanned resources had to be called in to evacuate and help support the initiative.

If this operation had been successful, it would have shortened World War II by six months but instead a prolonged war became inevitable. From sunrise to sunset, timing affects everything that we do. Timing should be treated with the upmost respect; because once time is used up…it cannot be recovered again. Whether time is wasted, mismanaged or even used wisely, it always has a significant bearing on others. Time can either help or hinder others from their achievements and we must all learn to be considerate of using someone else’s time wisely. Each day, I have decided to be more intentional in planning, and I am not the same person I was a year ago.

Within a year timep I now value time because past experiences have taught me not to take it for granted. One thing that I have learned for sure is that everyone experiences time differently, and I have decided take a conscience approach to use my time wisely.