Delivering quality work on or ahead of time is a core commitment for any team, as meeting deadlines is essential to success. One effective practice that makes this possible is a simple yet powerful habit: starting early.
We’ve all experienced how getting ahead can help achieve and even exceed our goals—whether it’s gathering requirements, planning, or execution. Starting early isn’t just about being punctual; it’s about giving ourselves the time to think, improve, and deliver our best work.
When we start early, we’re working with time as an ally, not a constraint. It’s a game changer to be ahead of the curve. We give ourselves room to approach tasks with clarity and focus, identify potential issues before they become urgent, and refine our work without the looming pressure of tight deadlines or irate clients. We can explore creative solutions and enhancements that might otherwise be sidelined by urgency, and as a result, we can deliver not only what’s expected but what’s exceptional. By being early, we give ourselves power over our outcomes and that sets us up to deliver excellence the first time.
Contrast this with the chaos of doing a task on the verge of its deadline. By starting early, we enable a culture of proactive problem-solving rather than reactive damage control. When errors come up, we’re not scrambling to correct them but carefully addressing them, ensuring the highest quality without sacrificing our deadline commitments.
As Jocko demonstrates in the media below, being early, even in the simplest form of waking up before the world does, can make all the difference. It strengthens our odds of being productive and successful throughout the day. When we are ahead, we operate with confidence and control. Clients will see that difference in our preparedness and thus, trust our commitment to delivering outstanding results.
With this lesson in mind, may we all be champions of the early start. Let’s take that first step sooner and give ourselves the advantage of time whether it’s in planning, execution, or delivery.
Do keep in mind, however, that the real advantage of time isn’t found in having more of it, but in making the most of what we already have. So make every moment count. Be strategic, be intentional, and use the time you’re given wisely. The goal is not just to manage time, but to master it.
