How many people do you know who can’t tell time? Nutty question? Everybody can read a clock! So one thinks — but think again.

Some people are perpetually late — late for meetings, late for church, late for the car appointment. Sometimes late works. Depends on the situation.

Dentists’ staff call to remind and some charge for no-shows or cancellations within 48 hours of an appointment. Dentists are very good at keeping their promise. If we don’t show — they have no income — yet have staff and overhead.

Some people set appointments with consultants and never show up. Most people who can’t tell time very well drop off the radar when the consultant requests a retainer and signed contract before the initial meeting. It seems people who have difficulty committing funds have trouble honoring the agreed-upon appointment. They are probably not totally committed to the project.

The quick call, “I will be 10 minutes late,” or “I’m lost, I’ll be there soon,” or “the car won’t start” are honorable and perfectly understandable. Things happen and knowing where the client is allows a quick adjustment to fill the delay.

Professional punctuality lacking

On the other side, almost everyone deals with a professional office that can’t tell time. A lawyer who billed her doctor for unreasonable hours spent in the waiting room proved a point. Yes, doctors deal with emergencies, and we happily sit when necessary being ever so thrilled we are not the emergency. But not every day. Some offices are great. Some always overbook — or in one case, the professional insists on incremental patient bookings 1½ hours before his planned arrival.

Technology one cure

As technology evolves, we make less in-person appointments and more phone appointments. Before, during and after a phone call, documentation can be flipped over the Internet. Entire projects can be done by mail, phone and Internet without meeting. Some even use webcams.

It is great when a phone-appointment client calls within one or two minutes before or after the scheduled time. It proves the caller is organized and respects the recipient of the call.

Charlene Maurer Finerty owns Plans and Profits, primarily a business plan writing service. She also presents workshops, teaches business plan writing and cleans up unorganized offices and backlogs. For more information, go to plansandprofits.com, call 343-1515 or e-mail charlene@plansandprofits.com.