Ear-ly: adverb, adjective, noun - before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time.
Earliness (related form - noun) is a word I tend to shy away from. Like a smoker talking about healthy pink lungs or a couch potato discussing marathon training, I avoid the topic of earliness not only because, in adjective form, it doesn't describe me, but also because I don't like "early." I don't really do "early."
Yesterday afternoon I'm dreamily feeling up each and every buttery leather handbag in Bergdorf, when I realize that it's 12:55 p.m. ET, and I have just enough time to get lunch and be back at my office before my 1:30 interview with my potential summer intern. Reluctantly, I put down the (bag) and go to Printon 56 for a spinach salad then back to my office. I arrive in my office at 1:14 and upon exiting the elevator, I am instantly horrified. The potential intern, who is supposed to meet me at 1:30, is in the small conference room chatting away with my boss. From the look of things, she has been here for at least five minutes, likely longer. They both turn to me, and she waves through the glass wall an annoying, "Hi, I'm here, and IIIIIIIII'm early! Early to show you that I really want to intern here! And early because I'm responsible and eager! Early! Early! Early!" Vomit.
To be fair, the potential intern is a lovely, smart, ambitious young lady who I am happy to have as a replacement for my less detail-oriented, somewhat snippy former intern. She is wide-eyed and curious and appears to have retained some of the glowing innocence that I haven't seen since I was 16. Okay 14. For her part, she's oblivious to my aversion to all things early, with the exception of early a.m. rising, which to my partial-dismay has creeped it's way into my life. (I wondered why I never see the parking lot attendant on my running route anymore. I figured he got a new job, just to discover that I now run before he gets to work. Again, vomit.)
More importantly though are the reasons I hate early:
1) Early people always have to wait, and I don't like waiting.
2) Intentional earliness is rude. If a designated time has been determined, one would only arrive early if you want to make the other person feel bad.
"Have you been here long?"
"Oh, only about 20 minutes."
"Oh, thanks for getting here early and making me feel like an asshole."
3) If someone can be early all the time, then they don't have enough to do. My boss has graciously accepted my lateness, because he knows that I have a mountain of tasks I'm set to accomplish on a given day.
4) Arriving to the airport early is COMPLETELY POINTLESS! The earlier you arrive, the longer you will have to wait. You don't miss your flight people! If you are there and the plane is there, they make sure you get on the plane. It's their JOB.
Acceptable forms of earliness:
1) Sample Sales. (Or any Sales in general). My mom and I once sat outside Nordstrom, Fashion Valley in San Diego and helped ourselves to coffee and donuts provided exclusively for the early sale-seekers.
2) If you aim to be drunk when the other person arrives. Acceptable.
Being on time is obviously best. But if you are taking me to dinner, and some readers likely are, then be advised to tell me the reservations are for 30 minutes prior to the actual time. Unless of course you aim to be drunk when I arrive, then you will have plenty of time to drink while you wait, Mr. Early Pants.
Well my dear Emma,
Who am I to check the clock upon your arrival into the office although I have not noticed you ever being significantly late, I also haven't noticed you being early.
But hey, I'm an early bird--I like getting to places early and having the chance to wait around a bit. Perhaps I have no life---nah, but if I can get a break from my life for all of 10 minutes because I've arrived someplace early, I'm all for it. :)
AND----is your intern gone. Gee, no one told me! :(
At any rate, I'm liking your blog. Have fun and keep me posted - pun intended.
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I would kindly like to disagree with you Ms. Dilemmma. I believe early is better than late.
How does the saying go, "better safe than sorry" particularly on something important as an interview or a date with someone you are excited about.
Waiting is always a little bit annoying. So maybe you are right, people set themselves up to be annoyed when they arrive somewhere and have to wait. But I think people who are early are aware they will have to wait until the schedule time. But nothing is more annoying than waiting for someone who is late.
Using your example, I think you would be 5x more annoyed if your intern showed up a few minutes late after you busted you butt to get back (might I point out, early - 1:14) to interview her. I would even guess if I didn't know how fair you are, you may not hire her just because she was late.
So, don't hate on the early birds particularly Mr. Early Pants...it probably just means he is very excited to see you and doesn't want to be late!
Love you!
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What are your thoughts on being "on-time"?
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what up emma its pete i read your thing about early people what really bugs me is late people if i get someplace ontime and the person i have to meet is 20 minutes late its like some people walk around always on vacation!!it pisses me off any way your very creative i will subscribe to your blog lets hang sometime!! pete xx
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Emma,
Your website is impressive.
Your writing is suspenseful.
I eagerly read left to right as fast as I can, to see the next inexplicably well observed and detail oriented analysis. Which is more than I can say about some of the most professionally acclaimed WWD articles.
You are on to something!
Keep up the good work...
Fashionably,
LiHi
Ps..."Early" I like 3 minutes early, since I was born on the 30th day of the 3rd month at 6:34am. We all know 30 min. early is for "Pocket Protector" PeePs.
20 minutes early: "brOwn-nOsers." 10 minutes early: "ScarEdy-CaTs"; just enough time to look eager and be called into the interview before they WET their paNts! 5 min. early: professional. 3 min. early: a well conducted and fashionable representative.
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Emma,
I couldn't agree with you more! I am never early to any destination and I tend to have an opinion on those who are early. I strongly believe that "if someone can be early all the time, then they don't have enough to do. " An old colleague of mine was always early to work. Compared to my on-time or tardy arrival to the office, he seemed on top of his game and organized. But, a deeper look into his life revealed that he lived at home where he was pampered with laundry, lunch, and mommy. Of course he was early, his biggest task each day was simply getting to work. Some schedule, huh. I, on the other hand, tend to fill every moment of every day with some activity, leaving me on the go and on time, or regrettably late. That said, I am proud of my various accomplishments and my full schedule, but resentful of my early counterparts. The problem is: early is perceived to be good. It connotes success and preparation. The challenge people like you and I face is how to change the perception and reveal the benefits of not being early. Good start with this post.
:)
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Emma-
Liking the blog entries. I especially related to this one. Would have written to compliment you earlier - but that wouldn't be me.
Anne
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