7:00 am-flight 1, My Lesson Learned

I had a 7:20 am flight Tuesday morning and got through security right at 7, maybe a little after, took a leisurely stroll down to my gate, after all I could see the gate from the security check point….

When I got to Gate 17, there was the normal gaggle of people sitting and chatting among themselves. I saw a young couple huddled up whispering to each other, there was the customary child running from seat to seat annoying anyone who would dare look up at him and of course your business traveler, dressed in the corporate uniform of suit coat and tie. He was reading the paper, sipping coffee and waiting for the flight announcement.

I glanced outside at the jetway and could see the plane was there, which is why I love early morning flights, there is never a delay, the plane is always there first thing in the morning…… I glanced at my watch but really, through instinct, knew there was time to walk across the hall and grab a newspaper…..actually two newspapers….I always buy the local paper no matter what city I’m in…I want to know what issues are affecting people locally and of course I have to get my daily national news “lite” from USA Today…….

As I make it to the register, I look back over at the gate, I see the same faces I saw earlier, they haven’t budged, so I walk back across the hall, take a seat and scan the front pages of the newspaper……. I look down at my watch and it’s 7:15…the door to the jet way is still closed, the ticket agents are where they are suppose to be, behind the counter, but I begin to wonder “shouldn’t we have boarded by now?”..........

Suddenly, I’m a little worried because my business partner, is also my traveling companion this morning and as I look around the area, he is no where to be found…… I quickly pull out my cell, push the speed dial and get his voice mail…..I leave the message that if he is going to be late to call me immediately, because we are about to board…Some times these cell phones don’t go through the first time……so I speed dial again…and get the same result…..

It’s now 7:20

I think to myself, “If I can get up in the morning and be where I’m suppose to be…the rest of the world can do the same”. So it’s time to ruffle a few feathers and find out why we aren’t boarding……I walk up to the ticket agent, with purpose and agenda, “ why haven’t we begun boarding the 7:20 flight?”…..

The nice ticket agent politely says “ we already have”….., I’m stunned….I sputter to her “I have been here for at least 15 minutes waiting for the announcement, me and all of these other people”….The agent smiles at me and says …..”Sir, these people are waiting for the 8 am flight”… “but lady, I can see the plane right there…it hasn’t even left the jet bridge”…..”I’m sorry, but we have closed the door and once we do, no one is allowed on board”

I stopped arguing with the lady and began to laugh at myself. I was struck by the irony of the situation…. I was the only person, who believed I was early for the 7:20 flight, those people who were truly early, truly prepared were on their way to their destination (and yes this included my business partner)… I was the only person still stuck, waiting and begging for an opportunity.…. This was kinda like a metaphor, wasn’t it?……while everyone who is currently at Gate 17 is there, early, waiting and prepared for their 8 AM opportunity to arrive….….here I was waiting for my opportunity ( that I had earned… or…at least had paid for) and my chance has already packed up and was taking off ….How often is it that you can see your “big break” at the gate but you cant get on board?

My lesson learned…..Arriving at your opportunity in life only “15 minutes” early is just like being there “15 minutes” late.