Time is of the Essence
In land sales contracts, parties may choose to insert language stating that “time is of the essence." This language represents the parties’ intent to depart from the default provision of allowing reasonable time for performance when the closing cannot occur on its agreed-upon date. When time is of the essence, and one party cannot close on the date specified in the land sales contract, either party can terminate the real estate transaction. Finishing long-term projects at work and traveling to Lyon with Cody, my good friend from high school, made me contemplate the professional and personal situations in which time is of the essence.
I have only thirteen days left in the office before my internship ends. Because I want to have ownership over my work and finish all of my assignments, time is of the essence.
Shaun and I have spent the past two weeks striving to bring IBJ’s Human Resources Manual and Accounting Manual into compliance with U.S. law. We have read, analyzed, and discussed the applicable sections of the Code of Federal Regulations; researched other non-profit organizations’ policies and procedures; modified IBJ's manuals; obtained feedback from our supervisors; and completed revisions based on that feedback.
Executing these tasks has allowed me to engage with director-level staff and provided me with valuable insights into IBJ’s vision, corporate strategy, strengths, weaknesses, and future opportunities. Getting such high-level perspectives on IBJ and using my developing legal skills to help improve IBJ’s organizational health and stability has been highly rewarding. Furthermore, learning about the ways in which laws and regulations impact non-profit organizations’ agility, autonomy, and financial decision-making has made me passionate about helping organizations comply with the law while also innovating and mitigating risk in highly regulated international industries.
As Shaun and I wrap up our compliance work, I am also trying to apply my knowledge of Washington, D.C., to help organize a gala fundraiser in D.C. this winter. I consulted with professional event planners in my personal and professional networks and, based on their feedback and my own research, developed a work plan for the fundraising team. Time definitely is of the essence in planning this event because venues book months in advance, and many of our prominent invitees also schedule their time months in advance.
Feeling like I have so much to do in so little time leads me to put pressure on myself to work as much as possible before I leave for the summer. At the same time, I feel pressure to make the most out of my remaining time abroad by exploring Geneva and the surrounding areas. This is just about the best problem anyone could have, and I am grateful to have a job I enjoy in a location I love. Although time is of the essence in both my personal and professional pursuits, experiencing time-related pressure in such an overwhelmingly fortunate way is giving me a new appreciation for tight deadlines.
My conversations with Cody last weekend illustrated that, in life and work, missing one opportunity often frees people up for other, equally great or even better opportunities later. While we walked the sleepy streets of our small hometown, Cody and I used to dream about how much fun it would be to study in Europe at the same time and take trips together. He decided to accept a scholarship to get his Master’s degree in offshore wind engineering immediately after finishing his undergraduate degree. I considered following his example and trying to study abroad immediately after graduating from Wake Forest, but, at that time, I was not ready to leave the United States for two years.
Forgoing the opportunity to study abroad immediately after college allowed me to take advantage of other formative opportunities. I was fortunate enough to work at an elite economic and financial litigation consulting firm, accept a scholarship to William & Mary Law, and intern at IBJ this summer. I still got my chance to continue my education and live and work abroad again. Moreover, in the past two years, Cody and I have traveled to four European countries together. When I think about how many new skills I have learned; how many impactful people I have met; and the manifold ways in which my new friends, mentors, and colleagues have helped me to grow as a person, I would not change a thing.
Realizing that time is of the essence makes decision-making more stressful, but it also creates an invigorating sense of urgency that motivates people to prioritize and overcome inertia. Missing an opportunity due to unforeseeable circumstances or poor timing can be frustrating, but embracing the adventure of moving forward in a previously unexplored direction can lead to unexpectedly wonderful experiences. Thinking about my work and travels this way is helping me to appreciate and take full advantage of the opportunities I have and to avoid unproductively agonizing over what could have been if life had unfolded just a bit differently.
Weekend in Lyon
