A wristwatch can be off by a few minutes and nobody minds. A promise that’s off by a few weeks gets remembered.

Accuracy matters differently depending on what is being measured. Nobody audits a watch, because a few minutes out costs nothing, while a commitment that slides by weeks changes what people can expect from you. Small errors in time are forgettable. Small errors in reliability add up into a reputation.

Look at the promises you have outstanding, the casual ones included. Deliver one that is overdue this week and give a real date for the next. If you cannot do something, say so early, which is the cheapest moment it will ever be to say.