Does anything really good happen before 9 a.m.?
I am firmly convinced it doesn't. And please, folks, don't ask me to meet with you before 9 a.m. You might have something important to say, but for me it's the equivalent of fingernails scratching a blackboard.
I just think talking before noon is unnecessary. I am perfectly fine with other people talking before noon; I just pray they don't want a response from me.
We all have our own rhythms when certain things "click" and others don't. I am my most intellectually creative between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m.. After 9:00 a.m., I have to work harder at it. When I have to think "big thoughts," I will set my alarm to get up early: to write, or draw, or think. But, not to talk -- I can't tell anyone about my revelations until late morning.
I always explain my reluctance to talk before 11 a.m. like this: It's like putting my size 8 feet into size 7 shoes. I can stuff my feet into the smaller shoes, and I might even be able to stand on them, but there is no way I can walk even 20 feet. Ouch!
I accept that there are obligations at work that do not always fit nicely into one's own personal rhythms. Adapting to our environment makes life simpler and easier, but maybe not happier. Here's what I do: I try to find ways to compromise and be happy at the same time. I follow the schedule that business normally runs on -- it would be really inefficient if there were no meetings before noon -- and when it's up to me, I will schedule all talking events to start later than 11:00 a.m.
Do you know what your rhythms are? Have you even thought about it? Too often, we adapt rather than challenge the status quo. We go along with the majority. We often assume that the situation we're in is unchangeable. My advice: figure out what works best for you and ask. I think you will be surprised about how many other folks would gladly change the meeting time or location or duration of the meeting, but no one asked. What's the worst that can happen? No change? You're surviving the situation now, so worst case, it stays the same. And hey, it might even get better.
If you're the person who is chatty and raring to go at 7:00 a.m., good for you. Please, just don't sit next to me.