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I used to think you could just 'wing it' with a client brief, but a project in Portland last fall changed my mind completely.
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jasonallen14d ago
See, I've had the total opposite happen. I tried over-prepping for a client once, had a binder full of notes and plans, and it just made the whole meeting feel stiff and weird. They wanted a conversation, not a presentation. Sometimes winging it, or at least keeping it loose, lets you actually listen and react to what they're saying in the moment. That Portland project might have needed structure, but for me, being too rigid can kill the vibe and you miss the real point.
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jason_lewis314d ago
Totally get what you mean about killing the vibe, @jasonallen. I did the same thing last month, brought a whole slide deck to a coffee chat. The guy just shut down, it was like talking to a wall. Felt like I was giving a lecture instead of solving his problem. Now I just jot down three bullet points and try to have a real talk.
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kelly38513d ago
Yeah, the "winging it" part is where I get stuck. Isn't there a middle ground between a full slide deck and just going in blind? Like, you still need to know your stuff, but the binder makes it a one-way street. Maybe the three bullet points idea is that sweet spot where you're prepped but still flexible.
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That Portland story hits home, @jasonallen. Finding that balance is so tricky because every client wants something a little different. You really have to read the room from the first handshake.
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