Email Chains Bite

“Retainer” is one of those “slippery” words. For instance, for you, it may mean “In addition to the tasks that are pre-defined, the client can and will contact me whenever they really need me, within an agreed monthly budget of x hours.” For the client, that same agreement may sound more like Read more…

Early and Often

As human beings, we all have boundaries, limits, and “lines in the sand” we promised ourselves not to cross. This applies to price, as well as personal or ethical limits. Since they are subjective and personal in nature, it may seem unprofessional to flaunt them or even mention them at all until absolutely necessary. In most Read more…

Thawing hell

There’s Nothing More Permanent Than A Temporary Measure, said Milton Friedman. In a (kinda) post COVID world, these words have an even more ominous meaning. But let’s talk about the advantages of the same principle, specifically in the context of two tough decisions that are hard to boldly state out Read more…

Beach Ball Rules

Fortunately, most client negotiations don’t follow the hard-nosed, down-to-brass-tacks tumble that is expected when you are buying a car or a bunch of radishes from a hard-core farmers market lady. If all is well and the client knows why experts can’t be treated like they grow on trees, the actual negotiations we usually face use Read more…

Compromised

Compromise in price signals compromise in value. If I buy cheaper potatoes, I anticipate throwing away more bad parts. If I buy a cheaper house, I know I’m going to have to fix her up, walk more, or pay more for utilities. As a rule, when we are talking about interchangeable, commodity-type goods and services, which the clients know Read more…