Do The Thing With The Thing
A client is going over a design with me.
Client: âOh itâs really really close, but thereâs just one thing missing.â
Me: âAlright, tell me.â
Client: âRemember that one thing I said six months ago? Make it look like that.â
Me: âDo you remember?â
Client: âActually, no, but make it look like that. You need to remember everything Iâve ever said, ever. Make it do that thing. Make it do that.â
Me: âAbout 80% of the time you change your mind and actually admit it and tell me so I donât bill you. Thatâs why we have these meetings. You actually have said that before too.â
Client: âThis one thing was an exception. Total exception. Super important.â
Me: âThe thing you said six months ago?â
Client: âYes.â
Me: âThe thing that you yourself canât remember.â
Client: âYes. But I remember the long and short of what I said. Do it like that. Super super important.â
Me: âSure, Iâll get right on that.â
Client: âYou had better, Iâm not paying unless that thing I said six months ago is done exactly how I said it.â
I carefully donât bring this up for a few days and do nothing. They pay the invoice, and the project is complete.
Client: âGood, thanks, and it looks like you did that thing I said six months ago! Like I tell everyone here you are good overall, but sometimes we have to be firm with you and youâll do what we ask. Thanks again.â
Yeah sure, you tell them that.
















