I’ve been talking to some clients who ask some interesting questions. They’re akin to this analogy:
I need to make my car go faster. This can be done by making it more aerodynamic. Can you tell me the best way to remove the windshields from my car so that air flows through better?
They’ve got spirit, but I guess it’s just knowledge that they’re lacking; knowledge that I shouldn’t assume that they already have.
So I have foolishly said to them, “What you need is nitrous. This will make your car go faster.”
And their reply is, expectedly, “I’ve never heard of nitrous. What I want is less window.”
At this point, my frustration level peaks and I simply tell them how to remove their windows.
Now, I realize that I’m not doing my best job here. I should be convincing them of their need for nitrous. But really, I don’t feel compelled to present a lengthy argument (that they’re not likely to read, anyway) discussing the many advantages of using nitrous oxide over a windowless car when it should be apparent (as it is to me) that cars have glass in their window frames for a reason.
Assuming they were even interested in the advantages of my proposal, can I boil it down for them into language they understand that also creates a compelling argumet for moving forward?
Sometimes it’s just a matter of doing exactly what they ask for and consigning one’s self to cleaning up the mess afterward. Perhaps I’ll even sneak some NO2 under the hood and casually mention the button I’ve added to the dash when it’s all done.
