Insistent for efficiency

Better ask three questions too many than miss one answer later: It may cost time in the beginning, but it will save more in the end.

A client, irritated by my never ending stream of questions that he couldn’t see were in any way related to what he was hiring me to do, once snapped at me, “I really don’t have the time to explain my business to you starting from Adam and Eve.”

I answered, “I’m very sorry to bother you, but believe me, the more time you invest now answering my questions, the more time you will save afterwards by not having to go through too many rebriefing rounds.”

When the project was over, the client said, “Thank you very much, Peter. I’d never have thought it was even possible to finish this in such a short time.” I said, “Thank you very much for your willingness to help me thoroughly understand the challenges of your business so I could get right to the point.”