Written by Mat Casner

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I had the experience of a lifetime in 2018.

My oldest daughter and I took a 10-day father-daughter trip to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the Winter Olympic Games.

It was such a special time.

I’ll never get another one like it.

We made some amazing memories together that I will never forget.

I had promised to take each of my kids to an Olympics as they graduated from high school.

Because of the COVID virus, the Olympic Games in Tokyo (2020) and Beijing (2022) were closed to spectators.

I was disappointed that we couldn’t go.

But not more disappointed than my son and second daughter who had missed their trips.

They totally understood, but it was still hard.

Well, fortunately, in about 8 days, I’ll be heading to Paris with my wife and other kids who haven’t been to the Olympics.

Our tickets to the top of the Eiffel Tower are booked.

I’m excited to get to make good on my promise to them.

Making promises can be dicey.

It’s great when you deliver.

But, it can be agonizing when you don’t.

I hated the thought that I couldn’t keep my promise to my younger kids, but with the COVID factor, I didn’t have much choice.

Still, the promise lingered in my mind, waiting to be fulfilled.

I remember early in my freelance design days.

I seemed to hand out promises like candy.

“Sure, I can do that… No problem!”

Like clock-work, those over-promises were sometimes hard to live up to.

And, could make me miserable.

But, my word is my bond.

And, I never wanted to go back on my word.

I learned my lesson.

Over time, I learned the opposite perspective is much better.

Rather… Under promise… Over deliver.

I’ve come to master the art of managing client expectations.

If you don’t promise the moon to your client, but you deliver it to them anyway, you look like a rock star.

And, you are able to deliver with a lot less pressure.

Promises are great.

Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of room to overdeliver.

Go Team USA!

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