Carefully vetting clients and their projects will help ensure everyone is aligned before starting and expectations are met. Alignment on direction, stage of maturity, authority and resources you’ll be afforded, and the proposer’s willingness and authority to begin and approve decisions throughout, are starting examples of qualifying criteria that will help you avoid diverging during the project.
As your expertise gains prominence and authority, opportunities will come your way that may be meaningful, but not necessarily aligned with your approach. They’re a good idea, just not your great idea.
Many of us developed our unique perspective by taking these opportunities and realizing what was missing, and what was needed.
Now, with the challenge to connect more people with your vision, and drive action, each commitment takes on a new criteria: how this will contribute to my agenda.
Time on less-aligned commitments is time not invested in more rewarding endeavors. The opportunity cost is more examples of success that clearly demonstrate your idea’s value and credibility.
There are some simple questions you can use to interrogate new opportunities. Does the opportunity align with, and contribute to, my singular approach? Will I be able to share it as an example of how my expertise has benefited others? Or are they just looking to utilize my capability for their methodology?
