Podcasts about Scope creep

Clients are brilliant. They show up with bright ideas and requests when you're already deep into a project. The concern with these mid-process changes is that it's very difficult to hit a moving target. These add-ons are known as scope creep, add time and expenses, and can require a change in direction and outcomes. Few freelancers appreciate scope creep. One way to reduce the likelihood of scope creep and even avoid it (the preferred idea) is to incorporate the creative brief into your process. A creative brief is a type of contract — a written agreement between you and the client — that describes a project's creative objectives. Coming to terms regarding design direction and desired results before you begin work on the project can keep scope creep from creeping in. A solid brief supports effective solutions, reduces stress, saves time, and helps ensure you and your client are in unity about their project. In this episode Alvalyn tackles the principles for using creative briefs, what to include, why to use them, and when. 

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!! Productized Services: The Hourly Trap Debunked | Pi & Piette 2.0 | Business Conversations Episode Summary: Is charging by the hour slowly killing your business before it even starts? In this episode of Business Conversations with Pi and Piette 2.0, AI voices PI and Piette tackle one of the most critical decisions every founder faces: should you charge hourly or package your skills into a productized service from day one? Spoiler — the data says ditch the hourly model immediately. Drawing from John Warrillow's Built to Sell, Paul Jarvis' Company of One, a Journal of Business Research academic paper, and a raw interview with agency founder Brad Martin, this episode gives you a complete roadmap for building a service business that generates predictable revenue, eliminates scope creep, and ultimately doesn't need you in the room to run. What You'll Learn: Why the hourly billing model traps you in a revenue-for-effort death spiralThe three mandatory traits of a true productized service: specified, branded, pricedWhat the LUX Hotels Cinema Paradiso experience teaches us about mental tangibilityHow Brad Martin's Google Doc discovery process doubled his efficiency overnightThe "Jam Session" method for eliminating scope creep without damaging client relationshipsWhy retainers and recurring revenue are NOT the same thing — and which one actually builds business valueThe one question that forces you to stop thinking like an employee of your own companyTimestamps: [00:00:00] – Introduction & Today's Listener Question[00:01:30] – The Menu-Less Chef: Why the Custom Hourly Model Is Broken[00:03:00] – Brad Martin's Story: Giving Away the Farm Before the Contract[00:04:30] – The Hourly Trap: Why Your Business Becomes Unsellable[00:05:30] – Bespoke vs. Productized: Why the Tailor Analogy Actually Proves Our Point[00:06:30] – What Is a Productized Service? The Academic Definition[00:07:00] – The Cinema Paradiso Framework: Specified, Branded, Priced[00:08:00] – Mental Tangibility: Why Packaging Makes Clients Feel Safe[00:09:30] – Minimum Viable Profit: Paul Jarvis' Day-One Strategy[00:10:00] – Brad Martin's Google Doc Epiphany[00:11:30] – The Embarrassment Test: Launch Ugly, Launch Now[00:12:00] – Jam Sessions: The Genius Fix for Scope Creep[00:13:00] – Retainers vs. Recurring Revenue: A Critical Distinction[00:14:30] – Final Verdict & The Blank Check Thought Experiment[00:15:30] – Submit Your Question & Wrap-UpResources Mentioned:

There is a number sitting inside your business right now that you have never calculated. It is the total of every hour you worked this year that you never sent an invoice for. The follow-up calls. The quick questions. The over-delivery. The free consults that turned into coaching sessions. In this episode, I am walking you through six places this is showing up in your business, doing the actual math on what it is costing you every year, and giving you a sharper way to think about pricing your packages so the work you deliver and the money you earn finally line up. If you have ever closed out a strong month and wondered why your bank account did not reflect the effort, press play. This is the episode that changes how you price your next offer. Key Topics Discussed The six places service providers are quietly working for free, and how to spot each one in your own business What scope creep actually is, why it shows up on more than half of all projects, and the structural reason it keeps happening to you The compounding math behind unbilled work and what your generosity is really costing you over five and ten years Why over-delivering is not building the client loyalty you think it is, and what it is doing instead The mindset shift that separates a service provider from a business owner, and why one runs the company while the other gets run by it My contrarian take on add-ons versus right-sized packages, and why pricing for what your clients actually need beats nickel-and-diming every time Action Steps for the Week Pull up your last completed client project. Add up the unbilled hours. Multiply by your hourly rate. Look at the number. Let it land. Rewrite one of your packages. Just one. Pick the offer you sell the most often and rebuild it to include what you already know your clients are going to need. Write down what is not included in that package, and prepare the language you will use when a client asks for something outside of it. Connect With Jamila Send me a DM on Instagram @JamilaPayneMBA and tell me your unbilled hours number. I want to know what you found. If this episode hit, leave a five-star rating and a written review. It is the single best way to help more business owners find the show. Share this episode with one entrepreneur friend who needs to hear it.

If your service business has hit a revenue ceiling, the problem probably isn't your offer, it's your pricing. In this episode, pricing strategist and author Linda Hunt introduces the concept of the "minimum aligned price," the pricing floor below which you're actually paying your clients to work for them. Linda covers the three points at which service businesses start to show weakness: the pricing conversation, scope creep inside the work, and a lack of repeatable processes. If you've been bootstrapping your way through growth, this is the formula for building the business that scales with you.In this episode of The She Leads Podcast, Adrienne Garland's guest is Linda Hunt, founder of Sum Solutions, author of The Money Conversation, and the financial architect known to the women she works with as the money clarity catalyst.Linda makes the case that "I cannot afford it" is almost never the real objection. Clients always find the money for what they value, but a discount in that moment teaches them they were right to hesitate. She also walks through the cost of scope creep on a high-touch client and why a defined service process is what lets the work actually scale.Linda introduces her free Perfect Pricing Formula and the principle that changes how women build service businesses: price your services from day one as if someone else were going to be doing the work, not you.Chapters:

In this episode, Mariska and Matt Dubois unpack why projects fail—focusing on scope creep and indecisiveness. They explore how politics, fear, and weak accountability blur requirements and scope, leaving project managers caught between delivery and power dynamics. Guest: Matt Dubois Host: Mariska Peters Produced by Hatch: Producers: Jessica Revet & Robbyn Gray Visuals & Audio Mixing: Robbyn Gray

For Lena McGuire, scope creep really can show up around every corner. She's in the home remodeling business. But for most owners, including Jaci Russo and Ted Wolf, projects that expand out of control can be less visible but just as hard to contain. It's baked into the job, because every assignment comes with a built-in tradeoff: Protect your margins or protect the relationship. And especially in the early days of a business, when reputation feels like everything, that's not much of a choice. “I was afraid to have tough conversations with people,” Ted says. “I just wanted everybody to like us.”Over time, systems help and boundaries get clearer. But the pressure never fully disappears. There's always one more request, one more detail to tweak—especially when you're thinking about the reviews and testimonials. “You want to get those nice photos at the end,” says remodeler Lena. “You want to get a referral.” This week, Lena, Jaci, and Ted talk about how their thinking on scope creep has evolved—and why it never stops being an issue.Plus: On the small business subreddit, an owner recently posted that he finds chasing accounts receivable so distasteful—it feels like begging—that he often puts it off and hopes for the best. “Is this just me?” he wants to know. “Or is this a common thing for small business owners?” We discuss. And Jaci explains why, even if she could get it, she wouldn't even consider accepting a $500 million account promoting a big deal consumer brand.

What do I do when a client keeps changing their mind? What do I do when we're halfway through a project and they want to add five more things? What do I do when I present a price to a prospect and they get sticker shock and start trying negotiating with me or taking things out?These were the kinds of questions I heard in the Q & A sessions during a recent 3-day workshop. And while I can and did give advice on what to do in those specific situations, wouldn't it be better to prevent them from happening in the first place?Anything I could tell you to do to fix those problems as they come up is just a Band-Aid. You have to go back to the source if you don't want to keep running into them over and over again with future clients. And the source of the problem isn't your clients. It's your process. Tune into this episode to hear:Why so-called “difficult clients” are usually created before the project even startsThe real reason scope creep and endless back-and-forth keep happeningHow to eliminate sticker shock (without awkward sales conversations)What to put in place before you start a project to avoid burnout laterHow a simple shift in your process can completely change your client experienceMentioned:Grab the first chapter of my new book Scale Solo: scalesolobook.comProgram: No BS Mastery: https://nobsmastery.com/programNo BS Clients Lab: https://nobsclientslab.com/Resources:Grab a copy of my book: Badass Your Brand - https://www.badassyourbrand.com/Program: No BS Agency Mastery: https://join.nobsmastery.com/agency-masteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™ - http://nobsmastery.com/price

Learn how to manage scope creep and set healthy boundaries in your editorial work.Listen to find out more aboutWhat is scope creep?Why scope creep happensHow to prevent scope creepSpotting scope creep earlySetting and communicating boundariesHow to say no (nicely)When it's time to reassessThe emotional side of boundary settingBook series: Notes from the PodcastWant to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development.Find out more here: https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/notes.htmlSupport The Editing PodcastTip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/supportJoin our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes.patreon.com/editingpodcastDenise and LouiseDenise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.comLouise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editingPost-productionLiv Cowle: livcowle.comMusic credit'Vivacity' by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacityLicence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When is the last time you were on a client call and, out of the blue, they asked for something completely unexpected? Before your brain could even catch up, did you find yourself blurting out a "sure!" only to hang up the phone and immediately regret it? If you've ever found yourself doing extra work for free because of a reflex response, this episode of the Sales Maven Show is for you. Host Nikki Rausch explains that scope creep rarely starts with a bad contract; it starts with a "reflex yes" that leaves you feeling flustered and undervalued. To help you protect your boundaries, Nikki introduces a powerful NLP-inspired strategy called the "Yes, And" Boundary. This technique allows you to stay in rapport with your client while creating the necessary space for your brain to catch up and insert a professional limit. By saying "Yes" to the relationship and "And" to the boundary, you can respond cleanly rather than quickly. Nikki breaks down four specific boundary types you can use to stay resilient and profitable: Price: "Yes, and the additional investment for that is [X]." Time: "Yes, and I'll send over a revised quote for that by Thursday." Scope: "Yes, and we'll need to update our agreement to reflect this new work." Trade-off: "Yes, and which current deliverable would you like to swap out to make room for this?" The goal isn't to sound pushy or to start saying "no" to everything, but to ensure your business remains sustainable. Using the metaphor of juggling silk scarves, Nikki illustrates how you can find the "float time" in a conversation to choose your words carefully. This episode includes a three-day practice challenge to help you build the muscle memory needed to handle unexpected requests with grace. Stop beating yourself up for being a people-pleaser and start using a strategy that keeps you calm, keeps you clear, and—most importantly—gets you paid. Key Takeaways: The Reflex Yes: Scope creep is often a result of a lack of strategy rather than a lack of a tough personality. The "Yes, And" Formula: "Yes" maintains the rapport; "And" introduces the professional boundary. The 4 Boundary Types: Learn how to pivot requests based on price, time, scope, or trade-offs. Muscle Memory: Practice these scripts in low-stakes environments (like with family or vendors) so they feel natural during high-stakes client calls. Nikki invites you to join the Sales Maven Society. Take advantage of this opportunity to work together with you and Nikki. Bring your questions, concerns, and sales situations; she provides answers and guidance. Join the Sales Maven Society here, click Join Today, and then checkout and use coupon code 47trial to get your first month for $47.00! For more actionable sales tips, download the FREE Closing The Sale Ebook. Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Sales Maven Society https://calendly.com/salesmaven/work-with-nikki-discussion

Find out the 5 subtle proposal mistakes even experienced web designers make that cost them thousands (and what to do instead) at https://webdesigneracademy.com/proposals The Web Designer's Guide to Dealing With Difficult Clients: Strategies & Scripts for Scope Creep, Ghosting & Client Chaos Getting clients is one of the biggest hurdles every web design business has to overcome… but not nearly enough attention is paid to what happens once you get them - because clients will reveal every weak spot in your business.  In this live Q&A episode, Shannon Mattern answers real questions from web designers dealing with difficult client situations scope creep, content delays, micromanaging clients, and long-term relationships that need a reset. This episode is full of specific scripts, mindset shifts, and the honest truth that handling difficult clients is a learnable skill. If you've ever worked for free just to avoid a hard conversation, this one will change how you show up with clients. What You'll Learn: The magic words that shut down scope creep without damaging the relationship What to do when clients ghost you or ignore content deadlines (and how to still get paid) How to handle a micromanaging client without getting defensive The 'sky is blue' communication approach for any difficult client situation How to reset a 10-year client relationship that's gotten out of hand The employee mindset shift that changes everything Inside This Episode: PITA clients as a problem of success Scope creep and the magic shutdown words Handling clients who direct your design decisions Micromanager clients and how to redirect Content delays and ghosting clients Resetting a 10-year client relationship Employee mindset vs. business owner mindset Resources Mentioned: 5 Subtle Proposal Mistakes Guide: https://webdesigneracademy.com/proposal Web Designer Academy: https://webdesigneracademy.com Book a Discovery Call with Shannon: https://webdesigneracademy.com/calendar Related Episodes: Episode 076: Revenue Reset Part 1: Turning Mindtrash Into Gold Episode 077: Revenue Reset Part 2: Transforming Your Pricing Paradigm Episode 078: Revenue Reset Part 3: Confident Money Conversations Episode 183: Pricing Strategy: Inside The Package Matrix™ Framework About Shannon Mattern: Shannon Mattern is a Pricing Strategist and the founder of the Web Designer Academy where she helps experienced women web designers book higher-paying web design projects, charge more with confidence, run projects without overworking and burnout and break through to their next level of income and freedom. For Web Designers: Website: webdesigneracademy.com | IG: @profitablewebdesigner | TikTok: @profitablewebdesigner | YouTube: @profitablewebdesigner | LinkedIn: shannonmattern For Service Providers, Consultants & Agencies: shannonmattern.com

Find out the 5 subtle proposal mistakes even experienced web designers make that cost them thousands (and what to do instead) at https://webdesigneracademy.com/proposals The Web Designer's Guide to Dealing With Difficult Clients: Strategies & Scripts for Scope Creep, Ghosting & Client Chaos Getting clients is one of the biggest hurdles every web design business has to overcome… but not nearly enough attention is paid to what happens once you get them - because clients will reveal every weak spot in your business.  In this live Q&A episode, Shannon Mattern answers real questions from web designers dealing with difficult client situations scope creep, content delays, micromanaging clients, and long-term relationships that need a reset. This episode is full of specific scripts, mindset shifts, and the honest truth that handling difficult clients is a learnable skill. If you've ever worked for free just to avoid a hard conversation, this one will change how you show up with clients. What You'll Learn: The magic words that shut down scope creep without damaging the relationship What to do when clients ghost you or ignore content deadlines (and how to still get paid) How to handle a micromanaging client without getting defensive The 'sky is blue' communication approach for any difficult client situation How to reset a 10-year client relationship that's gotten out of hand The employee mindset shift that changes everything Inside This Episode: PITA clients as a problem of success Scope creep and the magic shutdown words Handling clients who direct your design decisions Micromanager clients and how to redirect Content delays and ghosting clients Resetting a 10-year client relationship Employee mindset vs. business owner mindset Resources Mentioned: 5 Subtle Proposal Mistakes Guide: https://webdesigneracademy.com/proposal Web Designer Academy: https://webdesigneracademy.com Book a Discovery Call with Shannon: https://webdesigneracademy.com/calendar Related Episodes: Episode 076: Revenue Reset Part 1: Turning Mindtrash Into Gold Episode 077: Revenue Reset Part 2: Transforming Your Pricing Paradigm Episode 078: Revenue Reset Part 3: Confident Money Conversations Episode 183: Pricing Strategy: Inside The Package Matrix™ Framework About Shannon Mattern: Shannon Mattern is a Pricing Strategist and the founder of the Web Designer Academy where she helps experienced women web designers book higher-paying web design projects, charge more with confidence, run projects without overworking and burnout and break through to their next level of income and freedom. For Web Designers: Website: webdesigneracademy.com | IG: @profitablewebdesigner | TikTok: @profitablewebdesigner | YouTube: @profitablewebdesigner | LinkedIn: shannonmattern For Service Providers, Consultants & Agencies: shannonmattern.com

What if the term “provider” has no Nazi roots whatsoever, and the claim that it does actually harms important conversations about healthcare? In this myth-busting episode, Dr. Bradley Block sits with Dr. Volke Roelcke and Dr. Mical Raz as they trace the real origins of “provider” to the rise of U.S. health insurance: early Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in the 1930s, then Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, when neutral language was needed to describe anyone delivering a paid clinical service; hospitals, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, everyone. The myth began with a single unfortunate mistranslation of the Nazi-era German term “Krankenbehandler” (a stigmatizing label restricting Jewish physicians to treating only Jewish patients) and exploded after a 2019 blog post.  They show how repeating this falsehood trivializes the actual persecution of Jewish doctors under the Nazis, turns physicians (one of the most privileged and highly paid professions in the world) into a faux “marginalized group,” dilutes the power of calling out real harm to truly vulnerable populations, and distracts from genuine issues like scope creep and regulation.  The conversation also highlights the importance of respecting expertise: physicians in medicine, historians in history, and why peer-reviewed journals should not let sweeping historical claims pass without proper review. Three Actionable Takeaways When you hear the “provider = Nazi” claim, correct it in one sentence: “The term has zero Nazi origins, it comes from U.S. health-insurance history. Here's the open-access JGIM article.” Respect expertise the same way we demand it in medicine: don't make or publish big historical claims if you don't speak the language or read the sources, doctors aren't historians any more than historians are surgeons. Focus energy on real solutions for professionalism and autonomy; lobbying, education, trust-building, clear regulation, instead of weaponizing the Holocaust for terminology battles. About the Show: Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school! About the Guests: Dr. Volke Roelcke is a German historian of medicine and the biomedical sciences whose work focuses on 20th-century medicine, especially under the Nazi regime and the ethical history of human-subject research. He trained in medicine, completed specialist training in psychiatry, and served for over 20 years as Professor of the History of Medicine and Director of the Institute for the History, Theory and Ethics of Medicine at Justus Liebig University Giessen before retiring. He was a member and briefly co-chair of the Lancet Commission on Medicine, Nazism, and the Holocaust. Dr. Mical Raz is the Charles E. and Dale L. Phelps Professor in Public Policy and Health at the University of Rochester, where she also practices internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital. Her grandfather left Berlin for Israel in 1933; most of his family perished in the Holocaust. She teaches undergraduates about insurance systems and has published extensively on child welfare, poverty, and coercive interventions. Her books include The Lobotomy Letters, What's Wrong with the Poor?, Abusive Policies, and Making Families. Article:  Physicians or Providers: Inventing Nazi Origins, undermines Debates on Medical Professionalism.  About the Host: Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com  or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more! Socials: @physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook @physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube @physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The absolute silent killer of margins, timelines, and team morale. We see it in almost every business we coach and consult. We're going to show you how to turn that creep into cold, hard cash.

Master your salary negotiation strategies, corporate recruiter secrets, and job interview tips so you can stop leaving money on the table and land the compensation you actually deserve. In this episode of the Palm Wine Central podcast, former tech recruiter Tara Gray reveals why you should never accept a job offer right away, how to successfully ask for more money, and the ChatGPT resume mistakes that guarantee automatic rejection. We also dive deep into surviving generational differences in the workplace and how to use Index Universal Life (IUL) insurance to build tax-free wealth. TimeStamps: * Intro, Taco Tuesday, and Weekend Recaps * Women's History Month Trivia Game * Meet Tara Gray: From Law Degree to Corporate Recruiter * Stop Winging It: Why You Need to Use Your Network * Surviving Layoffs and Pivoting Your Career * The Myth of "Paying Your Dues" and Job Loyalty * Millennials vs. Baby Boomers in the Workplace * How to Negotiate Pre-Planned Vacation Time * Red Flags That Mean It Is Time to Quit Your Job * Salary Negotiation: How to Get $5K-$10K More * Dealing with Scope Creep and Asking for a Raise * A Recruiter Exposes the Wage Gap and Pay Equity * Auto-Rejections: ChatGPT Resume Mistakes and Typos* How Long Should Your Resume Be? * The Best Question to Ask at the End of an Interview * Term vs. Whole Life Insurance Explained* Using Index Universal Life (IUL) to Build Wealth Guest: Tara GrayContact: @grayt_consultingEmail: graytconsulting@gmail.comProduced by: Palm Wine Central ProductionsListen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon MusicWatch more: https://www.youtube.com/@pwcpodcast

Andre is getting pulled in every direction by his clients — new requests keep piling on top of the original project, and he doesn't know how to push back without risking the relationship. Preston and Austin Church, founder of the Freelance Cake Community, dig into exactly how to handle scope creep with confidence: from crafting airtight contracts and expectations docs, to the subtle language shifts that remind clients you're a business partner — not an employee on the payroll. Plus, when to just say yes anyway. Support our show sponsors -> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit your own question -> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freelancetofounder.com/ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join Austin's Community for Advanced Freelancers -> ⁠⁠⁠⁠Freelance Cake Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many advisors feel trapped by scope creep, demanding clients, and unstructured “advisory” work that never seems to pay off. In this episode, Chris Papin breaks down how to set boundaries, price your value, and design onboarding and advisory services that protect your time while truly moving clients forward, without burning out you or your team.Visit https://getmymarketingplan.com/?utm_source=podcast and schedule your call today. We want to get to know you, understand your goals, and help your business get found by the people searching for you.

Your Offer Is Your Positioning: Selling in the Post Scope EraResources:Services Stack: https://dogoodwork.substack.com/p/the-service-stack-what-remains-whenThe New Value Quadranthttps://dogoodwork.substack.com/p/the-new-value-quadrant-how-to-price00:00 Budgets Tighten Up01:54 Entering Post Scope Era03:51 Outcomes Over Deliverables05:36 Scope Creep vs Partnership06:41 Clients Buy Safety09:33 Who Cares Positioning11:17 Offers Communicate Value15:46 De Risk The Journey20:23 Underpricing Backfires22:27 Return To Bespoke24:06 Belief Is Differentiator

This week on Swimming with Allocators, Earnest and Alexa welcome David Clark, CIO at Vencap, who unpacks the realities of venture capital, emphasizing a data-driven approach to understanding returns, the persistent and intensifying “power law” in VC, and why only a small percentage of funds and companies drive outsized results. The discussion covers the challenges of evaluating new managers versus established firms, the nuances of secondary investments, and the critical importance of consistent, top-tier fund performance. Listeners will gain insight into the pitfalls of confirmation bias, the difficulties facing retail investors, and why strategy, transparency, and adaptability are key for long-term VC success. Also don't miss Rebecca Stuart of Sidley as she explains how unprecedented AI-focused acqui-hires function as talent raids that can bypass standard change-of-control protections. She also outlines legal and structural strategies VCs and startups can use like broadened definitions of change of control, retention and vesting design, and coordinated employment/comp practices, to better protect portfolios and key teams. Highlights from this week's conversation include: Welcoming David to the Show and Previewing Today's Episode (0:18) David's Shift From Traditional LP Diligence to Data-Driven Investing (2:48)   How Long Feedback Loops and Unknown Unknowns Shape Venture Outcomes (5:16)   Confirmation Bias, Narratives, and Doing Pre-Meeting Homework on Managers (6:55)   Pattern Recognition and What World-Class Founders Look Like (8:49)   Using Power Laws and Top 1% Companies as the Core LP Filter (10:40)   Why Singles and Doubles Rarely Add Up to Great Venture Funds (13:46)   AI Acqui-Hires, Talent Raids, and Risks to VC Portfolios (17:20)   Deal Structures That Avoid Change of Control and LP Protections (19:04)   Retention Tools, Forfeiture for Competition, and Staggered Vesting Cliffs (20:53)   Democratization of VC, 401(k) Investors, and the Risk of Disappointment (25:22)   Emerging Managers and the Myth of the Middle Class in Venture (30:58)   Venture Secondaries, Premium Pricing, and Why Discounts Can Be Misleading (36:04)   Scope Creep, Platform Expansion, and When LPs Disengage From Big Firms (42:06)   VenCap is one of the longest-running dedicated venture capital fund-of-funds globally, investing in many of the world's leading VC firms for over three decades. The firm's strategy emphasizes long-term consistency, deep relationship networks, and concentrated exposure to top-tier venture capital companies across cycles. Sidley Austin LLP is a premier global law firm with a dedicated Venture Funds practice, advising top venture capital firms, institutional investors, and private equity sponsors on fund formation, investment structuring, and regulatory compliance. With deep expertise across private markets, Sidley provides strategic legal counsel to help funds scale effectively. Learn more at sidley.com. Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies.  The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever finish a job, see solid revenue, and still wonder where the profit went?In this episode, we break down how painting contractors lose margin during production, even when the estimate “felt right.” From prep work that quietly expands (patch turns into skim) to the classic “while you're here” requests that bleed hours, the real problem is rarely effort. It's the lack of a system you can trust.Jesse Teron and Josh Eldridge walk through a practical approach to job costing that starts before the job begins. You will learn how to forecast profit to the dollar, set budgeted hours your crew can actually execute, and build production rates based on an average painter so your top performers can beat the budget and earn more.We also hit the leadership side: how to hold firm when subs ask for more money mid-job, how to stop doing extra work for free, and how detailed proposals and clear exclusions protect you from scope creep.Inside this episode:Why “trusting profit” is really about knowing your numbersHow to move from job costing in arrears to forecasting materials and labor up frontProduction rate examples (hardy board, fascia, second-level work adjustments)How to communicate budgeted hours and deadlines to your crew without dramaThe breakdown that makes it easier to say no to mid-job price changesA simple boundary system for change orders so you stop donating laborIf you want cleaner margins, fewer surprises, and a business that scales without chaos, this is the playbook.Submit your question for a future episode at paintergrowth.com.

If you're constantly doing “just one more thing” for free, it's not about client service, it's a boundary issue.In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I'm breaking down how scope creep sneaks into your projects and steals your time, profits, and peace of mind. From color consults and last-minute requests to Wayfair screenshots and patio meetings, we're calling it what it is: unpaid work.You'll learn why scope creep happens, how to recognize it early, and what to say to stop it in its tracks, kindly, clearly, and confidently.In this episode, I cover:Real examples of scope creep and how they sabotage your businessWhy people-pleasing turns into resentment and burnoutHow to write LOAs that protect your time and valueScripts for responding to “by the way” requestsThe role of mindset and self-worth in boundary settingHow scope creep can turn into extra income with the right systemsShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.comFollow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademyFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

Roger Knecht and Michelle Weinstein discuss how accounting professionals can overcome undercharging, set firm boundaries, and increase revenue. Learn strategies to value your expertise and implement sales processes for a thriving accounting firm. In This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to Michelle Weinstein 01:10 Michelle's Career Journey & Lessons 06:05 The Birth of The Abundant Accountant 09:50 Stop Undercharging and Valuing Services 12:33 Engagement Letters and Scope Creep 17:51 Establishing Boundaries for Your Firm 23:15 Payment Methods and Avoiding Receivables 30:03 Overcoming the Fear of Raising Prices 36:41 Valuing Expertise and Practical Advice 41:13 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts Key Takeaways: Define clear boundaries to prevent scope creep and protect your valuable time and knowledge. Implement a structured sales process to properly qualify clients and get paid premium prices. Understand and communicate your worth to confidently raise fees and attract high-value clients. Utilize engagement letters to outline included and excluded services, facilitating future upsell discussions. Shift from hourly billing to recurring or value-based payments to eliminate accounts receivable issues. Featured Quotes: "If you can't sell and you can't enroll, and you can't help people see your value, then what is all of that technical knowledge really worth?" — Michelle Weinstein "We have to eradicate the under-earning and being appreciated disease in this industry." — Michelle Weinstein "Your inventory is what's in your head. It's your most valuable asset and we have to protect that." — Michelle Weinstein Conclusion: Thank you for joining us for another episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm with Roger Knecht. For more information on how you can establish your own accounting firm and take control of your time and income, call 435-344-2060 or schedule an appointment to connect with Roger's team here. Sponsors: Universal Accounting Center Helping accounting professionals confidently and competently offer quality accounting services to get paid what they are worth.   Offers: Get a free strategy session with Michelle. Register here: https://theabundantaccountant.com/theabundantcall/   Get a FREE copy of these books all accounting professionals should use to work on their business and become profitable.  These are a must-have addition to every accountant's library to provide quality CFO & Advisory services as a Profit & Growth Expert today: "Red to BLACK in 30 days – A small business accountant's guide to QUICK turnarounds" – This is a how-to guide on how to turn around a struggling business into a more sustainable model. Each chapter focuses on a crucial aspect of the turnaround process - from cash flow management to strategies for improving revenue. This book will teach you everything you need to become a turnaround expert for small businesses. "in the BLACK, nine principles to make your business profitable" – Nine Principles to Make Your Business Profitable – Discover what you need to know to run the premier accounting firm and get paid what you are worth in this book, by the same author as Red to Black – CPA Allen B. Bostrom. Bostrom teaches the three major functions of business (marketing, production and accounting) as well as strategies for maximizing profitability for your clients by creating actionable plans to implement the nine principles. "Your Strategic Accountant" - Understand the 3 Core Accounting Services (CAS - Client Accounting Services) you should offer as you run your business. Help your clients understand which numbers they need to know to make more informed business decisions. "Your Profit & Growth Expert" - Your business is an asset. You should know its value and understand how to maximize it. Beginning with the end in mind helps you work ON your business to build a company you can leave so that it can continue to exist in your absence or build wealth as you retire and enjoy the time, freedom, and life you want and deserve. Follow the Turnkey Business plan for accounting professionals.  This is the proven process to start and build the premier accounting firm in your area.  After more than 40 years we've identified the best practices of successful accountants and this is a presentation we are happy to share.     Also learn the best practices to automate and nurture your lead generation process allowing you to get the bookkeeping, accounting and tax clients you deserve.  GO HERE to see this presentation and learn what you can do today to identify and engage with your ideal clients.   Check it out and see what you can do to be in business for yourself but not by yourself with Universal Accounting Center.   It's here you can become a:   Professional Bookkeeper, PB Professional Tax Preparer, PTP Profit & Growth Expert, PGE   Next, join a group of like-minded professionals within the accounting community.  Register to attend GrowCon and Stay up-to-date on current topics and trends and see what you can do to also give back, participating in relevant conversations as they relate to offering quality accounting services and building your bookkeeping, accounting & tax business.   The Accounting & Bookkeeping Tips Facebook Group The Universal Accounting Fanpage Topical Newsletters: Universal Accounting Success The Universal Newsletter   Lastly, get your Business Score to see what you can do to work ON your business and have the Premier Accounting Firm. Join over 70,000 business owners and get your score on the 8 Factors That Drive Your Company's Value.   For Additional FREE Resources for accounting professionals check out this collection HERE!   Be sure to join us for GrowCon, the LIVE event for accounting professionals to work ON their business. This is a conference you don't want to miss.   Remember this, Accounting Success IS Universal. Listen to our next episode and be sure to subscribe.   Also, let us know what you think of the podcast and please share any suggestions you may have.  We look forward to your input: Podcast Feedback   For more information on how you can apply these principles to start and build your accounting, bookkeeping & tax business please visit us at www.universalaccountingschool.com or call us at 8012653777  

By Michael Iiams - In the Church of God we are all well aware of the reasons we don't celebrate Christmas, but what about the New Year on January 1? Turns out, not only is this not based on God's calendar, but is rooted in paganism as well. God makes it abundantly clear what He thinks about incorporating pagan worship

Scope creep doesn't arrive with a siren; it shows up as “just one more” request and quietly doubles your workload. In this episode, I break down a practical, humane way to protect your timeline and still make room for good ideas—so you ship value now and again soon, without burnout.We start by drawing clean edges around the work: a one‑page scope brief, an explicit out‑of‑scope list, and a shared definition of done. From there, we name one final approver to end circular edits, set a simple change path, and design feedback rounds that serve the build instead of stalling it. Then we move into team dynamics. You'll hear how to build a working alliance with your SME—align on behavior‑based outcomes, co‑create a must‑keep vs nice‑to‑have list, agree on response norms, and use a one‑page feedback guide to keep comments focused at the right stage.You'll leave with ready‑to‑use scripts for out‑of‑scope requests, late feedback, and conflicting SME guidance; a checklist of common pitfalls to dodge; and a steady cadence to deliver learning products on time without gold plating. If this helped you tame scope creep, subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a thoughtful review so more designers can find it.

Game Design Constraints and Scope CreepToday, we're diving into two little words that have the power to either catapult your project forward… or completely derail it. Those words? Constraints and scope creep. Maybe you've heard them thrown around in design meetings. Maybe you've bumped into them the hard way on your own projects. Either way, by the end of this episode, you'll see why understanding these two forces—and learning to wield them wisely—is absolutely essential to your success as a designer.Let's start with a quick scene. If you liked this episode please consider commenting, sharing, and subscribing.Subscribing is absolutely free and ensures that you'll get the next episode of Experience Points delivered directly to you.I'd also love it if you took some time to rate the show!I live to lift others with learning.  So, if you found this episode useful, consider sharing it with someone who could benefit.Also make sure to visit University XP online at www.universityxp.comUniversity XP is also on Twitter @University_XP and on Facebook and LinkedIn as University XPAlso, feel free to email me anytime at dave@universityxp.comGame on!Get the full transcript and references for this episode here: https://www.universityxp.com/podcast/151 Support the show

Are you struggling with clients who ask for too much and want constant changes?  In this episode, we're diving into the challenges of handling clients' change requests and the importance of setting clear boundaries. I'll share my experiences, explain why clients make such demands, and offer practical advice on how to guide clients effectively.  Learn how to: - communicate expectations about changes, - establish guidelines in your contracts and interactions to maintain control over projects, and  - ultimately, reduce everyone's stress! 00:27 The Challenge of Client Requests 01:00 Personal Experiences with Client Demands 02:32 Understanding Client Behavior 03:41 Setting Boundaries and Expectations 05:17 Importance of Clear Communication 06:50 Real-Life Client Stories 09:47 Mapping Out Processes   RESOURCES

Executives are increasingly optimistic about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform their organizations, with 87% believing it will fundamentally change their business within a year. However, a significant gap exists between this optimism and the readiness of their workforce, as only 29% of executives feel their teams possess the necessary skills to effectively leverage AI technology. This disconnect is compounded by foundational issues in technology infrastructure, which over half of the surveyed executives cite as barriers to innovation. For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), this presents both a challenge and an opportunity to guide clients through complex AI transformations.A report from Movila indicates that 59% of MSPs are grappling with project management scope creep, which has risen from 46% in 2024. This increase is attributed to inaccurate project timelines and low process maturity, which are critical factors affecting profitability. Movila's CEO emphasizes the importance of accurate timelines in maintaining project profitability, suggesting that structured project management processes are essential for improving efficiency and client outcomes. The findings highlight the need for MSPs to address their internal project management challenges before assisting clients with AI initiatives.The episode also discusses the impact of the ongoing federal shutdown on government IT operations, which has led to workforce furloughs and hindered modernization efforts. Additionally, a study reveals a stark divide in AI adoption between executives and employees, with 87% of executives using AI compared to only 27% of employees. This disparity has created tensions in the workplace, particularly in companies where leadership promotes AI integration while employees express concerns about its reliability and job security.For MSPs and IT service leaders, the key takeaway is the necessity of focusing on execution and discipline rather than merely adopting new technologies. As the market for AI continues to grow, MSPs should prioritize training and process improvement to ensure their teams and clients are prepared for AI integration. By addressing foundational issues and fostering a culture of readiness, MSPs can position themselves as valuable partners in navigating the complexities of AI adoption.Four things to know today00:00 The Readiness Gap: When AI Ambitions and MSP Project Discipline Don't Match Reality03:46 Reality Check: From Shutdowns to AI Gaps, Tech's Biggest Problem Isn't Tools—It's Readiness07:13 Contrarian Wisdom: When Saying “No” to AI and “Goodbye” to VMware Becomes a Winning Strategy09:53 Waste, Profit, and AI Decay: Rethinking Technology's Broken Business Models Before They Collapse This is the Business of Tech.    Supported by:  https://cometbackup.com/?utm_source=mspradio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sponsorshiphttps://scalepad.com/dave/

Welcome to The Trade Talks Live, where we celebrate the blue-collar trades and everything they stand for! Join us every weekday from 10-11 AM as we dive into national news, review trade websites, and share tips on mindset growth to help you succeed. Don't miss this hour of insights, inspiration, and practical advice! A big thank you to Leak-Pro for sponsoring this episode of The Trade Talks Live! Register for my FREE webinar! www.justmetroger.com LeakPro provides state-of-the-art leak detection solutions specifically designed for plumbers, helping professionals pinpoint hidden leaks with accuracy and efficiency. By utilizing advanced acoustic technology and digital sensors, LeakPro allows plumbers to reduce unnecessary damage, saving time and money on every job. LeakPro's tools are essential for detecting slab leaks, pipe leaks, and irrigation system failures without invasive measures. Whether working in residential or commercial plumbing, LeakPro offers cutting-edge solutions that enhance service quality. For more information, visit www.leak-pro.com or call 1-888-853-2577. Tradesmen built America. This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media... To GROW in the trades!!!

Send us a textIt's the conversation every sales professional avoids, but the one you desperately need to hear. This week on "The Selling Podcast," Mike and Scott pull no punches on a critical question: when is it time to fire a client? They reveal that holding on to a bad customer can be more damaging than letting them go, costing you not just revenue, but your time, your team's morale, and your business's future.In this episode, we break down 12 unmistakable red flags that signal a toxic relationship. We're not talking about minor annoyances; we're talking about a client who:Costs more than they make, draining your support and time.Constantly disrespects you or your team, making every interaction a source of dread.Demands unrealistic expectations and causes endless scope creep without paying for it.Chronically pays late, wreaking havoc on your cash flow.Mike and Scott provide a simple but powerful rule of thumb: if a client consistently ticks three or more of these boxes, they are a bad fit. This episode is your playbook for identifying unprofitable relationships and having the confidence to cut them loose, freeing up your pipeline for better, more aligned opportunities.Support the showScott SchlofmanMike Williams - Cell 801-635-7773 #sales #podcast #customerfirst #relationships #success #pipeline #funnel #sales success #selling #salescoach

Cits and Civs, Captains and Commanders, you’re tuned to episode 529 of Guard Frequency — the best damn space game podcast ever! This episode was recorded on Friday, September 26 and released for streaming and download on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at GuardFrequency.com [Download this episode](Right click, Save As…) This Week’s Schedule Links & The […]

Send Katie a Text Message!! Scope creep: two little words that can drain your profits, stretch your timeline, and zap your energy if left unchecked. But here's the twist—done right, scope creep can actually fuel your profit margins and strengthen client relationships.In this episode, I'm breaking down the sneaky ways scope creep shows up (and why it feels so personal). The #1 mindset shift that transforms extra client requests into profit opportunities. What to say in the moment when a client asks for just one more thing, and so much more!Check out the show notes and other resources athttps://successbydesign.coach/podcast/b/scope-creep-solutions-for-interior-designersThis podcast is brought to you in partnership with Leah Bryant Co.Connect with Katie LinkedInBusiness Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firmWebsite

Clients who can't decide, projects that grow beyond scope, and upholstery that's tough to sell without a sit test — sound familiar? In this Ask Rebecca episode, Rebecca Hay shares how she tackles these common design dilemmas. Learn how to: Guide indecisive clients toward confident decisions Sell upholstery without relying on retail showrooms Manage scope creep with clear agreements (and less stress) Get the behind-the-scenes strategies Rebecca uses in her own design firm so you can handle these challenges with more ease and confidence.   Episode Resources: Episode 294: Ask Rebecca: Interior Design Project Management, Client Red Flags & More   Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist    ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue   Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit one of the most persistent challenges in software projects: scope creep. Using AI prompts, we revisit a past episode on “Mastering Scope Creep: Navigating the Hidden Challenges in Software Development.” In that discussion, we explored what scope creep is, why it happens, and how to prevent it from stalling projects, draining teams, and eroding trust. Today, we're building on that conversation with fresh insights and practical strategies. Listen to the full episode for more real-world stories and practical strategies to keep your projects on track. What Is Scope Creep? Scope creep occurs when requirements change after development begins—often without proper planning or agreement. Rob describes it as “moving the goalposts” for what “done” means. This differs from: Iteration – Evolving requirements after review and delivery. Agile flexibility – Adjusting before a sprint starts, not mid-execution. Uncontrolled changes shift the destination while you're already driving toward it. Scope Creep vs. Feature Creep Michael introduces feature creep—adding extra features—as a related but distinct problem. Feature creep bloats the product, while midstream requirement changes alter agreed-upon work. Both can waste time and resources, but shifting requirements often cause rework and missed deadlines. Why It Happens The hosts highlight common causes: Poorly defined requirements Lack of regular checkpoints Stakeholder indecision or shifting priorities Underestimating the impact of “small” changes Without a process to control evolving requirements, teams risk chasing ever-changing goals. The Impact of Unmanaged Scope Creep Burnout from Endless Adjustments When requirements keep shifting, tasks drag on for weeks instead of days, creating “death march” projects that drain morale. If the definition of done changes mid-task, close the ticket and open a new one. Damaged Trust in Estimates Developers see moving targets, clients see missed deadlines, and both lose faith in estimates and planning. Growing Technical Debt Repeated changes often necessitate quick fixes, making the system more challenging to maintain. Stories from the Trenches Rob recalls a four-week integration project that stretched to nine months due to unclear ownership of data mappings. Michael shares a modular app that was copied into six separate projects instead of being built for reuse. One small change multiplied into six updates—an expensive lesson in poor change control. How to Prevent Scope Creep Expansion Define “Done” Clearly – Every task needs explicit completion criteria. Set Regular Checkpoints – Confirm that requirements remain relevant throughout the project. Separate New Work – Treat changes as new tickets with new estimates. Clarify Ownership – Assign responsibility for every requirement and integration. Challenge “Quick” Changes – Always Assess the Real Impact. Key Takeaways Unmanaged scope creep—or any uncontrolled change—can sink a project. By defining requirements early, revisiting them often, and isolating new work from current work, teams can adapt without losing control. Managing changes well is the difference between a project that adapts and one that never ends. Your Scope Creep Challenge Think about the last project you worked on. Did requirements change midstream? Were there regular checkpoints to confirm priorities? How did those changes impact the timeline, quality, or team morale? This week, choose one active project and: Review its requirements with the team. Confirm whether they are still valid. If anything has changed, document it as a new item rather than altering the current work in progress. By doing this, you'll practice catching and managing evolving requirements before they cause unnecessary rework. Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, there's always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let's continue exploring the exciting world of software development. Additional Resources Sprint Planning – Setting The Scope A Positive Look At Scope Creep The Importance of Properly Defining Requirements Getting It Right: How Effective Requirements Gathering Leads to Successful Software Projects The Developer Journey Videos – With Bonus Content Building Better Developers With AI Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

Points of Interest0:00 – 0:13 – Introduction: Marcel Petitpas introduces the importance of pricing in agency profitability, emphasizing that even great delivery and project management can't compensate for poor pricing strategy.1:00 – 1:39 – The Problem with Pricing Guesswork: Kristen Kelly explains that most agencies lack a formal pricing framework, often relying on gut feelings, competitor comparisons, or outdated rate cards.2:09 – 3:49 – “Vibe-Based” Pricing Explained: Marcel highlights how pricing decisions are frequently made without math or structure, leading to unclear expectations and poor profit outcomes.4:00 – 5:35 – Budget-First Pricing Pitfalls: Agencies that accept client budgets without recalibrating scope or checking for margin risk setting themselves up for failure from the outset.6:27 – 7:46 – Undercharging and Overdelivering: Many agencies underestimate the margin needed for true profitability, aiming too low and failing to account for overhead, unutilized time, and business costs.9:00 – 10:33 – Scope Creep and the $0 Change Order: Kristen and Marcel discuss strategies for managing out-of-scope requests, including the effective use of $0 change orders to maintain boundaries.11:43 – 14:20 – The Right Way to Factor in Overhead: Marcel breaks down how to incorporate overhead and indirect costs into pricing without overly complex calculations or flawed net profit heuristics.16:15 – 19:49 – Choosing the Right Pricing Model: Using the Agency Pricing Quadrant, the episode explores how risk and value should guide pricing models—ranging from hourly to value-based strategies.19:53 – 22:34 – Tracking Average Billable Rate (ABR): A simple but powerful metric, ABR helps agencies estimate delivery margin and benchmark performance across services and projects.22:56 – 25:09 – Overcoming Fear of Raising Prices: Kristen and Marcel debunk fears around increasing prices, offering strategies for timing and managing legacy client transitions.25:21 – 26:54 – Delivery Margin as a North Star: The key takeaway: aim for a 70% delivery margin when pricing services to ensure room for overhead, profit, and sustainable operations.Show NotesConnect with Kristen via LinkedInFree Agency ToolkitParakeeto Foundations CourseFree access to our Model PlatformPricing CalculatorPricing & Scoping EpisodePricing Model Quadrant

Believe it or not, I see so many designers flying without a net, which is what I call it when you work without a letter of agreement or with one that has absolutely no protection for you in it. A letter of agreement is just another word for a contract, but it sounds much friendlier. Most importantly, a letter of agreement will outline all stipulations, clauses, and information that you and your client need to set up a positive and professional project timeline. Your business needs to have a document that provides protection for your profits and peace of mind for you as the principal of the firm while at the same time providing clarity and confidence to your client. And even though this is so important, the legalese that most contracts are written in often makes both designers and clients uncomfortable and overwhelmed. My attorney-approved letter of agreement template is written in plain English and covers everything needed for protection from any snafus that may arise. And in today's episode, I will walk you through my process of creating the right letter of agreement that is not going to overwhelm you or your clients but will still provide all of the clarity, confidence, and cohesiveness needed for your next project. In this episode, you will hear: How to craft a thorough and protective letter of agreement in plain English that will be easy for you and your clients to navigate Which clauses to walk your clients through when reviewing your Letter of Agreement The importance of presentation and ease of information when crafting your letter Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love to welcome you to our creative community, if you haven't yet subscribed. We'd truly appreciate it if you drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and spreads the word about the podcast Supporting Resources: View my Letter of Agreement template - https://melissagalt.kartra.com/page/the-right-design-agreement  For more information about The Affluent Creative, check out my website www.melissagalt.com Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok @MelissaGalt Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  Let them know we sent you.

AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, with this panel of AMA Advocacy Resource Center attorneys continues their conversation on how the AMA is working with national, state and specialty medical societies to address these key legislative priorities. How are the key issues of prior authorization, scope of practice, and physician wellness playing out? What themes are emerging and how are they different than those of previous years?       ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This week started with content batching. Batching is an optimizer's tool for ultra productivity. Every month, I create blogs, podcasts, and videos for Carfagno Cleaning and Solo Cleaning School. It takes a ton of time to do each week. I used batching in my cleaning business and in other areas of business over the years. When Teresa's mom was available to watch the kids overnight, we jumped on the opportunity and grabbed a hotel for the night. I got so much done as I batched blog after blog after blog. We also enjoyed time together, so it was a win-win. The following day, I rented an office from my MCBA friend Vernessa Hopkins. Vernessa owns H3 Business Services in Harleysville, PA. The office was perfect and I was able to record all of my podcasts for the upcoming month. My batching goal was to invest a few days and dollars to complete all of my content for a month. I accomplished that! Please keep this in mind. The portion of my batching that related to my solo cleaning business was a small part, so it may not be necessary for you to batch your content. However, you may start sending out newsletters a few times per month, maintain your website, and repurpose content to Facebook and Google My Business. Batching would be a great idea for you at that point.I've been tracking each of my offices from Saturday to Saturday, so I know how long they are taking. Plus, I've made changes to get faster. Over the weekend, I had a difficult email to send. One of these office cleaning clients took me longer because of paint speckles and glitter on the floor as well as increased kitchen areas. I knew I'd have to say something or scope creep would get me! [Before continuing, check out the bonus video, "How do I Deal with Scope Creep" on the Solo Cleaning School YouTube Channel. You'll learn how easy it is for your clients to unintentionally take advantage of you.]When the scope of work increases over time, it causes our cleaning times to increase. The great majority of cleaning companies will NOT raise the price as the scope changes so slowly they don't notice it. Not me! I recognized the potential Scope Creep setting in and knew I would have to send a difficult email. I used the sandwich technique with praise and gratitude in the open and close of the email. In the center, I laid out the areas where the scope has increased. Then I shared how this affects my company. "I clean five offices every Saturday right now. I'm in the process of adding more as well. So when one office starts taking me longer, it ends up costing me money. I'm sure you understand!" Then, I offered possible solutions which either forced them to take ownership and have the staff do more end-of-day cleaning or I would submit a new proposal with higher prices for the increased scope. I was nervous about the outcome as it was surely possible to lose the client, but I had to do this. It's my business and I must run it like one! Fortunately, they responded with consideration and we worked through the solutions together. Ultimately, they decided to take ownership for one portion. The other part, where they've added more kitchen appliances, we decided to alternate half-and-half each week. They gave a little and I didn't raise my prices. It also raised my image of trust and professionalism.Read the rest of this article at the Smart Cleaning School website

Points of Interest1:14 – 2:53 – Introduction: Marcel introduces Tiffany, who explains her firm's mission to help agencies use contracts as strategic tools rather than just legal formalities.3:06 – 4:08 – Why Contracts Get a Bad Rap: Many agencies view contracts purely as legal protection, missing their potential to strengthen client relationships and reduce future conflicts.4:38 – 6:02 – Misguided Legal Focus: Agencies often waste time on low-risk legal scenarios instead of focusing on practical issues that more commonly disrupt projects, like miscommunication.7:01 – 8:56 – Real Risks Are Operational: Most issues arise not from lawsuits, but from unclear responsibilities and client misunderstandings about what's required to get good results.9:02 – 11:07 – Contracts Should Reflect Reality: A "Goldilocks" contract—just right for the business context—is more effective than copying generic templates that don't fit the agency's operations.11:13 – 13:13 – Understand Common Failure Points: Agencies need to identify real-world issues (like IP problems or client-supplied content) and structure contracts to prevent and address them clearly.15:31 – 17:00 – Matching Pricing Models to Scope: Marcel introduces the Pricing Model Quadrant to explore how pricing (time-based, deliverables, outcomes) should guide how scope is documented.18:01 – 20:21 – Miscommunication in Scope Documents: Flexible contracts often fail when salespeople write scopes conversationally, leading to misinterpretation by delivery teams or clients.21:11 – 22:47 – Internal Clarity is Just as Vital: Clear scopes benefit internal teams too—so account and project managers can make aligned decisions without relying on secondhand info.23:00 – 24:49 – Scope Creep and Change Requests: Knowing the pricing model helps teams respond consistently to client requests—whether that means upselling time or renegotiating scope.26:27 – 29:30 – Trust Reduces Contracting Pain: Tiffany shares that as client trust grows, they move from demanding rigid scopes to preferring flexible, time-based arrangements, simplifying collaboration.Show NotesDevant WebsiteBook:Deal MakersEssential Contract Drafting Skills: A Practical GuideYouTubeEmail: tiffany.kemp@devant.co.ukLove the PodcastLeave us a review here.

In this episode, Chip and Gini delve into the topic of scope creep in agencies. They discuss the bell curve of profitability and the importance of setting clear expectations from the first client conversation. They highlight strategies like dividing projects into 90-day scopes to regularly reassess goals and deliverables. The duo emphasizes the significance of internal communication, developing a culture of transparency, and ensuring team members understand project scope and costs. They also stress the need to build flexibility and cushion into initial pricing to manage minor scope changes and avoid financial strain. Finally, they agree on mastering financial understanding and regular one-on-one meetings for smoother agency operation. Key takeaways Chip Griffin: “As agency leaders, we need to be thinking about scope from the very first conversation that we’re having with a prospect.” Gini Dietrich: “Scope creep comes into play when we don’t price projects based on actual numbers.” Chip Griffin: “Scope creep tends to happen because you’re not communicating well with the client, but just as importantly, you’re not communicating well with your own team.” Gini Dietrich: “When your team is involved from the beginning versus after the contract was signed, scope creep will become less of an issue.” Resources How to stop scope creep before it starts Related How agency owners can avoid scope creep (featuring Steve Guberman) Hidden overservicing by agency employees How agencies can avoid scope creep with client projects (featuring Ben Aston) View Transcript The following is a computer-generated transcript. Please listen to the audio to confirm accuracy.Chip Griffin: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: I am Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And Gini, you know, I think we should expand the scope of this podcast. I think we should start covering economic issues and engineering, and I don’t know, while we’re at it, why don’t we do the arts? Gini Dietrich: Let’s do some politics. I, I’d like to do some politics. Chip Griffin: Oh, definitely politics. Yeah. Yeah. I think that would be smart. I think that’s really smart. A good expansion of the scope of this. Gini Dietrich: Absolutely. Yes. Chip Griffin: But, but we’re still gonna do it in, in just about 20 minutes a week. We’ll choose the topic, we’ll pay ourselves exactly the same amount. Gini Dietrich: Yes, absolutely. I, I’m okay with that. Chip Griffin: Okay, Gini Dietrich: cool. Let’s do it. Cool. Chip Griffin: Well, so that obviously is a joke. We’re not doing any of those things. Gini Dietrich: No. Chip Griffin: Although it might make it easier to come up with topics ’cause some weeks we struggle to figure out what to talk about and if we were covering everything, or maybe that would make it even harder. Gini Dietrich: Although we could just record our pre-conversation and be done with it. Chip Griffin: Yeah, we’d probably get in a lot of trouble though, so let’s, let’s not do that. Okay. Can we, can we just agree we’re not. Gini Dietrich: I’d have to tone down my swearing too. Chip Griffin: We’re not hitting record before we hit record, so that … not serving any purposes at all. Gini Dietrich: Nope, I agree. No, not good. Chip Griffin: Alright, well how about we talk about scope creep when it comes to agencies rather than this podcast. Gini Dietrich: I like it. I like it. And you just did a webinar on this, so tell us all. Chip Griffin: Yeah, I mean, look, it, scope creep is, is something that I think just about every agency experiences at one point or another. I think I’ve talked in the past about my theory of the, the bell curve of profitability for agency clients where you tend to be less profitable in the beginning because you’re getting up to speed and then you start to figure it out and you get efficient and you don’t have to ask so many questions to get things done well. And then over time, that’s when the scope creep comes in and starts driving down your profitability. And, and I think that part of the problem is that as agency leaders, we need to be thinking about scope from the very first conversation that we’re having with a prospect. And so many of the problems that we talk about on this show go back to the first conversation with an employee or a client or something like that. And so we need to set the expectations correctly from the very beginning because if we don’t, we have no hope of staying within scope over time. But then we also have to set the expectations correctly in the actual documents we’re signing. Gini Dietrich: Right. Chip Griffin: So it’s a balancing act because you don’t want to be so specific in the agreement that you’re, you’re constraining yourself from being able to be creative or you’re forcing yourself to do certain things or meet certain objectives that six months later will no longer make any sense. So you got to have some flexibility in there. At the same time, you’ve got to put guardrails in. Gini Dietrich: Absolutely. Chip Griffin: And you develop these by learning from your past engagements. If you do that, then you can set up the protections that you need in order to be able to have reasonable or rational conversations with your clients when scope creep occurs. Gini Dietrich: And I think we’ve had this conversation before too, in that we tend to build our scope before we really get into the client’s business. Especially when it’s a brand new client right. After you, if you, you’re doing scope after a year or something, it’s a little bit easier, but when it’s with a, with a brand new client, you just don’t know. You don’t know what their culture is like. You don’t know what access you’re gonna have. And we, we have a list of things like you have to give us access to analytics and the CRM and you know, blah, blah, blah. All your marketing automation, all the kinds of stuff, right? And we tend to add to that list based on what we’ve learned from other clients. But even still, you still don’t know exactly what you’re getting into. And so building a scope of work for an entire year, like I think most of us do, is really challenging. So one of the things that we started to do is say, okay, for the first 90 days this is what we’re going to do. We got to set you up. We’re got to do systems all like all this stuff. We’re gonna get some results. These are kind the, these are the tangible deliverables you’ll get in the first 90 days. After that, we’re gonna take a look at things and say, okay, what are the objectives? Where are our benchmarks? What were we able to accomplish in the first 90 days? And move from there. And we do that every quarter. So we’re really only writing a scope for, for three months at a time. It’s a pain in the butt from a paperwork standpoint. But it prevents the scope creep because we’re able to have that quarterly conversation to say, this worked, this didn’t, we still need this. We weren’t able to get that. Like, these are the kinds of things that we need to be able to do to move this, the your business forward and it, and it’s less confrontational, so you don’t have to call and say, so we’re running out of hours. Like, you just, you don’t have to have that conversation because you’re, it’s a consistent, ongoing thing that’s part of the work that you’re doing with your clients. Chip Griffin: Yeah. And, and communication like that is absolutely critical to staying within scope. And it’s the, the communications breakdowns happen at multiple levels, for sure in the worst cases of scope creep. And it, it tends to be because you’re not communicating well with the client, but just as importantly, you’re not communicating well with your own team. Yep. Far too often, the actual employees who are responsible for the day-to-day work have no idea what the scope is that you’ve committed to. Gini Dietrich: Right. Chip Griffin: And they need to know that. Gini Dietrich: They need to know. Yes. Chip Griffin: Because are, are they, are they still likely to veer outside of scope on occasion to, to keep a client happy? Yep. A hundred percent. Yep. I mean, we, we just have to accept that, that that employees are in a difficult spot. And I know that in the past when I was a junior agency employee and I had the client asking for one thing and a boss telling me that I, I, you know, had to stay within a certain parameter of hours or scope or whatever. I was between a rock and a hard place, right? Because I knew someone was going to yell at me. Yep. And so. The instinct is to try to find some way through, which usually ends up in at least some degree of overservicing. So that will still happen. But what you’ve got to do is you’ve got to make sure that they know that they’re overservicing, because that will curb it to some degree or another. And when you hide things from your team, they don’t have the information that they need, the awareness that they need in order to help you make better decisions. Gini Dietrich: I remember, this was a long time ago, but you know, in the early days of my agency, I remember an employee pulling me aside and saying, it’s great that you’re going to these new business meetings and you are, you know, writing the proposals and you’re saving us from all of that work. But once we transition to doing the work, like we don’t, we don’t have the same knowledge that you have. And so the clients are getting frustrated. We’re getting frustrated. And I was like, oh. And in my mind, I really was saving them from all that like, it’s administrative tedious work. Right. But what it was in, when in fact, and sure, it’s, it’s still tedious and they didn’t enjoy the actual proposal writing and stuff like that, but because they were, they began to become, become involved from the beginning. They understood what it is that we’ve promised, what we’ve said that we can do, and, and, and to what extent that costs. Right. So it became, that became less of an issue too when I involved them from the beginning versus after the contract was signed. Chip Griffin: Yeah. And you have to make sure that you’re creating a culture that they will share with you when the client is asking for things. Gini Dietrich: Yep. Chip Griffin: They’re out of scope, even if they may agree to it in the moment because it only takes five minutes. They still need to keep you in the loop. And if you are not getting the awareness yourself as the leader for what kind of scope creep was going on, you can’t make a rational decision that’s right about how much to allow. Because I’m not gonna tell you, you shouldn’t allow any scope creep. Because if every time the client asks for something out of scope, you call ’em up and say, we’re not doing this, or you have to pay more, or something like that. Right? You are going to destroy that relationship. Yes, absolutely. Yes. So you cannot be that kind of of agency. You need to accept that there is going to be some and and, but you need to be aware of it. You need to deal with it sooner rather than later when you’ve crossed that line of into something where it is too much. Because if you don’t call it out when it’s happening, if you don’t deal with it when it’s small, it becomes really hard to deal with once you’ve got a huge accumulation of it that’s built over 6, 9, 12 months or more. And so you’ve got to be in a position where you’re just addressing it as soon as you possibly can so that you can get things back on track. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, I mean, a really good example of that that just literally just happened here is a client asked three of my team members to be at their onsite in June for three days, you know, with travel and all that. And I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We’re not budgeted for that. Like, we’re not scoped for that at all. We, there’s no travel, there’s no in person anything. And that’s expensive. It’s really expensive to have three people in one place for three days. Yep. So, you know, luckily I, I think I’ve created a culture that it did come up and I was like, okay, great that they want you there, but we’ve got to get a new scope of work or add on to, do an addendum to our, to our contract because that we just, if, if we take that out of our current budget, we can’t do the work. And like my team, I didn’t even realize it, it was just part of the conversation that we’re having as a, as a team update. And they were like, oh. So you like to, to your point, you have to build a culture that people are comfortable sharing that with you and saying, you know, the, this, the client’s really excited to have us there. How do we make that happen? Yeah. It’s like new scope of work, friends. Chip Griffin: Right? And, and at the same time, in order to deal with sort of the, the less expensive scope creep that can occur, you know, so that you’re not making your client feel nickeled and dimed, you’ve got to build that into your original pricing. Gini Dietrich: Yes. Chip Griffin: And so too often just to win the business, I’ve seen agencies kind of whittle that pricing down to the bare minimum just to, to give what’s being asked for. But you have to assume that there’s going to be out of scope requests because I don’t think I’ve ever had an engagement as an agency where the client didn’t ask for at least a little something out of scope. And we have to stop putting ourselves in this position where we think that the client is doing it for nefarious purposes. They’re trying to get something for nothing. No, frankly, most of the time the person we’re dealing with on the client side doesn’t even know what was agreed to themselves in the beginning. So they may be completely clueless and, and oftentimes my experience has been when you tell them, oh, that’s not within scope of it, oh, I had no idea. I’m sorry I didn’t, I didn’t mean to ask you to do something that, right. I thought it was quick and easy and was in scope and was fine. But, but make sure that you’re building some sort of a cushion into your price so that you can allow those little things. Sort of like if you’re renovating your house or something like that, you want to build in a cushion so that when you want to move an outlet or something, you move the damn outlet. Right. And you don’t have to worry about, oh my God, that’s gonna be another 500 bucks to do that. Just plan ahead that these things are going to happen and you’ll be in a much better position to figure out what’s the real scope creep, like travel expenses that you need to deal with. Because anytime it’s an out-of-pocket scope creep, that’s a real, it’s real. There’s a difference between a little extra time, which is bad. Yes. But direct out of pocket expenses, that’s much worse. Gini Dietrich: Not happening. Not happening. Not happening. You said something moving an outlet. Shoot. I lost it. Chip Griffin: I just distracted you by taking it off topic. Gini Dietrich: It’ll come back to me. Chip Griffin: Well, fortunately, you know, we’ve, we’ve, we’ve built in a little cushion here in time, so we’ve got little bit of time that we can, where we can back to it. When it, when, when it, it re registers in your mind. You know, I think the other thing that we have to do is we have to create a culture of trust with the client so that they are open to us coming to them with these conversations. And so some of that’s on the personal level. Some, you know, that that means that, that as, as agency leaders and owners, we need to make sure we’re maintaining relationship with the client even as we’re having other people run the day to day piece of it. Because generally speaking, when it comes to something like scope creep, that almost always ends up being a more senior conversation at some point. If you don’t nip it immediately by the person on the other end saying, oh, I didn’t realize it was in scope, let’s just forget about it. Let’s move on. When they, when it’s something they really want or and or need and want to push forward, it’s probably gonna be more senior conversation. So you want to make sure that you’ve established that relationship of trust. But part of that too comes in those early expectations. And, and one of the things that, that I have always said to my clients, in consulting engagements of any kind is, look, you know, here’s the price that we’re agreeing on. But if at any point I feel like it’s not working for me, or you feel like it’s not working for you, let’s come to each other and we’ll figure out what to do. Do we need to adjust scope? Do we need to adjust price? But I like to set that expectation before anything is signed. And frankly, it’s another reason why I don’t like true ironclad long-term contracts, because frankly, I want the flexibility on my side. Gini Dietrich: Absolutely. Yeah. Chip Griffin: To go back and renegotiate when necessary. Yep. And, and I would rather that flexibility than the misguided unquote certainty of a long-term contract. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. I totally agree with you. What were some of the questions and topics that came up during the webinar that you just did? Chip Griffin: So, I mean, the questions are, are typically around the logistics of this, right? Mm-hmm. You know, how do I, how do I specifically have this conversation? How do I increase the, the price on someone who’s, you know, really budget sensitive even when I know that what they’re asking for is something that we ought to do. And I think these are things that, that we’ve touched on a lot in the past, particularly when it comes to raising prices on existing clients, right? Because that’s, that’s the guide that I look to when it, it comes to scope creep. You, you have basically two choices. You can swap something out and so we don’t do this, but we do what you’ve just asked for instead. Yep. So we, we, you know, it’s a net wash on, on the actual cost. Or we are gonna have to charge you more. But that’s because you see as the client, the additional value coming to you in exchange for whatever additional pay that you’re getting. I, I think that we, we can’t be in a position where we think about scope creep solely in terms of we need to charge you more for this. Frankly, more often than not we can just, you know, rearrange what we’re already doing for a client. Absolutely. Particularly if it’s scope creep that’s happening over time. Because chances are, if it’s come into the relationship a year or two down the road, there’s something that we were doing originally that we’re still doing. We could probably just shed that and it would, you know, come out in the wash. Yeah. So, you know, I, a lot of the questions really come down to those logistics of how do you actually have those conversations? How do you figure out how to price it? Those sorts of things. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. One of my favorite things, approaches is, yeah, yeah, absolutely. We can do this. We’ve been doing this, this, and this. What, what do you want to replace it with? I think we could probably replace it with this and just make a recommendation. And sometimes the client will say, no, I want to keep doing that. What will it cost to add that on? And other times they’re like, yeah, I, let’s take your recommendation and replace it. So it’s not technically scope creep because you’re just, you’re moving, to your point, you’re moving things around. Chip Griffin: Right. And, and we also shouldn’t assume that the answer is going to be no. Gini Dietrich: Right? Chip Griffin: Because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve assumed that, that if I say this is, this will cost this extra, someone will say, uh, no, I’m gonna, I’m gonna pass on that. The reality is that, that people say yes to these upcharges all the time. Yep. In some of the photography that I do on the side, I’ve been shocked at that. The people who will pay exorbitant travel fees for me on what is a relatively low cost project to begin with. In some cases, you know, the travel cost may double the total cost of the engagement, and they’re like, oh, that’s fine. I’m like, okay, Gini Dietrich: okay, Chip Griffin: okay. I mean, I figured it was gonna scare you away and I wouldn’t have to do this cruddy thing that I wasn’t interested in, but apparently not. Gini Dietrich: Okay. You know what’s interesting about the last few episodes we’ve done is much of the things that we’re talking about really come down to understanding your financials and getting that straight. And I think if you have that foundation, a lot of this stuff goes away, right? Because you know how much things cost, you know what your profitability needs to be, and you know where things stand. And if you have that really strong foundation, and I’m not saying you necessarily have to do it. But you do have to find an accountant who can help you create these kinds of things. Once you understand that all of this stuff gets easier, prospecting gets easier, pricing gets easier, price increases get easier, scope creep gets easier, all of it gets easier. I think too many of us, myself included in the past have just focused on, well, I think it’ll cost this and let’s just throw it in there. And that’s where the scope creep comes into play is when we don’t do it based on actual numbers. Chip Griffin: Yeah, I mean, look, the two, the two best solutions are the two best solutions that I recommend for almost every operating problem within an agency. The first is regular without fail weekly one-on-ones with all direct reports. Yep. Because that’s your line of communication internally, so that you even aware that something, something’s up that, that you need to pay attention to. And the second is project budgeting. Because if you’re, if you’re doing the time tracking that’s required for project budgeting and you’re looking at your numbers, you’ll understand when and where you need to draw the line on scope creep. And so almost every single internal operations problem I’ve ever encountered in an agency can be, if not completely solved, heavily mitigated by those two things. Gini Dietrich: Totally agree. Absolutely. Yes. Chip Griffin: And the vast majority of agencies aren’t doing either. Gini Dietrich: That’s correct. Because it’s time and uncomfortable and things that you don’t want to focus on. That’s absolutely right. Chip Griffin: But both are actually really easy to do and don’t take all that much time. And if you just invested in them, it would make a monumental difference. Yes. In the outcomes. And frankly, it even bleeds over onto the, the business development side because it helps you to figure out what kinds of clients you want to get, how to price them effectively, and maybe even bubbles up some ideas of who to specifically target if you’re doing those one-on-ones well. Gini Dietrich: Yes, absolutely one-on-ones. Do your project budgeting, so many things will be solved. So many problems will be solved. Chip Griffin: And on the client side, communications, same thing. I mean, you know, we are in the business of communications and yet we are generally very bad at communicating Gini Dietrich: very bad, very bad. Chip Griffin: With clients, with team members. Yes, with prospects. The only thing we’re good at is advising others on their communications, but, but we need to, to focus on our own shoes a little bit as the cobbler. Gini Dietrich: We do, yes. As the cobbler needs to do. 100%. Chip Griffin: So any final words on scope creep or should we try to contain the scope of this podcast? Gini Dietrich: I think we should try to contain the scope of this episode. Chip Griffin: Okay. Well on that note then, I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: I’m Gini Dietrich Chip Griffin: and it depends.

In this episode, Chip and Gini delve into the topic of scope creep in agencies.

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In this episode, Tackling Scope Creep: People, Process, & Courage, we're diving into how to protect our projects, keep our sanity, and build stronger teams in the process.Episode outlineIntroCore conceptsThe People Side: Assertiveness and Stakeholder Boundaries The Process Side: Change Control Systems (Hard Skills/PM Tools)The Progress Side: Leading with Clarity Under Pressure Summary & ClosingGodspeed y'all,Kevin

There's a lot of noise out there about “scope creep” in healthcare. But instead of letting fear and false narratives distract us, it's time to shift our focus to what really matters.In this episode, I'm breaking down five powerful areas where PAs should be putting their energy:Building strong, trust-based patient relationshipsInvesting in ongoing professional developmentCultivating mentorship and sponsorshipSetting and maintaining healthy boundariesAdvocating for the PA professionThese are the things that truly move the needle—for our careers, our patients, and our collective future as PAs.Resources & Links

In this episode of, "Power Minutes for Project Managers," we learn how to push back on scope creep and master the art of saying no, without actually saying no. #ProjectManagement #ScopeCreep #Leadership #RiskManagement #SoftSkills 

Send Katie a Text Message!! In this Strategy Session, we break down essential project management strategies to help interior The #1 mistake designers make that leads to project chaos—and how to avoid it.Ready to streamline your projects, increase efficiency, and maximize profits?Don't miss this power-packed episode—your future self (and clients) will thank you.Pro Tip: Adding project management services can significantly boost your firm's profitability and client satisfaction. Start with small steps and refine your process as you gain experience.See full show notes and resources mentioned in this episode athttps://successbydesign.coach/podcast/b/how-interior-designers-can-execute-scale-and-boost-profitsWant a Plug-and-Play Workflow?Let's build a custom project management system for your firm. Book a 1:1 strategy session with Katie to create a workflow that streamlines your projects and maximizes your revenue.

Today Andy visits the Fable Factory and chats with cool music guy Reed Reimer! They chat about Christmas music, Table top games, multi-media projects, and D&D Open Game Licenses. Reed also talks about his collabs with Benjamin Emory Larson, making a Zombie Opera, Cthulu Dreamt, and Eldritch horrors! Reed also teaches Andy about the concept of Scope Creep. If you like what you're hearing you can support Beyond Synth on Patreon: www.patreon.com/beyondsynth or PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/beyondsynth Check out REED REIMER here: https://soundcloud.com/reedreimer https://www.instagram.com/reimerpdx/ https://reimerandlarson.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/54bUKwAaWfbpsGOLk0Dmg8 FABLE FACTORY: https://fablefactory.bandcamp.com/ Today's Playlist: Reed Reimer - “Sorca” Reed Reimer & Benjamin Emory Larson - “All I Want for Christmas (feat. Savannah Smith)” Cthulhu Dreamt - “Exploring the Base (Act 1)” Reed Reimer & Benjamin Emory Larson - “The Agency” Reed Reimer - “Blue Monday (cover)” Reed Reimer - “Into the Deep Forest” Reed Reimer - “Stepping Off The Train”

This week, Tyler focuses on the importance of tracking hours and managing projects effectively to ensure profitability. He discusses strategies for budgeting, scheduling, and holding trades accountable to avoid cost overruns and maximize margins.   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media Tyler's Top Blogs: How I Started My Business Books that Build Site Protection Principles My Preconstruction Process: Part 1 Becoming Proficient in Multiple Trades

Why are the AMA and the AAPA Fighting? PA2 Olivia Quinby, PA2 Raginya Handoo, PA2 Julie Vuong, and M4 Katie Higham-Kessler dig into the intense ‘scope creep' debate between the American Medical Association ("Scope creep will destroy everything!") and the American Association of Physician Assistants ("WTF we're just trying to fill the gaps, bro!"). They discuss arguments from both sides about non-physician practice rights and the impacts on healthcare quality and access. And then there's this question: should this rivalry break out into the patients' view, what will it mean for their trust in a system many already find untrustworthy? Meanwhile, listener Olivia, a hopeful PA student herself and fearing that she missed the mark this year, seeks advice on strengthening her application while she waits to hear back from her schools. The hosts provide personal insights and practical tips on standing out in PA school applications, focusing on experiences, recommendation letters, and writing skills. We've all been there, Olivia–hang tight!

Welcome to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Join hosts Leanne Elliott, chartered psychologist, and Al Elliott, business owner, as they dive into the latest trends, insights, and practical advice to help you navigate the world of work. In today's episode, we're giving you a crash course in technology careers. Whether you're looking to break into the industry, considering a career change, or simply curious about the tech world, this episode is packed with invaluable insights. We're joined by John White and Nick Korte, co-hosts of the Nerd Journey podcast, who share their decades of combined experience in various tech roles. They discuss what it really takes to build a successful career in the tech sector. Key Topics Covered: The Wide Range of Tech Roles Getting Started in Tech The Importance of Tinkering and Curiosity The Reality of Tech Interviews Salary Insights and Career Progression Navigating Tech Company Culture Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Evolving Field Personal Stories Resources Mentioned by John and Nick Episodes on the Principal Engineer Role: For a list of discussions on the principal engineer role and its significance in the industry, visit Principal Engineer Episodes. Max Kanat-Alexander (3 Episodes): Part 1: Embracing the Open Source Spirit Part 2: Succession Planning and Delegation Skills Part 3: Scope Creep and Focusing on Essential Work Ethan Banks: Discussion on doing work uniquely suited to your skills – Ethan Banks Episode. Erik Gross's Tech Academy: Insights on coding bootcamps and leveraging valuable knowledge – Erik Gross Episode. Kenneth Ellington and His Cyber Academy: Part 1: Introduction to Cybersecurity Part 2: Nurturing Cybersecurity Talent Development VMware Explore 2024 Presentation: John's talk on technical career progression, including slides and video – Uncovering the Patterns of Technical Career Progression. Connect with John White & Nick Korte Nerd Journey Podcast: nerd-journey.com Email: nerdjourneypodcast@gmail.com LinkedIn – Nick Korte: Nick Korte LinkedIn – John White: John White Support with Mental Health and Well-being If any of the topics in this episode have affected you, or if you need mental health support, please reach out to one of the following resources: UK: Mind offers mental health support and information. For those in distress, call Samaritans at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. US: Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Rest of the World: Visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a helpline in your country. Connect with Truth, Lies & Work YouTube: Truth, Lies & Work YouTube Channel TikTok: Truth, Lies & Work TikTok Instagram: Truth, Lies & Work Instagram LinkedIn: Truth, Lies & Work LinkedIn Connect with Al Elliott: LinkedIn Connect with Leanne Elliott: LinkedIn Email: Reach out at hello@truthliesandwork.com. Book a Meeting: Schedule a meeting with Al & Leanne here.

MedPod Today: the podcast series where MedPage Today reporters share deeper insight into the week's biggest healthcare stories. This week, MedPage Today reporters discussa new COVID variant, why the FDA is concerned about amniotic fluid in eyedrops, conversations happening in California about certified registered nurse anesthetists' scope of practice. Episode produced and hosted by Rachael Robertson. Sound engineering by Greg Laub. Reporting by Kristina Fiore, Sophie Putka, and Jennifer Henderson.

In this powerful episode, we dive into a transformative approach to client relationships that will change the way you do business, going beyond the surface to tackle some of the most pressing challenges entrepreneurs face today — especially those who want to maintain high standards, protect their boundaries, and ensure they're working with clients who truly value what they bring to the table.We explore the concept of making your clients audition for the privilege of working with you, much like contestants on American Idol. This isn't about playing hard to get; it's about setting clear boundaries, commanding confidence, and ensuring that the clients you take on are aligned with your values, vision, and the level of service you provide.In this episode, I discuss:Auditioning Your Clients: Just like in American Idol, not everyone makes it to the next round. I'll teach you how to audition your clients, guiding you on principles to help them either self-eliminate or clearly identify themselves as strong potential candidates.Creating Demand Generation: Discover how to generate strong demand for your services, making clients eager to work with you. When done right, this approach flips the script, positioning you as the sought-after expert who clients are vying to work with.Combating Scope Creep: Learn how to protect your time and resources by setting firm boundaries from the start, ensuring that your projects stay within scope and that you're compensated fairly for any additional work.Setting Boundaries and Expectations as an Empath: As someone who genuinely cares about others (and I'm sure you do in your business), it can be challenging to enforce boundaries. I'll share strategies to balance empathy with the necessity of maintaining your professional integrity.Commanding Confidence in the Discovery Phase: The initial discovery phase is crucial for establishing authority and setting the tone for the entire client relationship. I'll guide you on how to exude confidence and control during this critical stage.Mastering Value-Based Pricing: Discover how to shift the focus from cost to value, ensuring that clients understand and appreciate the worth of your services. I'll share techniques for implementing value-based pricing that aligns with the results you deliver, helping you command higher fees while maintaining client satisfaction.Maintaining High-Profit Margins: Learn strategies to keep your profit margins high without compromising on the quality of your work. We'll discuss how to structure your offerings and negotiations to ensure you're paid what you deserve, allowing you to focus on delivering excellence.Removing Objections with Confidence: Objections can derail a conversation and undermine the perceived value of your services. I'll guide you on addressing and removing objections preemptively, creating an environment where clients see you as the essential bridge to achieving their goals. By removing the air out of the room, you'll keep the focus on the vision and the transformative impact of working with you.Eliminating Budget Concerns: Learn how to remove budget from the equation by shifting the conversation to value. I'll show you how to guide clients to see the worth of your services, allowing you to command the rates you deserve while keeping your profit margins high.By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear roadmap for elevating your business relationships, protecting your time and energy, and ensuring that the clients you work with are a perfect fit for your services. If you're tired of chasing clients, compromising on rates, or dealing with constant scope creep, this episode is for you. Beyond The Episode Gems:• Learn More Starting Your Own Business With Amazon's Delivery Service Program• Start Creating Exceptional Sites & Business Solutions Using Wix Studios • Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform• Use The Same Recording Platform I Use For My Podcast, Try Riverside.fm For Free• Buy Troy's Book, Strategize Up That Is Referenced In This Episode: StrategizeUpBook.com• Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network#####Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy: • Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/Reviews•  Follow Troy's LinkedIn @FindTroy• Get Strategy Solutions & Services: GrowWithTroy.com•  Follow Troy's Instagram @FindTroy•  Subscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel