Under promise and over deliver

I like to under-promise and over-deliver.

That's one way of saying that I like to keep my word and not just do what I promise, but do it in a memorable way that is much better than anyone involved ever expected.

Often, people in this industry over-promise and under-deliver.

That is, they make promises they can't keep, don't keep, or in some cases have no intention of keeping.

No matter the reason, when it happens it is incredibly hurtful. I'm afraid I've been wagged by that dog more than once because other people have made promises to me .. which I've passed on to others with whom I've wanted to work, only to have those promisers not come through after all - even when contracts were signed.

Which left me in the sorry position of having to pass on the bad news to those I've involved in projects or intended adventure that could not be fulfilled.

I never blow the whistle - name or blame the people who have not kept their word to the others who have to receive the disappointing information. I take full responsibility, though heaven knows I'd love to explain what really happened.

It just doesn't feel right to do that, no matter how disappointed I might be that someone else has not kept their word; that their action or inaction ends up reflecting badly on me.

Those who have worked with me before - and who know me - understand that something out of my control happened because I've always kept my word before. But others who have not worked with me? I can't say.

I've taken to not saying anything about anything I'm doing, that I'm up to or that I'm working on until it's basically a done deal.

But that's still difficult when a production is understood to be - basically - a done deal and someone at that stage doesn't come through.

Fortunately, 2007 holds with it a year that will start at least a decade of me working with people who will make sure we will consistently and constantly under-promise and over-deliver!