I kicked off too early.. and ended up pushing sh*t uphill for weeks.

I kicked off too early.. and ended up pushing sh*t uphill for weeks.

Client seemed clear.

I thought I got it, ole hero Nick started designing.

Shipped REV A.

Then everything changed.

They weren’t sure what they wanted. I’d missed a few key things.

The whole thing went sideways.

Now I’m redesigning. Re-explaining. Re-negotiating.. All because I rushed the start.

Didn’t dig deep. Didn’t slow down.

Clear briefs aren’t admin.. They’re alignment, protection, leverage.. the basics.

They shape the whole job — budget, scope, timeline, expectations, trust.

If you want smoother projects, start by fixing the brief.

Not after kickoff. Before.

What's your favourite question to ask a client?

I’m building a list for Northstar. Drop yours below.