Triggered by articles on ‘diary of a website‘ (no1, no2) and comments I began to think about my point of view towards the relationship between my clients and me (actually thinking about blogging it). Not an easy topic.It sums up to 2 words: being honest. You may think now: ‘oh no, not again another missionary’. I’m not. I mean being honest to myself – that’s the problem (instead of being honestly mean to myself). How many times do I trick myself, starting the kind of ‘brain-war’ which hinders me of looking at situations directly? How often do I project problems I have with clients towards them instead of sitting back and thoroughly evaluate the current situation (or look at my contribution to the problem)? How many times do I get up already grumpy and/or aggressive? I tell you – too often. versus The moment I began to think about my personal honesty I couldn’t go back – and sure as hell it didn’t feel nice. There was the fear of losing clients if I didn’t adjust myself to the needs (mostly money or timeline). The more unspecific fear of not being good enough – or just the unspecific fear. To spare you some time: I didn’t find a recipe…But, easy and strenous enough, I keep working on my real perspective nearly on a daily basis and it works out. I might have lost some clients (I’m sad and happy about it) but I also gained new ones (still being happy). I learned to express my thoughts, needs and skills in a better, direct way to my (prospective) clients. So they can deal with it, or not – and me too. Which helps clearing the lines from the start – most of the time – and provides a sustainable basis.So I try every day to go with Mark Twain (be it private or business):”If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.”