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			Accepted Visitor Adventures Approval mistake During one multi-site project of long standing, there was a change in the personnel responsible for contact and project management at the key client.   We had been central to all of the discussions on the project, whether it involved us directly or only as a member of the team, and our comments were consistently requested, and well received.   Therefore, when this new person suggested, during one of the discussions and meeting, another, and clever, approach to one of the problems being dealt with, we felt it correct and appropriate to provide our opinion, which was that his idea was exactly what had to be done.   Imagine our surprise when our agreement and approval was met with a response that was essentially "Who are you, and what right do you have to comment and tell me whether I am right or not".   Within days, we were informed that our services were no longer necessary.   Learnings and lessons:   Clients are not always rational, and it is not always easy to understand how best to interact with them.   When the contact individual at a client changes, it is likely that the relationships with the client will have to be reconstructed as well, and care should be exercised. Hand signal We were brought in by a colleague, Mr. K., we knew only casually, who had recently taken over as the head of a company, to discuss market possibilities and other matters for new products under development.   He was a bit of an egomaniac, with great confidence in his own abilities, as I sometimes am. The way our relationship developed that day was perhaps exemplified by my responding to his question about what jobs I felt I could do with his company by saying "Yours".   The review of the studies proceeded against that background, with me asking questions, and him trying to control exactly how much I would learn.   Perhaps the highlight of that game came at lunch, when I asked one of the scientists how many times he had done a certain experiment, and Mr. K. held up his hand to stop him. The intimidated scientist looked over, misunderstood the signal, and, having counted the fingers, said "Five".   Mr. K. then signaled again, twice, so the scientist said "Ten".   Mr. K. finally gave up, and said "Do not answer that question".   Learnings and lessons:   One never knows what the atmosphere will be at any given client.   A key challenge is not to respond to challenges with ego, but rather with competence.