I had a client with a very interesting idea, one that could revolutionize the testing of blood and the safety of the blood supply.
I used my contacts and experience to arrange for a meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the matter, where the client hoped to obtain guidance from the FDA on how to move forward.
We all prepared and prepared, including an all-day discussion and practice session the day before the meeting, and went in armed with a wonderful presentation.
When we arrived, we were told that the FDA staff was still at a pre-meeting (something that sounded like a good sign).
The FDA staff, including the Division Director arrived, and announced they were ready to answer our questions, a very good sign, and one I told our client indicated it was time to sit down and listen.
Instead, the president of the client company insisted that I had to do the presentation; after all, we had spent so much time preparing it.
So, under duress, I had to use up some of everyone’s time (and a lot of my personal good will with the FDA) on a presentation that the FDA could not have cared less about.
And then they told us what they were going to tell us anyway.
Learnings and lessons:
Never, ever, bring a president of a company to an FDA meeting, or to any meeting of a three letter Federal Agency.
Always sit down and start writing when the FDA, or any three letter Federal Agency, says they are ready to answer your questions.
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Waiting On News
Generally, Israelis are relatively easy to deal with, having a rather self-amused view of life.
While Israel is overwhelmingly safe, there is a constant awareness of possible threats, from the guards at all public places, to the safe rooms, in every area, one can go into to avoid bombs.
At one of our clients in Israel, I joked with the secretaries and staff as I went into a company meeting to discuss the status of a project.
When the meeting broke, and we all left the meeting room, we found very serious persons gathered around the secretary's desk.
Apparently, during the meeting, there had been a bombing incident, and now everyone was waiting to find out if they had lost a loved one.
Fortunately, no one anyone knew had been hurt, and life returned to what passes for normal in Israel.
Learnings and lesson:
Each country has a special atmosphere and ethos, and it is important that a consultant be aware of, sensitive to, and respect these unique aspects of life, and evaluate how it might affect their interactions and work.
