So uh, I need to rant about something that's really stressing me out, care to lend an ear?

So I've got to attend a meeting with a major client next week. Now normally, meetings aren't a big deal, but here's a bunch of reasons why this one is going to be very different:

1) every prior meeting I've been in has been with seniors attending. Meaning that there's always been someone more experienced than me who'll be doing most the talking. This time, not only will I be the most senior, but I'm going to be the sole representative of the company. Compound this with the fact that this time last year, I had only just graduated from law school!

2) this client is huge. Like, worth billions of dollars huge. And their board of directors is filled with influential people, including major government figures.

3) a typo in a document we sent to them erroneously referred to their CFO as a lady. From what I've been told, this really, really pissed him off. And of course, this guy just had to be one of the expected attendees.

So why am I writing all this? Mainly because I am fucking freaking the fuck out and just need to tell somebody, thanks for listening.

 

Good luck!

 

Just act like your avatar and you'll be fine.  

 

Understand that if the company didn't have some degree of faith in you you wouldn't have been considered to represent them.

So man the fuck up, walk in there like you're hung like a donkey and own that room. Get your company those billions of dollars and walk away knowing you're a big swinging dick.

 

I actually like this.  

Go in prepared, anticipate their concerns, and yeah- what tikgnat said.  

 

Basically this: you are a monster truck that walks like a man champ!

 

If Snark was a woman this would be hilarious
In which case what would be your advice if this was a woman asking for advice?

 

Slap the flaps instead of swing the dong?

But yeah, to the OP: maybe your company thinks it's about time you stopped lurking in the shadows at these meetings, came to the fore and started showiing what they presumably think you're capable of, otherwise they wouldn't be making you do this. You graduated from law, so you have the skills. You just need the confidence to hammer your dick on the table and apply those skills like the big boys do.

Good luck. Now go grease up that man hammer.

 

Absolutely this!!!

You need no more advice.....

 

"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no one - for I am the meanest motherfucker in the valley."

 

You'll be fine dude.

 

A woman eh? Hmm.

'Understand that if the company didn't have some degree of faith in you, you wouldn't have been considered to represent them.

So put on your warpaint, walk in there looking like a million dollars, flash some leg and own that room. Get your company those billions of dollars and walk away knowing you could have your way with any man in there.'

Hmm... not quite the same methinks.

*runs*

 

You forgot "Flash the beaver Sharon Stone style"

 

That works.

Me? Sexist? Surely not?

 

I can say it because i'm a woman  

Of course, we're talking billionaire clients...hell, I would flash the beaver if we're talking about that kind of cash/prestige. Everyone's morals/dignity/self-respect has a price   For me it's ONE BILLION DOLLARS....or maybe it's $10???

*joking obviously...my dignity is worth at least....TWICE that*

 

Or more simply walk in there and be:

 

Proper Planning and Practice Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

 

Yup, totally agree with this.

I have taken part in many meetings where I was only supposed to be a participant, but became the owner of the meeting. So much so, that clients only wanted to work with me and the other people in the room were no longer invited to future meetings.

This all happened because of the above. I asked the proper questions before the meeting to see what issues I would face. I then made sure to do my research to be able to address these questions and any other questions which I thought would come up.

By the time I had any meetings with these clients, I was beyond prepared and was able to answer their questions. If I didn't know an answer, I made sure to let them know I did not have that answer for them. Because I was so well prepared, my lack of knowledge in one area was forgiven as I had already answered so many of their questions.

So the moral here is be prepared, and don't feel like you need to know everything. If you know 80% and can fix 70% of all of their issues/complaints, then you will be their go to guy. So have confidence in yourself.

 

Lol about the woman comments
I have laugh at aeronoths parrot avatar that circles slowly on my computer but on my avatar goes 90mph it's hilarious

 

QFT