If you want to set the stage for long-term success, the first hours of a new client relationship are where the momentum begins. At the start of a project, everyone’s excited, but that honeymoon phase can fade quickly and doubts can creep in. In this talk, I’ll challenge the way we typically approach those early hours and propose a more effective method: one that identifies what feels risky, delivers tangible progress fast, and keeps the client trusting you to lead. This talk is for anyone who makes decisions about what gets done first, whether you’re a developer, strategist, project manager, or team lead.