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Bombed a client presentation last Tuesday and turned it around
I was in a meeting room downtown showing a Q3 marketing plan to a potential client. Halfway through, my laptop froze and the projector showed a blue screen for a solid 30 seconds. I panicked inside but just said "looks like my computer needs a coffee too" and pulled out paper handouts I had printed just in case. The client actually laughed and we kept going with the backup visuals. They signed the deal yesterday for a 6 month contract. Has anyone else had a tech fail that almost cost you a client?
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the_fiona15d ago
The real lesson here is that you proved your value before the tech even failed by having backups ready. Most people just memorize slides and hope for the best, but you clearly prepared for things to go sideways which is way more impressive to clients. Honestly, the blue screen moment might have actually helped you because it showed you can handle pressure and that matters more than a perfect deck.
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faith_shah8815d ago
Gave a friend the same advice about keeping paper backups after his tablet died mid-pitch to a restaurant chain. He pulled out printed menus and the client loved the old-school move, so @the_fiona is right that being ready for failure often looks better than a smooth show. He ended up landing a year-long contract, all because a dead battery let him look like a pro.
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