How a Creative Negotiation Sparked Transformation
- Amy Kimball
- Nov 24
- 2 min read
“Your program costs more than I’d budgeted.”
A client said this to me at the end of our first discovery call.
“What had you budgeted?” I asked.
He shared the number, then added: “But let me be clear — I want to work with you. I’m not asking you to match it.”
So, I asked a different question: “What additional value could I offer you that might be workable for both of us? For example, would it be impactful if we kicked off our engagement in person?”
He paused. “That would be great, if possible. Actually, I could probably come to you.”
“If you came on a day when I’m not already booked,” I said, “I could waive the cost of our kickoff. That way, we stay closer to your budget and get the catalytic impact of starting face-to-face.”
That’s exactly what happened.
The foundation we built onsite would ignite the partnership from day one. Carving out a full day for slower, less distracted thinking--outside our daily environments--opened space for expansive perspective. Perspective that might have taken weeks to access over Zoom.
Later, he told me that beginning “in a different place” (literally) was essential for embracing the “different place” he would find himself in through the work.
Months later, when we were nearing the end of our initial engagement, I was the one to offer to travel to him.
“There are some themes we’ve been circling,” I said. “My intuition is that a dedicated full-day workshop could be the spark that moves things forward.”
It did.
From there, the creative, custom approaches kept flowing. We found new, energizing ways of working--approaches that unlocked his transformational goals and expanded what he believed was possible for himself.
All of it began with openness on both sides: curiosity, flexibility, and a willingness to create something that didn’t yet exist.
Ultimately, that work would shape something bigger: A Year of Transformation was born from this collaboration--shaped by what actually catalyzes change for founders navigating identity, purpose, and evolution.
Creativity, intuition, and willingness are powerful ingredients in the kind of transformation that invites letting go of old anchors, stepping into uncertainty, and moving toward a more purpose-driven, expansive future.
Creativity is one of a founder’s (and coach’s) greatest assets. When we let it flow, something powerful emerges.
If you’d like to start dreaming about what’s possible, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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