The easiest way to look stupid, dash your own hopes, lose customers and friends while creating an ocean of hurt feelings is to over-promise and under-deliver.
It plants the seeds of the illwill that, at first, grows into "pebble in your shoe" annoyance, then into the disdain, animosity and disgust that causes everyone to put your calls on terminal ignore and label your email as Spam.
With your dance card suddenly empty, you start checking yourself in the mirror several times a day for the early signs of leprosy.
Most importantly, in just a few minutes, it can destroy a reputation that took years to build; making you look like an incompetent dimwit or worse, a liar that's not to be trusted.
After that, it takes a long time - if ever - to earn back the lost trust, rebuild relationships and repair the damaged reputation.
And when that happens, good luck trying to find people to join you on future projects, attracting seed funding or getting a simple business loan.
Sounds pretty bleak, huh?
The good news is that habitually under-promising and over-delivering does just the opposite.
Under-promising and over-delivering is a win/win for all.
And from personal experience, it allows me to go to bed each night with no worries and a clear conscience.
Submitted for you to ponder in a quiet place.
May you and yours be well and loving life today.
In Lak'ech, JaiChai