Why “Whatever You Need” Is the Fastest Way to Blow Scope

“Whatever you need” sounds like good service. In practice, it’s how projects get messy, budgets drift, and the day turns into unpaid labor.

What goes wrong with open-ended coverage

• Nobody tracks additions because “it’s easier to just do it.”
• Small requests stack until you’ve doubled the work.
• Producers get stuck managing tasks instead of protecting the client.
• Post-show arguments start about what was “included.”

What works better

We don’t sell “anything you need.” We sell outcomes with defined deliverables.

That means scope is written, timing windows are protected, additions are approved before execution, and everyone knows what “done” looks like.

How to say it without creating friction

• “Yes, we can do that. I’ll send a quick change note so it’s tracked.”
• “That’s outside today’s scope, but it’s doable—here’s the add-on.”
• “If we add that run, we’ll need to shift priorities. What’s most important?”

Field Notes rule

Clear boundaries don’t slow the work. They protect it.