My approach (which generally isn't popular with anyone) is to start with "No" and work towards a measured "Yes" after the gory details have been thrashed out.
I've worked with too many nerdy-geeky-type people who love to demonstrate their cleverness to the obviously inferior sales/marketrdroids by immediately say "Yes, of COURSE we can, DUH" to whatever harebrained nonsense they've thought up over their long lunch at the local stripper pub.
Then spending the next 6 months bitching endlessly about what a ridiculously stupid and impossible project the sales/marketdroids have foisted upon them and life is just NOT FAIR and I'M GOING TO MY ROOM.
Start with "No" - everyone will hate you but at least you'll get shit done.
I've worked with too many nerdy-geeky-type people who love to demonstrate their cleverness to the obviously inferior sales/marketrdroids by immediately say "Yes, of COURSE we can, DUH" to whatever harebrained nonsense they've thought up over their long lunch at the local stripper pub.
Then spending the next 6 months bitching endlessly about what a ridiculously stupid and impossible project the sales/marketdroids have foisted upon them and life is just NOT FAIR and I'M GOING TO MY ROOM.
Start with "No" - everyone will hate you but at least you'll get shit done.