Over the course of my 22 years of consulting, I've consulted with well over 250 associations. And in that same time, I've probably spoken with an additional 1,000 or more. And one thing that still makes me chuckle is when someone says something along the lines of "We're a small association" or "We have a small budget" or "We can't afford anything too expensive."

And the reason I chuckle is that all of these things are relative. I've had associations with 50 staff say they are a "small association" (trying telling an association of four staff that that is "small") and I've had clients tell me that their "small budget" was "only" $200,000.

So my point is very simple: When describing your organization, your budget, or your project, don't use general terms like "small" or "large." Be specific. Because what's "large" or "small" to you may mean just the opposite to the person you're talking with.