Minimum Viable Excellence

The problem

Clients rarely leave because the work was 8/10 instead of 9/10.

They leave because the experience felt uncertain.

If you have ever thought "but we delivered" after losing a client, it is usually one of these:

• You were heads down delivering - they experienced it as you disappearing.
• A dependency slipped - nobody named it early, so the deadline became "a surprise".
• The plan felt vague - milestones sounded like guesses, not commitments.
• Scope crept - a few "small" extras turned into tension and awkwardness.
• Updates were late - not malicious, just busy, but trust still dropped.

This is what kills referrals. Not the output. The feeling that they had to chase clarity.

The cost is not just stress. It is the quiet stuff: discounting, longer sales cycles, and replacing work you should have kept.

The mechanism (MVE baseline)

You already know what good delivery looks like. The issue is consistency.

MVE is the minimum standard that stops delivery from being held together by vibes and good intentions.

It is not a new tool. It is a baseline for how you communicate and deliver, so the client always knows 3 things:

• What is happening - progress is visible and updates are predictable.
• What happens next - milestones are clear and the plan feels real.
• What could derail it - dependencies and blockers are surfaced early.

The baseline has 3 parts:

• Client communications - a cadence and scripts so clients never have to chase you.
• Project delivery - milestone clarity, dependency awareness, and early warning when reality changes.
• Internal process - a lightweight rhythm so the baseline becomes habit, not a one-off effort.

Not a 200-page process bible. Not corporate theatre. Just the minimum standard that creates a premium experience.

What you get

Practical assets you can install quickly, even if your delivery is busy right now.

• The baseline standard (rules) - the few non-negotiables that stop delivery chaos creeping in.
• Client comms scripts - templates for updates, blockers, and scope changes so you stay clear and human.
• Delivery checklists - milestones, dependencies, and scope, so the plan stays visible and trusted.
• A weekly rhythm - a lightweight review that keeps promises on track and surfaces issues early.

This is designed to be used. Not admired in Notion.

Why I’m building this

I care about this because I have lived it from every angle. Developer, project manager, producer, head of operations, delivery lead.

I have seen brilliant work delivered and still end with stressed clients, stressed teams, and awkward calls that should never have been needed.

My goal with MVE is simple - help good teams deliver their best work without the constant background stress of chasing updates, smoothing conflict, and fixing preventable delivery mess.

I want your clients to feel calm and confident. I want your team to feel proud and in control. And I want you to stop losing great relationships for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the work.

Origin post: https://www.jonmunson.co.uk/posts/minimum-viable-excellence-to-ensure-quality-across-all-your-client-interactions/

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Founding tiers

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Premium pilot is intentionally priced as a serious service. Beta is around £500 and likely £1500 after launch.

FAQ

Is this just common sense?
Yes. And that’s the point. Common sense isn’t common practice - MVE makes it consistent.

Will this take loads of time?
No. It’s the minimum standard that creates a premium experience.

What if it’s not for me?
No problem. Reserve, get one email when it’s ready, ignore it if it’s not your thing.