Know when to lead, when to follow, what to achieve, and what to let go

The ultimate goal of renovation isn't to get yourself worked up—it's to get the client to actually pay for it.
You need to know when you're the main character and when you're supporting cast, what needs to get done, and what shouldn't be forced through.
In a fight like this, sometimes you win, and sometimes you play the part of the retreating fool to lure the enemy deeper.