Gaining momentum

I am waiting for an email from a client.

Last Monday he said he'd get something to me by the end of the week.  I've been waiting eleven days.  It's an important email to confirm dates for an upcoming project.  Until I receive it I can't book flights or hotels or tie down other appointments.  I can't even let my wife know if I'll be in the country for our anniversary.  I tried emailing him about a marginally related topic hoping that would act as a reminder but he seems to ignore that email as well.  I'm left with no choice but to wait.

Finally the email arrives with most of the details that I require but also asking a couple of simple but necessary questions to finalise part of the project.  It will take me no more than five minutes to answer the questions and, pending an equally rapid response from him, we can everything locked up in an hour.

But part of me wants to wait; ignore the email until Monday morning and deal with it then.  Part of me wants to make him wait.  For making me wait.

This is insane.  I know this is insane.  I'm thinking like an artless divorcee trying to reconnect with the rules of modern dating.  Do I call?  Do I wait for him to call?  If I call twice before he calls me once is that friendly or desperate?  What if he's waiting for me to call?  What if something's happened and he can't call?

Really this is just my ego talking; I'm not a person who likes to be kept waiting and sometimes I find it hard to conceal my displeasure.  What my ego wants to do is send a message.

And suddenly I'm considering not responding immediately on a matter where timing really counts.  Suddenly I'm willing to give up precious momentum in order to feel better about a perceived slight.  Except I'm not seriously considering doing anything of the sort.  I'm certainly not willing to do anything that will stall the momentum behind the project.  I'll reply immediately and have the whole thing wrapped up by close of business today.

Momentum is precious.  I do everything possible to increase a project's momentum and shortening response times is a big part of that  If I respond quickly he's more likely to do the same.

It's not desperation, it's professionalism.