I was working recently with a young man to help him design the engagement ring of his dreams.

We sat across from each other at his kitchen table. He had an idea in his head, but he couldn’t articulate it.

So we sat there and sketched and talked and talked and sketched.

And eventually, we had this setting that he was thrilled with.

Then I educated him on the properties of diamonds. I explained the things that matter.

We sat and we talked for a long time.

And then he picked the stone that he wanted for the setting that we created.

He didn’t need to walk in knowing exactly how the ring should look.

He just needed the idea.

The rest of it came together around his kitchen table.