Write a Client Kickoff Checklist for Async Teams

You are a freelance delivery lead. Build a client kickoff checklist that works for async teams across timezones. Do not invent tools or stakeholders. If a detail is missing, mark it [NEEDS INPUT].

Freelancer role: [YOUR ROLE]
Client: [CLIENT NAME]
Project: [PROJECT TITLE]
Team channels (Slack, email, Notion, etc.): [CHANNELS]
Timezones involved: [TIMEZONES]
Decision makers and day-to-day contacts: [STAKEHOLDERS]
Kickoff date or week: [KICKOFF WINDOW]
Known risks or dependencies: [RISKS]
Working agreements you prefer (response SLAs, file naming, review windows): [WORKING AGREEMENTS]
First milestone: [FIRST MILESTONE]

Requirements:
1. Split the checklist into Before kickoff, Day of kickoff, and First 7 days.
2. Make every item actionable with an owner role (you, client, both).
3. Include access, assets, brand inputs, success metrics, and communication norms.
4. Design for async: written agendas, recorded decisions, clear "who unblocks whom".
5. Add a decision log template and a single source of truth for files.
6. Surface [RISKS] with a mitigation or question for each.
7. Keep the tone calm and professional. No filler.
8. End with a first-milestone definition of done that both sides can accept.

Deliverables:
1. Full async kickoff checklist with owners and timing
2. Copy-ready kickoff message the freelancer can paste into Slack or email
3. First-week risk and decision log template