DOING BUSINESS WITH
The contract. The partnership. The money.
Do not build a partnership on a handshake
Before committing, get the scope, ownership, payment terms, decision rights, and exit terms into a written agreement. Friendly history is not a substitute for clear terms. If you already work together, start with the next routine written recap rather than confronting them about every past promise.
Put each promise where it can be checked
Name who will do what, by when, and what counts as finished. Replace “we will sort out your share later” with an amount or formula. Ask for written approval when the work or price changes. Do not treat silence as agreement unless your actual contract allows it.
Separate the money
Keep personal money separate from business money where you legally can. Understand who can withdraw funds, create debt, approve payments, and access records. For shared accounts, review the agreement and get appropriate advice before moving funds or changing access. Quiet preparation is different from hiding assets.
Keep the paper trail
Keep agreements, invoices, approvals, delivery records, and payment receipts in an organized place you are authorized to access. Preserve the original messages. Follow privacy and confidentiality duties; do not secretly record conversations without checking local law.
Spot the deal that makes failure yours
Pause when you are responsible for an outcome but cannot control the budget, access, staffing, approvals, or deadline. Watch for changing success criteria, guaranteed returns, pressure to sign before reading, or a personal guarantee buried in paperwork. None proves intent by itself. Each is a reason to clarify the risk before accepting it.
A pause can be a business sentence
“I can confirm once the scope and approval dates are in writing.” You do not need to accuse anyone of manipulation to request clear terms. If money or liability is already at stake, an independent legal or accounting adviser can explain your options. This guide is not legal or financial advice.
One thing today
Read the next agreement you already have access to. Find the sentence naming who approves the work and when. If it is missing, note the question for the next routine planning conversation. Do not sign or send anything new today just to prove a point.
Powered by God. Filling the gap since =0. — Redemption Management Inc.
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