One of the most important things I believe we should value is our time.

Money is something you can always get back but not time.

Once lost, it's gone.

You can never get it... unless we end up making time machines.

One of our recent clients also valued this... their time.

And he ran a software development company, where timelines are quite important.

But somehow, in pretty much every other project, he had to invest more time than originally agreed upon.

So I did a call with him, just to understand the full picture.

There were 3 main challenges I could spot.

1) His company's contracts did not have clear payment schedules and terms, leading to delayed or missed payments from clients.

This created cash flow problems and uncertainty for his development team.

2) Clients often ask for more for the same amount.

So his clients requested additional features or changes mid-project without understanding the impact on time and costs.

This led to extended timelines, and increased workloads, and ultimately put a strain on him and his team.

3) He did not have clear communication channels and agreements.

So his clients had unrealistic expectations about project deliverables and timelines.

And this resulted in frustration and disputes mid-project, which harmed his and his company's reputation.

Now all this had to stop.

Because if it didn't, he would lose hair on his head, and also his peaceful sleep.

And no one wants to deal with uncertain projects.

So I took his contract and changed 3 things in it with my team.

1) Defined Payment Schedules:

Our first step was to revise the contracts to include clear payment terms, specifying milestones and due dates for payments.

We also included clauses for initial deposits, milestone payments, and final payments.

This made sure they had a steady cash flow.

2) Scope Management and Change Requests:

We added detailed scope definitions in the contracts, outlining what was included in the project and what would be considered additional work.

This is important because you have to specify what could be considered additional work.

For example, extra pages in the application.

We also implemented a formal change request process, specifying how changes would be handled.

And also included that adjustments to timelines and costs could also be required, depending on the changes.

3) Clear Communication and Milestones:

In the end, we added clear milestones and deliverables in the contracts, with timelines for each phase of the project.

We also emphasized the importance of regular updates and status reports to keep clients informed.

That way we could manage their expectations effectively.

Now these changes ensured that his clients understood their financial and time commitments from the start.

It also made sure that our client was able to protect his time and payments.

So remember to have clear payment schedules, scope management processes, and clear communication protocols.

Now I am sure you must be reading this because you have been in a similar position.

Now there are 2 things you can do here:

1) Either try to fix up your contracts on your own

2) Get my help to do it

The first one will be easier on your pockets, and the second one will be easier on your time.

Here's my Calendly link should you choose to go ahead with me:

Pick a Time with Akhil

See you soon.

-- Akhil Mishra