My 2024 offboarding post discussed the short-term aspects of how Bredemarket wraps up business with its clients. But it didn’t cover the long-term aspects.
What I didn’t say in 2024
You’ll recall my description of the end of a particular contract.
In 2023 I signed a contract with a client in which I would bill them at an hourly rate. This was a short-term contract, but it was subsequently renewed.
Recently the client chose not to renew the contract for another extended period.
But there’s one thing I didn’t say.
The client (whom I’ll call Client 1) failed to tell me that it wasn’t renewing my contract. In fact, in my last discussion with the client, I did not perceive that it wasn’t planning to renew.
Surprise! In fact, I learned of the non-renewal from a third party, not the client itself.
Of course, the client had every right to choose not to renew without advance notice.
But read on.
What happened in 2025
Contrast that with my relationship with two other existing clients, both of whom contacted me personally and let me know that they weren’t renewing my contract.
Both took the time to explain why they were not renewing. Nothing to do with my performance, but having to do with internal issues at each company (which I am not at liberty to discuss).
I went through the aforementioned data scrub process with both clients, and my obligation to both was done.
But read on.
Two little twists
Add these facts.
- There was an interesting connection between Client 2 and Client 3. My primary employee contact at Client 2 was previously a consultant at Client 3 until they were let go (again, not because of performance, but because of internal issues).
- And a little while later, my employee contact at Client 2 was let go from Client 2 themselves (again, internal issues).
The long term
Bredemarket completed its contractual obligations to all three firms: the one that let me go in 2024 (Client 1), and the two that let me go in 2025 (Client 2 and Client 3).
But what happens after that?
It depends.
- If my employee contact at Client 3 requests help, or if I see something of interest to Client 3, I’ll be more than happy to help or share.
- If my employee contact formerly of Client 2 requests help, or if I see something of interest to Client 2, I’ll be more than happy to help or share.
- If I see something of interest that affects Client 2, I may or may not share.
- If I see something of interest that affects Client 1, I probably won’t share…except to Client 1’s competitors.
Actions, and inactions, have consequences.
And because I neglected to put any Doors references in this post like I did with the last one, I’ll close with this mind-boggling remix.
Bredemarket 