How to get fired
Today I had a conversation with a client who was being fired for the very first time.
(First off, credit where credit is due: As a company that’s been around for over a decade, it’s incredibly impressive that this is the first time it’s happened.)
The short story: Despite doing an excellent job on recent projects, their customer had fallen on hard times and decided to switch to a lower-cost provider mid-engagement.
Not awesome.
But also, not the end of the world.
Here was the real problem:
Because no client had ever ended a contract early before,
My client wasn’t really sure how to stop working.
Here’s what I told them:
> Have a Playbook
When emotions are high, systems help.
Build a simple offboarding checklist and email templates for next time.
That way, you’re not scrambling mid-goodbye while also trying not to take it personally.
Even better - automate it.
Create a standard offboarding sequence: final steps, thank-you message, file transfers, and survey links.
Treat offboarding with the same care as onboarding.
It’s part of the customer experience.
> Be Incredibly Professional
How you leave matters.
Say thank you
Show empathy & understanding
Provide clean, professional written communication
Be transparent up front on how the exit process will happen
Be the calmest person in the room
People remember exits.
Being gracious and organized increases your odds of getting a future referral (or even a boomerang).
...But also > Lock Things Down
When engagements end, stakes can rise.
So does the likelihood of misunderstandings, ghosting on payments, angsty actions, or unhelpful surprises.
You’re not being paranoid; you’re being prepared.
Re-familiarize yourself with your contract and obligations
Collect and save clear documentation of the work done to date, especially pertaining to you satisfying your end of the bargain
Confirm final payments are in-hand (or get specific on when they will be)
Hold leverage until payment clears (eg. final deliverables, releases, ownership, etc.)
Revoke access of things that could be stolen (your IP, tools, documents, etc)
Actually stop work. Any further time or investment in the project may not be compensated
> Update Your Termination Clause
My client did have a termination clause, but it wasn’t detailed or actionable enough.
In the heat of the moment, they didn’t feel confident using it.
Use every exit as a prompt to refine your contract language:
Is your notice period and payout structure clear?
Is it compatible with what you're delivering, especially if it ends unexpectedly?
Do you define final deliverables or what happens to in-progress work?
Is the clause helpful - not just protective?
Good contracts don’t just shield you - they guide you
And set expectations up front with your customer.
Breakups happen. Even when you do everything right.
It doesn’t mean you failed;
It means you’re running a real business.
Exits aren’t the exception,
They’re just part of the job.
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