By using How We Work Together document, you can begin setting stage for productive client relationships from your very first contact with a new prospect. During your first meeting, give them a copy of document and go through it with them. When I ran my web development company, mine included a rough timeline for each stage of project and described how responsibility shifted from me to them and back again throughout process. It also included a description of consequences should particular stages of project go beyond timeline by a specified amount of time. This applied to me as well as them. People like to know what to expect. It left them feeling that I had a system I followed and could be relied upon to do what I was proposing to do. I feel confident that this is one of reasons I got 90% of projects I pitched.

I used How We Work Together document again once I had received signed contract and deposit payment. At that point, I would consult my project calendar and assign specific dates to each stage of project included on document and mail it out to client. They had already seen document once, so it wasn't new to them. Now, they just reviewed dates and used it as a follow-up tool.

If you are currently in a similar situation, handle it as best you can in order to preserve client relationship and introduce How We Work Together document at beginning of next project with this client. To begin to set boundaries with all of your clients and prospects, create your own How We Work Together document and utilize it in every new project for new and existing clients. You can see an example of one I helped a client write at: http://www.askthebizcoach.com/freebiesignupform.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kimberly Stevens is a business coach who works with business owners who want it all – a joyful personal life and a meaningful and profitable business. Her web site http://www.askthebizcoach.com offers weekly TeleTalks on business topics, a discussion board, business assessments tools, and an ezine addressing business challenges from a more personal angle.

The business planning that you have done up to this point will kick in now to carry you on through execution portion of transition phase. Lots of work needs to be put forth to ensure that your business is successful. Congratulations!! You're out of starting blocks!!!

The last phase of development is most gratifying. This is when your mind re-learns to open up. When you were a child, your mind was wide open to new things. That is how children can absorb so much so fast. Successful people, as compared to lucky ones are those that keep their minds open to opportunities. They are also emotionally ready to capitalize upon those opportunities.

In conclusion, I will leave you with this simple thought. You are only warden over your mind. You hold keys that can free your mind to see all of opportunities out there.

Remind yourself of your dreams. See yourself for what you are today. Plan for your transition to success. Execute that plan and then allow your mind to be free and open to all of opportunities that come along.

To success of your business!!!