“Wow, I Didn’t See That Coming!!": How I Got Side-Swiped and What I Learned February 2026

Most of us don’t expect to get caught out by someone who seems genuine.

They’re friendly. Complimentary. They tell you how valuable your work is. They say things like “we’ll definitely work together” and “this is just the start.” 

You relax a little. You assume goodwill.

That’s often where the trouble starts.

Recently, I found myself in a situation where I provided assistance and insight to someone who then used my work as a case study for a bid. The bid was successful. I was asked to prepare contracts. And then — once everything was in place — the agreement was quietly not honoured.

No dramatic confrontation. No outright refusal. Just a slow retreat and a sudden absence of accountability.

It was a reminder of something many of us only learn the hard way:

Nice words are not protection.

Good intentions are not safeguards.

As consultants, creatives, and service providers, we often sit in the grey areas of :

• early conversations

• “quick questions”

• exploratory calls

• scoping discussions that feel informal.

  
  

Before you realise it, you’re:

• advising

• shaping thinking

• contributing IP

• influencing outcomes

…all without anything formally in place.

What feels like relationship-building can quietly turn into unpaid consultancy.

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: Protect Your Work & Your IP

After this experience, I revisited my contracts and agreements and made several adjustments.

Here are the fundamentals every service provider should have in place:

1. Clear consultancy terms and conditions

Define what consultancy actually means in your business. What’s included? What’s not? What triggers a fee?

2. A definition of “consultation” vs “commissioned work”

If scoping, strategy, or advisory input contributes to someone else’s deliverable or commercial outcome, that’s not casual conversation — it’s value.

3. Scope boundaries (and what scope creep looks like)

Spell out when work moves beyond an initial discussion and becomes chargeable. This protects both parties.

4. IP protection

Make it explicit that your ideas, frameworks, documents, and thinking remain your intellectual property unless agreed otherwise in writing.

5. Contracts in place before meaningful work begins

Not after. Not “once we see how it goes.” Before.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth.

Most people don’t set out to exploit you.

But when boundaries aren’t clear, value gets absorbed — and accountability disappears.

Protecting yourself isn’t about distrust.

It’s about professionalism.

It allows you to be generous and secure. Collaborative and respected.

I will leave you with this final thought.

If you’ve ever felt that uneasy moment —the one where you realise you’ve given more than you intended—this is your reminder to pause, tighten things up, and put protection in place.

Your work has value.

Your experience has value.

And clarity is one of the kindest things you can bring into any working relationship.