₦airaland Forum

I’m not the biggest drinker you’ll ever meet. I’m a social drinker. In particular, I like having a nice glass of red while eating a good meal. However, there’s something to be said for a well-crafted cocktail. For one thing, they’re cool. I mean, if James Bond is a fan, who am I to argue?

A traditional cocktail is a mixture of spirits (alcohol), sugar, water, and bitters. Add a little ice and a bit of garnish and you’ll have Don Draper’s favorite drink; an Old Fashioned – argued to be the “original” cocktail. It’s a mixology classic.

In business, there’s nothing more “classic” than a contract. It’s a business staple; and, like an Old Fashioned, it requires six ingredients – carefully mixed! – to truly make it shine.

1. Sugar: The Scope of the Work
Working on a project you love can be sweet. However, just like a cocktail, if you don’t measure the right amount of sugar, you risk adding too much, and no one likes a drink that’s too sweet – or a project that’s undefined and growing out of control. Measure the “sugar” of your project carefully.
State the exact amount of work you’ll be doing for your client. Define the scope of the project in your contract down to the last minute grain of effort you’re to be exerting. As an employee, you may have been expected to give “110%” in order to get by. When you work for yourself, you get to define exactly what percentage of the work you’ll be doing. But you have to be clear.

2. Water: The Client’s Responsibilities
Water, although essential to the mixture, is used sparingly in Old Fashioned cocktails. Similarly, your client’s responsibilities will likely be few. But they’re still an important ingredient in the contract mixture.
Does your client need to provide you with certain information or materials before you can begin working? Will they be giving you access to their website’s backend? Private files?
Write down everything that you need, and expect, from your client. This project is your drink, but your client needs to know exactly how much “water” (input/passwords/etc.) you need from them.

3. Ice: Payment Terms
Just like ice can transform a lukewarm cocktail into a refreshing beverage, cold hard cash can turn a hobby into a profession. If you’re providing services for someone, you deserve payment for that work.
State in writing the amount you expect to be paid, and when that payment is due. If you expect to be paid up front (whether in full or a percentage of the total), say so. Also, if you charge a fee for late payments, you’ll need to make a note of how much you’ll charge; as well as what qualifies as “late” (a day? a week? a month?).
And be sure to specify the method of payment (PayPal, Stripe, check, money order) you wish to be paid with, as well as what currency. There’s nothing quite like being paid in yen when you were expecting dollars! Never, ever assume that your client knows how you want to be paid; especially if you’re working for them remotely.
Keep in mind that wait times and payment procedures tend to be longer and more complex the larger the company is that’s hired you. Don’t get “iced out” by sending your invoice to the wrong department — or by not following up on late payers.

4. Bitters: Due Dates
Deadlines won’t always leave the nicest taste in your mouth, but they’re an essential ingredient to any good contract. When is your project due? Are your services to be ongoing or performed just once? What will happen to you if you miss the agreed-upon deadline? (Is there a grace period, or will your client take it out of your pay immediately?).
Make sure you know what’s due and when. And how you’re to deliver the finished product. Meeting all your deadlines will be pointless if you’re unclear on how you’re to get the work to your client. (Note: remember to account for shipping costs in your payment terms should any of your work require a physical delivery method).

5. Garnish: Revisions and Ongoing Support
Garnishes such as orange peels or cherries are optional and won’t always appear in your cocktail. Likewise, revisions and ongoing support won’t always be necessary and; therefore, won’t always appear on your contract.
Before writing up your contract, analyze the project you’re to be working on. If you’re a writer, consider the possibility that your client may need rewrites or revisions. How many will you allow before you start charging extra? If you’re a programmer or website developer, will your client need additional tech support? How many times can they call on you for maintenance?
Also take into account any long meetings/phone calls/e-mails/hand-holding you may have to do.

6. Spirits: Signatures
Signatures are the spirits of your contract. Yes, you can make a cocktail without alcohol – and it will look the same, and it will almost taste the same – but it won’t get the job done. Likewise, a contract without signatures doesn’t qualify as a legal/binding document.
Get your contract signed. It protects both you and your client by ensuring that you get paid and your client gets what they paid for. If your client refuses to sign your contract, ask why. If they’re holding back because other aspects of the contract aren’t to their taste (Too little sugar? Too much water?) then attempt to remix the contract with fresh ingredients and serve it again. However, if the client still refuses to sign your contract even after you’ve negotiated, then this is likely someone you should avoid doing business with.

Serve it with Style!
Presentation is everything when it comes to a memorable cocktail. Whether it’s being served in a fancy glass, if it’s been set on fire, or if the bartender themselves just so happens to be skilled in the art of flairtending.

A memorable, professional contract has much to do with presentation as well. Whether you choose to use a ready-made template, or create your contract from scratch, take the time to think about how it will reflect your brand as a whole.

Double-check your contract for typos. Not only will additional proofreading guarantee your contract’s text looks as professional as possible, it will also ensure – by virtue of accurate drafting – that you’ll be paid on time and for the correct amount of work. In this case, it literally pays to triple-check your information before sending to your client for their signature.

Aesthetically, you should do everything possible to make your contract look great. Even if all of your ingredients are fresh and mixed perfectly, you won’t be impressing anyone if you serve your cocktail in a dirty glass. The same principle applies to your contract — use it as a branding opportunity and add in your logo, or top it with a professional header image.

Also: serve what your client ordered. If you went into a bar for a single martini, but found yourself charged for a bottle of champagne, you’d be upset, right? Likewise, one of the quickest ways to piss off a client is to add on hidden fees or previously undiscussed charges. If you’ve been talking with your client about what they need and expect, they’re going to trust you to follow through on it. Many clients won’t even read your final contract once you send it to them. They’ll take a look at the overall presentation and then sign. But that’s no reason to poison their drink.

Serving up the perfect contract takes practice. But, soon you’ll be flairing with the best of them. And remember, if you get a super spy for a client, serve up that contract shaken, not stirred.

Found this article online and thought to share, hope you enjoyed it.

dhtml: With atomic bombs too.

Slyr0x: Na Boko boys kill am

And if its dead how does it affect the garri eba in Seun's kitchen?

Saryea83: You're too fast to drop your email! nwa idi sharp, but free sample first. Besides, I don't have d cash

Bros, its not importation from China that you demand a sample. Anyways, there is an excerpt in the first page of this thread.....scroll back to preview it. Cheers.

Saryea83: Businessman, send your A/c details now!!!!!

Lol...send me a mail nwakstar2020@gmail.com

kakashi12: Databoy you have done a very good job with this information your provided. Personally i like your innovation but if your getting offers from all over africa i believe u can be generous enough to give us the linkedin information for free. Collecting 1000 naira from individuals who are looking for work is not too cool. if you can get a job in SA and your paid as an expatraite..i believe you will not need the 1000 from individuals here.

If i make 1 million naira today, i will still collect N500 tomorrow. Go and tell Obansanjo that he has made millions so he should sell his chickens for N100 (na soldiers go take you do frog jump), or go and tell Dangote who is the richest black man in the world to sell cement for N200. Better still D'Banj to distribute his Koko garri for free to "help" the poor masses.

I have not made the kind of money i want so i will keep making more no matter how small or how big. If you think you are rich enough then render your services for free, thats your choice not mine.

I expected these insults. Am not surprised by the high rate of unemployment in this country. It's only in Nigeria, you see a rich man driving a very expensive car and instead of people to meet him to teach them how he made it, they will start calling him a ritualist....the more reason the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer.

I wont hold your tongues, you can keep raining insults. While the serious ones keep contacting me via email. Have fun guys....am off to LinkedIn to do ma thing

hehehehe

Funny thread. Come to think of it, you guys are right. Personally i look outside the shores of Warri to do business. And i have some contacts (which is key in this town), and even at that its still difficult. The best way to make money in this town is by doing business and not just any business but unique ones.

I always tell people, the best way to make money is by satisfying the addiction of people....look for what they are addicted to and provide it for them. You will make money.

E.g.
- All the youths are jobless but they can afford N200 - N500 daily for sports betting! Then why dont you become an agent?? You will make thousands weekly.

- They are jobless but they spend a fortune on alcohol......all you do is give it to them

- The girls dont want to work but they love sugar daddies (oil workers)....oya give dem more make you collect ya commission

Its all about satisfying their addiction.

KnuckleHead: una no dey tire? scammers, talking to themselves using different usernames encouraging people to donate money.
Cowards

You are funny....thanks anyway. By the way, there are millions of free information on the internet and i believe everyone knows about that.

KnuckleHead: Pay you for what information? Information that its free.
Just go to https://www.linkedin.com create a profile and search for jobs thats all. Its not magic. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs
You dont need to give any 'hungry fellow' N1000

Everyone knows about this too. Please tell us something we dont know.

1wolex85: @OP, why dont you give out steps for free? when people see that it works, they will be willing to pay for the rest.

Below is an excerpt from the report;

[b]Because of the saturated marketplace especially for job seekers, its now harder for unemployed people to get jobs around the globe. LinkedIn is a tool that can be VERY useful in searching for a job and can help you land a job sooner than you think.
In these challenging times, so many resumes come in for a single job opening that companies have trouble finding the best candidate. Also, interested applicants have difficulty getting their resume in front of someone that will invite them to an interview. A successful resume is one that gets you through the door, generating a job interview for you. Once you are in the building, you take your best shot at winning that job. Employers are looking for the BEST FIT. They have a problem and they need to solve it quickly. They will only take a few seconds to look at your resume and they will quickly determine if you're worth their time to talk to. From in-dept research, its been discovered that the following are the most common problems with resumes;

CAREER OBJECTIVE - People like to announce their career objective and aspirations on the top of their resume. People have been led to believe that this shows you to be a highly motivated and ambitious individual. This is a mistake. The decision maker is wasting valuable seconds reading about your career objective and may move on to the next resume. No one cares about your career objective. Nobody cares. NOBODY. The decision maker has a problem and they want the answer to just one simple question, "CAN YOU HELP ME SOLVE IT?"

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY - The recruiter or the decision maker will quickly glance over the job descriptions of your previous jobs, looking for commonalities, similar skills or experience that match the job opening that you're applying for. If your job description doesn't clearly show that, it's over. You're done.
Now let’s talk about your LinkedIn profile; simply put, the more complete your profile is, the better the odds that recruiters will find you in the first place. So, completeness is important from that standpoint. It’s also important after a recruiter has found you and decided to click on your profile: He or she wants to know what your skills are, where you’ve worked, and what people think of you. So, don’t get lazy—fill out every single section of your profile. The good news? LinkedIn will actually measure............[/b]

Saryea83: that guy must be Linkedin agent, I guess. He wants to get his own share b4 linkedin will get. Even though i have not seen his report, but i can tell you that after paying him, one will still pay linkedin for premium/submission. D/4, my guy park well! does it not touch you how many graduates a jobless and you still want to open office on their head. Good and fine for a research work, all of will appreciate it more if it get many of us a job giving it free, but not rather jobbing us.

Like i said before, this world isnt fair. The reason why you dont have a job is because you think everything around you is not good enough. It's your choice to think am "jobbing" you.....It's called FREEDOM OF THOUGHT.

It's this same beloveth country of yours that asks you to pay money to apply for a federal job (or State) and you rush to the banks to pay the money which will eventually enrich one politician. Why do you go ahead to pay the money when you know you CANT get the job?

Am not a job seeker, am a business man, and every businessman makes money from every angle as long as he delivers what he's being paid for. Whether you like it or not, the information i have will help you better than the federal government in securing a job quickly. But i you have a godfather somewhere, then goodluck in your job haunt. Cheers.

Victorakats: Quite impressive and insightful response you've got out there.
All the best all the same in your business.

Thanks.

Ndababa: LinkedIn, like the op said, is an amazing site for job seekers especially. But asking people to pay is out of the way jooh

See, to get invites simply sign up on the site, outline your credentials, objectives n anything-worth-mentioning well.

Use recent photo

Connect with atleast 30 users of similar fields...

Then, go to bed - hopeful!

Goodluck...

HenryThegreat1: Please, hw can i send application and resume together as organization always request.

What you send is called a Cover Letter, your LinkedIn profile already represents your resume. If you drop your cover letter with your CV as an attachment, the recruiter WONT download your CV, instead he/she will go straight to your LinkedIn profile.

luvola: god punish you op . You want to extort we unemployed graduate s... we are not buying ,therefore go and die with your package.

I took my time to learn what i know and i painstakingly put the information together so people like you wont spend so much time doing same research (i doubt you will even have the patience or brains for it). It's my choice to fix a price tag on it, its your choice to bluff my offer...Like i said before nothing good comes free. The world in which we live is not fair....that's the way life is, so learn to deal with it. If you decide that you cant part with your N1,000 for this information, then it's your own cup of coffee.

Victorakats: I commend your research work and your kindness to help the youths get the job they desire.
I also commend you for your sincerity and honesty. I'm certain you know that a broke unemployed graduate can only save for the interviews and other necessary expenses and may not have so much to buy all he needs especially at that rate.
In my opinion i will plead on behalf of many others who share in my view that you help us if you possibly can for us who are here online.
Please help us!!!
Please help us!!! Thanks in anticipation of your kind consideration

Thanks, but the truth is, in as much as i want to share with unemployed graduates, i really cant. The best things of life are not free.....sad truth. I can sell this for 5k and believe me, ALOT of people will buy it but am trying to help you guys here. It applies to both job seekers and business owners. In this country, unemployed graduates send more than N1,000 recharge cards to their girlfriends monthly, they spend more on buying series (Jack Bauer), spend more on beer....BUT when it comes to gaining knowledge which will help them get a new job and improve on their lives, then they are "broke". You are going to attach more value to this when you pay for it.

If you dont have the money, you can borrow. Its what being serious looks like. Sometime this year, i was very broke. I didnt complain, i sold my phone just to be able to pay for my internet subscription because i know i NEED it. And my sacrifice paid off.

The choice is yours.

no sir.....una too like free thing for this country...Lol

N1,000 and you will learn alot of stuff you never thought possible.

43 views in less than 5 minutes and no questions.......hmmm

You can ask some basic questions on the LinkedIn website and i will try to give an honest answer - but i will try not to divulge information from my research report..lol

As we know, LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service. Founded in December 2002 and launched on May 5, 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. In 2006, LinkedIn increased to 20 million viewers. As of June 2013, LinkedIn reports more than 259 million acquired users in more than 200 countries and territories. The membership grows by approximately two new members every second.

Its a hall where over 200 million company owners, recruitment specialists, human resource managers, etc all gather and believe me there is no better place to find a job than that place. If you want to come in contact with the richest man in the world, you cant do it on Facebook or Twitter, BUT you can do that on LinkedIn. The question is, why do people now find it difficult to get a job there?

For the past two months i have been doing a research on the LinkedIn website and i uncovered a lot of things.....especially tools you can use to get what you want quickly. Its amazing because i wish i knew about it long ago. Here is what i know about the LinkedIn website;

1. Its a gathering of more than 200 million professionals, company CEOs, businessmen, recruiters, etc

2. If you need a decent job anywhere in the world, thats the place to visit.

3. Connect and drop your resume with hundreds of company CEOs and recruiters without having to pass through secretaries, booking appointments, exams, and all the bureaucracy that comes with seeking employment.

4. You can contact and share your CV with as many recruiters DIRECTLY without upgrading your account. etc

I learnt alot about the LinkedIn website and its so much useful for job seekers and businessmen alike. Personally my business wasnt too good in recent times, but after this study.....i applied what i learned and in less than 48 hours i started getting calls from many places in Nigeria, then lots of emails from potential clients here in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ethiopia, and all the way from Madagasca (I wonder how i will handle that one...lol)

Believe me the result of my research is something you need as a job seeker.....if you need a job urgently, then you should know where to get it and how to get it. Its a product of 60 days of research work and yes am going to fix a price tag on it. If you are ready to part with N1,000, i will send you this report.

Before you call me names (like i know most of you will do) just know that its your choice. I am implementing my own theories and its working for me, since i woke up this morning i have been responding to emails from people in LinkedIn (we wan do business). Am trying to help you guys get that job you are always looking for. There are thousands of legitimate jobs on that website and thousands of company owners there, i am just teaching you how to reach them quickly.

Those who are really serious about what they want should contact me via mail nwakstar2020 at gmail.com or call 08064062045.

Seriously, you can keep sending CVs to emails that wont be checked for donkey years or you can sacrifice N1,000 and do it right so you can start getting interview schedules every week till you get what you want. Like i said, the choice is yours.

Please feel free to ask me questions here

1. Listen:
That’s right; when she speaks, she usually
has something to tell you. You might learn
something about the single most important
person in your life. Crazy, I know. Ask
yourself right now: what’s her favorite color,
her shoe size, what does she like least about
her body, what household chore does she
despise, paper or plastic? You should know
this stuff. She tells you all the time. You just
aren’t listening.
When she starts talking about tennis bracelets
in November, she’s trying to help you with
your Christmas shopping, Einstein.
If you actually start listening to her, she will
be so dumbfounded that she’ll say “yes” to
s*x just to see if you’re still listening.
2. Don’t ask don’t tell:
Everybody likes to be surprised and
pampered. What if just once in a while, you,
without your wife’s consent or assistance,
arranged for a babysitter, picked her up at
work and took her out to dinner?
Now she’s stunned. Her defenses are down.
It’s likely you’re getting laid.
3. If you use it, put it up. If you drop it, pick it
up. If you spill it, clean it up:
She’s not your Momma. And, hopefully, your
Momma taught you better.
Clean up after yourself for God’s sake.
Trust me; there is little your wife finds less
sexy than picking your dirty tidy whiteys up
off the bathroom floor. I can say with great
confidence that this is almost universally true
for all women.
Your wife is now confused. She’ll wander all
about the house wondering what you’ve done
with all the messes. When she looks in the
bedroom; now you’ve got her.
4. Bite your tongue (or, “No, those pants do
not make you look fat”):
Nobody likes constant criticism, especially if
it’s from the person they’d most like to please
(that’s probably you). If you continually
browbeat your wife, she feels less sexy and
thinks you’re less sexy as well. You wanna
look more like George Clooney? Quit your
bitching!!
Oh, and the answer to the do these pants
make me look fat question: “of course not
darlin’. But, still, they’re not my favorite. You
really look hot in that red pair.”
5. WWAAD…what would Alan Alda do?:
Think of all the heroes in all the movies
you’ve ever seen. Yeah, the movies where the
guy wins the girl. Do you think the hero’s
gonna sit on his a*s watching the WWF while
the girl of his dreams has to cook his dinner
while sweeping the floor with a screaming
baby balanced on her hip? No, he’s not. He’s
gonna get up and gently take the broom and
mini-you from his girl and tell her, “Honey,
it’s probably been a long day for you, go put
your feet up and let me finish dinner. Oh, and
by the way, here’s the remote.” That’s what
Alan Alda would do.
You wife is now so grateful for this selfless
and heroic act, that like the proverbial damsel
in distress, now rescued, she has no choice
but to submit to your s*xual advances.
Would it really kill ya’ to do a load of laundry
once in a while?
6. Treat her like a thoroughbred; she’ll never
be a nag:
This is the same hottie that had you twisted in
knots lo those many years ago. She still
needs your affirmation. She still needs to feel
attractive. She still needs to feel adored. Her
hair, her eyes, her smile, her legs, her touch,
her mind, her spirit, her perfume, the list of
things you can compliment her on is
limitless. She does not want to have s*x with
anyone that doesn’t desire her. She has some
pride, after all. If you don’t make her feel
desired, there are plenty of other guys out
there who will…me for example.
If you tell her everyday how sexy she is she’ll
begin to feel sexy, and you know what sexy
girls like to do.
7. The most secret weapon of all: No woman
can resist this, so use it wisely. I do not give
this piece of advice lightly for it is powerful
stuff.
Every Monday or Tuesday (it’s good to
change up the day once in a while just so she
doesn’t get complacent) I take a small
amount of time out of my lunch hour and
drive over to the nearest grocery store. They
have a floral boutique there. I buy a single
long stem rose. I take the rose to my wife’s
place of employment and present it to her. Oh,
and don’t forget the little card that goes with
the rose. The card may be even more
important than the flower.
The result of this action is two-fold. One; not
only is the wife thrilled that you are thinking
about her but that you actually made an effort
to show your affection.
Secondly, but of no little consequence, after a
few weeks of this behavior the other women at
your wife’s place of employment will start to
become envious of her. That’s right now your
wife’s co-workers think she’s made a better
choice of life partners than they did. Some of
the women where she works might even snub
her. Your wife will secretly delight in this.
And, suddenly you are a source of pride to
her. Suddenly, she must be smart and sexy
and desirable to have such an attentive and
devoted man. And, every time a woman walks
into her office and makes a snide comment
about your wife always getting roses, she’s
on her way home to rock your world.
Don’t tell anybody I told you.

nobody else??

slap1: Why not send Akin Alabi a PM or e-mail?

Dont worry he will show up here....

third to comment

Folks, i need to raise some money for a project which is to commence in 4 months time. And this project is going to gulp over 600k. Now i dont intend to ask for "help" from anybody even though am having a tight financial strain this period. but the thing is i can make available 200k to run a business, the question is what kind of business can i do with the said amount to raise the desired capital for the said project between now and then.

I need advice please. And note that although they are nice, i am really not interested in online business(es) ideas. I need something i can do physically and see the profits coming in. Something that can give me good returns and turnover within days or a week, and then i recycle...and continue the process for 3 or 4 months.

I will appreciate excellent ideas and information. Mods if this can reach FP so i can get more inputs the better. Thanks all.

Vicjustice: There are some things that depend on the reputation and the calibre of such an "NGO". There are exceptional circumstances in which the initiative of common discretion overrules the written law.
But if you're being sponsored by the NGO, and yet they are taking this stance regarding the bank statement, then your application may be complicated: the NGO's unwillingness to let you see the bank statement is an apparent indication that you don't have access to the fund in the account, such sponsorship doesn't look genuine and therefore, the embassy won't find it credible.
Besides, how do you expect an embassy to trust you with their visa issuance when your sponsor does not trust you with its bank account?

I think they are willing to release a copy of their most recent audited account. Will it fly?

@vicjustice an ngo (well to do) is sponsoring me for a two months training in canada as part of their youth empowerment program for disabled people, now the issue is that they are willing to give me a good letter of introduction and sponsorship to take to d embassy. Bt the problem is they are saying their financial statement wont be released to me but will be released to the embassy if a direct request is made from the embassy. Will the letter of introduction alone do me any good?

going to canada, but my business isnt registered. Though worked till last yr before resigning.

;DThe best sign is if after graduating with good degree in one of the best courses and after 7 yrs you are yet to b called for an interview cos u dont have "uncles" in high places but you find yourself hustling in a barbing saloon. You dont need a prophet to tell you to MOVE.

10 views just now and yet no inputs.....guys where are you?

If traveling for a short course (two months) and your church (well known) is the official sponsor of your trip, apart from the official letter of sponsorship being presented, are they still required to submit bank statement? Please justwise and co help me out here.

Cheers.

I have sent you an email.

You keep posting this and have gotten no response? Or maybe there is something fishy about your business. I called you some 2 or 3 weeks back and you said you gonna send me an email with more details and up till now i have not heard from you.