I'm new to SOGR and am wondering how Mr. Wattles would handle broken contracts. I own a small women's gym where members sign contracts. This is fairly unusual for me but within the last few days I found that one person had cancelled their automatic bank withdrawal (she hasn't been using the facility but hasn't contacted me) and one person who simply e-mailed me and wants to break her contract.

Personally, I am a person who accepts and meets her obligations so this is odd for me. Also, simply allowing them to walk away seems unfair to other members. However, I don't want my actions to send the wrong message to the universe.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

I don't see an edit button so let me clarify something. When I said, "(she hasn't been using the facility but hasn't contacted me)", I meant she hadn't contacted me regarding cancelling her payment. Previously, I have e-mailed this member encouraging her to come in but haven't received any response.

Sorry if all this seems disjointed, I'm very busy right now but wanted to post because I need to take action of these 2 situations very soon.

Thanks again for any insight anyone can offer.

Hi MLG,
Do you know why they have broken their contracts? Could be a whole range of reasons ranging from laziness to personal issues.
I work part time at a martial arts fitness centre and the owner is bringing contracts into place for people to sign as a way to help them meet their training goals. If they break the contract they have to pay an exit fee. The reason for this is that so many people start with targets in mind but after awhile start to fall back into lazy habits and quit. A lot of people really need a good incentive to keep them on track as just gaining fitness alone isn't enough to help some people change their habits.

The one thing I would advise you to keep in mind from SOGR, is that Wally says that you need to give more in use value than you recieve in cash value. So you need to figure out a way for your business and you to provide that to your customers. Start putting the impression of increase into everything you do and start looking for ways to give more in use value, and keep reading the book!

Hope this is of some help,

Shannon

quote:

Originally posted by Shannon:
Hi MLG,
Do you know why they have broken their contracts? Could be a whole range of reasons ranging from laziness to personal issues.

Thanks for your response, Shannon.

You're right. It is a variety of reasons. Just today I got another cancellation request via e-mail from a college student. She says she's just too busy to get to the gym. However, because she was a student, I specifically asked her when she joined if she wanted to sign up for a year. It was her decision but now she wants to break her contract.

The woman who stopped her automatic bank withdrawal has never actually used the gym. She signed up but wasn't ready to schedule her initial workout with me at that time. As I said earlier, I've contacted her via e-mail about getting started but never received a response. I guess her good intentions fizzled.

The third woman's husband recently had a heart attack and she had a health issue at one point but kept saying she'd be back in. Members can freeze their memberships with a doctor's note, which she never did.

These people signed a legally binding contract. Unfortunately, there are other members who decide for whatever reason to give up on their fitness goals. They don't, however, try to renege on their obligation. It is fair to them to just allow others to walk away?

OTOH, can pursuing payment from these people be perceived by the Universe/God/All That Is as a subconscious belief in scarcity?

quote:

The one thing I would advise you to keep in mind from SOGR, is that Wally says that you need to give more in use value than you recieve in cash value. So you need to figure out a way for your business and you to provide that to your customers.

I thought about that before I posed the question. I think the use vs. cash value for my business is high. I have a small, non-intimidating center where members get personal attention. The cost is very reasonable and women of all ages and sizes get exercise programs based on their individual goals/available time/health/fitness level etc.

Thanks again for your response.

quote:

OTOH, can pursuing payment from these people be perceived by the Universe/God/All That Is as a subconscious belief in scarcity?

Hi all. I am brand-spanking new here but thought I would toss in my two cents worth.

As I see it, a contract is an agreement between two people, complete with penalties for certain actions on either parties end. Without knowing the penalties I can't address the specifics of YOUR contract but in general; if you make a legally binding contract with someone then you need to be ready to take the steps spelled out in the breaking of that contract. If you aren't serious about the agreement than consider not demanding a contract in the first place.

If your contract states they can back out of it with a penalty then let them know they need to honor their agreement or you will have no recourse but to pursue it in court, which you have every right to. But if your contract is unduly harsh (like demanding a years payment if they back out) then you may want to reconsider the stipulations of your contract for the sake of compassion.

As for the quote, I believe the issue of a belief in scarcity is on our part. In other words, I believe it is our intent that moves the Formless, not simply random thoughts. If your intent in having contracts is to assure yourself of an ongoing source of revenue then the fear of not having access to their money may be the motivating factor behind the business transactions. Not that its wrong; in fact its just good business practice in our society. But in my mind (and I would like to think Mr. Wattles would agree) binding a soul to me after I am no longer of service or use to them is unhealthy for both of us.

Can you perform your service without contracts? Could you create a less binding contract that would leave them with an 'out' after a reasonable period of time?

Good luck, and I hope it works out to your mutual advantage.

Brad

RE: The Edit button

Hi MLG, welcome to this forum. The Edit button that you were looking for is at the bottom of your post. All posts have 2 icons, one a folder with a quote (which you use when you want to quote someone in your reply) and the other is an exclamation mark (which I have never used).

On your own posts, there is a third icon in between the two, it looks like the eraser end of a pencil. That is the Edit button but hidden in a much cuter format

Caroline

Hi MLG

Maybe it's not your lesson to learn but theres.

Let me explain.

You have met all your obligations to them by explaining the contract to them .

Yes you're right, if you allow them to break the contract you are in effect reneging on your other clients who still pay out their contract but don't use the facility. You can't have double standards otherwise the contract system won't work.

It seems you have in place a clause that allows them to deter on a DRS note which is compassionate and fair.

Remember it might be their lesson and you may be their teacher, so don't doubt .

Hugs ^O^

Update. Yesterday, I received a letter from a doctor regarding the woman who had stopped her automatic withdrawal. I wish she had contacted me or I had received the letter before her payment bounced (rather than 11 days later) but at least that one is settled. So, one resolved, two more to go.

quote:

Cosmicbear, April 11, 2006 10:00 AM
As for the quote, I believe the issue of a belief in scarcity is on our part. In other words, I believe it is our intent that moves the Formless, not simply random thoughts. If your intent in having contracts is to assure yourself of an ongoing source of revenue then the fear of not having access to their money may be the motivating factor behind the business transactions.

Welcome, Cosmicbear.

I think my motivating factor in not allowing members to break their contracts is fairness to everyone. I also have a concern that if word gets out that there are no consequences if someone simply stops paying on their contracts, that these type situations will multiply.

quote:

But in my mind (and I would like to think Mr. Wattles would agree) binding a soul to me after I am no longer of service or use to them is unhealthy for both of us.

Interesting point to ponder. I would wonder, however, if there is a difference between me no longer being of service and a member just deciding to stop using those services and to renege on her obligation.


Caroline, Thanks for the welcome and the scoop on the edit button.


Hi, Holly. Thanks for your thoughtful response. I'm curious what you think of the second Cosmicbear quote that I posted above.

quote:

A lot of people really need a good incentive to keep them on track as just gaining fitness alone isn't enough to help some people change their habits.

A good incentive is enjoyment of the process. If you have a good time, you'll come back; if you don't enjoy it, you won't do it again.

Same with homework.

As always, the ACTION you take is the last and least important part of the SOGR approach.

As long as you give attention to the idea of people not fulfilling their obligations, breaking contracts, etc., that's what you will attract/create more of.

How about, instead, creating a clear mental image of how you would LIKE your business to be -- all the wonderful details, all the wonderful people who will come to you and be wonderful friends and clients, etc.?

As you get clearer and clearer on this and begin to feel more and more delighted with the whole thing, guess what will happen? The ACTIONS that will help bring all that to you will become clear to you as well.

quote:

As long as you give attention to the idea of people not fulfilling their obligations, breaking contracts, etc., that's what you will attract/create more of.

Rebecca, thanks for posting on the thread. I honestly don't expect or think much about people breaking their contracts. As I stated in my initial post, it's fairly rare. However, I guess giving thought to how to fairly handle the situation = giving it some attention so is the answer simply to ignore/allow the few that come up?

quote:

How about, instead, creating a clear mental image of how you would LIKE your business to be -- all the wonderful details, all the wonderful people who will come to you and be wonderful friends and clients, etc.?

As you get clearer and clearer on this and begin to feel more and more delighted with the whole thing, guess what will happen? The ACTIONS that will help bring all that to you will become clear to you as well.

Although I'm not the type to worry about money, etc. I really have not put enough thought into creating a clear mental picture of a successful and abundant business. Thanks for the reminder.