The sunset clause

I prefer the word productive to busy when people ask about my work day; I think it sounds more in control to say it that way although, if I'm completely honest, I get busy also. I try to control things though and work off an ideal-fortnight plan, delegate a lot and have repeatable systems and processes that save me time and, importantly, automate things to keep me as productive and as stress-free as possible. It mostly works.

So...Last week I had a productive busy week! Yeah, I'm just being honest folks...Somehow it spiralled out of control and I had to paddle a bit faster to keep my head above water.

The main issue revolved around one particular client who had made a massive property purchase and then decided to exit the contract; Real estate contracts in Australia are incredibly binding so there was much legal wrangling which I had to get involved in unfortunately. I can't go into it here other than to say it revolved around the wording of the sunset clause and the desire of the purchaser to exercise their right to use it.

A sunset clause permits a party to exit a signed contract after the expiry date is passed; It's most common in real estate transactions especially with respect of subject-to-sale and off-the-plan development contracts. The former to allow the purchaser to exit if they have not sold their own property and the latter to let the purchaser exit if time-obligations of the contract [read: build completion process] have not been met. They are usually straight-forward but this one was very complicated as both parties were partially correct in their interpretation of it...And there I was, in the middle, having to mediate wishing the lawyers had done a better job at drafting it in the first place; They are supposed to be rock solid.

It is ongoing but I ended the week leaving it all behind and initiated my own sunset clause - It actually involves the sun setting and is much more legit than the complicated one above.

Boardrooms are replaced by beach, contract terms and conditions by sand between my toes and legal terminology by the lapping ocean and call of sea birds. It's a detachment, a pause of sorts, and whilst I know I have to go back and get things done I also know I'll go back feeling a little more able to do so; I'll have a little more clarity, patience and understanding - This, with a results-focused ethos, will move it all forward.

---

I'm no different to everyone else in that I have highs and lows, feel energised and drained, and I have to put effort into recognising and addressing it; I believe that's the responsibility we should all show towards ourselves and those around us. Being out of sorts is no way to live consistently and so I execute the sunset clause at times, and reset.

Taking that time to detach allows better clarity of thought, can help reorder things in the mind and allow one to gain perspective; It has been used on the battlefield for thousands of years and for me it has a place in life. I deploy it to good advantage and have never yet failed to gain the desired result.

I'm dedicating a few days to sunset-clausing and considering the fact I haven't had a break since October 2019 I feel it's long overdue and quite deserved. Will I come back better? Yes. Will I want to come back to work at all? No of course not, but it is what it is.