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We provide ongoing support and advice to assist businesses to
maintain and grow a crucial path to market and focus on growing your business
This last week or so, my team and I were working on generating some marketing materials so I could attend a busines expo here in Ravenshoe. It meant that some of the team have been working extra hours for me.
I ASKED them to do the work and I expected that my invoice for this last week would be higher. No issues there.
It got fed back to me that one of the team was concerned about the hours they were racking up and what they would have to invoice me for the work. It was a lot of hours.
Now, I've been in that position with my own clients. They keep asking for things, I do the work and submit an invoice. However, sometimes my tummy does flip flops as I worry if they'll be upset with the amount! I'm sure we've all been there an will be there again.
The question is, can you alleviate that?
The answer to the question I just posed is ... yes and it's it sort of a simple answer with the execution being perhaps a little more difficult.
The answer is COMMUNICATE. I know right? Simple. Just talk to your client. "Hey, just letting you know that this work we've already done is some many hours and we've got xyz things left to do. Did you want me to keep working on those this week, is there something that you'd like me to give more priority to, etc etc etc."
That does a couple of things. Firstly it lets your client decide if the budget can stretch for this time period and the priority of the things left to do. Secondly, it says that you're responsible and you care about their business too.
It really is a win / win.
Now, you might that the client is a bit ... surprised ... by how much time has been spent and that's ok - that's why we communicate. Managing perceptions is the other side of the coin here. It's difficult to understand how much work goes into something, if you're not familiar with doing it yourself.
By going back and giving your client that information, you're also educating them on the value of your work.
Of course, this approach goes to other things too. Asking questions, communicating, providing feedback are invaluable tools to understanding your clients communication style and their business. It also might help them structure requests to you in a way that is clearer and provides the details you need.
Overall, I've found that it makes for a great, long term, working relationship. And ... creates a team!
I'm sure you've all had some experience with this, why not drop over to my LOCALS community and leave it there ... start, or join in, the conversation.
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Life is busy and there's just so many things to remember. What tools do you use to help you keep on top of ALL the things?
It's easy to react or respond quickly to messages and the like. It's better to do that mindfully. That's why I try to Practice The Pause.
AI tools promise you can build a website in minutes just by describing what you want - but what happens after the demo video ends? Vibe coding has taken social media by storm, and small business owners are wondering if they even need a web developer anymore.
In this episode, Charly covers:
✅ What vibe coding actually is and why it appeals to business owners
✅ The hidden time costs that make your "free" website surprisingly expensive
✅ Six critical security gaps AI-generated code commonly leaves wide open - from SQL injection to exposed credentials
✅ Why "good enough" can be the most costly option for your business
✅ When vibe coding makes sense and when it absolutely does not
✅ The hybrid approach - using AI for ideas and content while letting a professional handle the technical build
Your website is your first impression. Make sure the foundations are solid before you go live.
Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me
(1 per person only)
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AI features are being quietly switched on inside the tools you already use for business - and most owners have no idea. From Microsoft Copilot to Google Gemini and Zoom AI Companion, these features are enabled by default, accessing your emails, documents and meetings without you making a conscious decision about it.
In this episode, Charly covers:
✅ Why tech companies enable AI features by default - and what that means for your data
✅ How AI tools expand your attack surface by accessing emails, calls and documents
✅ The hidden risk of shadow AI - employees using AI tools the business does not know about
✅ A step-by-step approach to auditing your apps, phone permissions and privacy settings
✅ Why default AI privacy settings are not configured with your security as the priority
Make this a regular check - at least once a quarter - because settings can reset with every update.
Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me
(1 per person only)
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...
Every time you open Chrome or Edge, advertisers are collecting data on your browsing habits. If you have ever wondered how to take back control of your online privacy without sacrificing usability, Brave Browser is worth a serious look.
In this episode, Charly covers:
✅What Brave Browser is, who built it, and why it was created as a privacy-first alternative to Chrome
✅How Brave Shields work to block trackers, ads, fingerprinting, and third-party cookies — and how to adjust them per site
✅The advanced controls available in Brave, including filter lists, cookie notice blockers, and YouTube Shorts removal
✅How to use Brave Profiles to keep your work, personal, and banking activity completely separate
✅The Brave mobile app — including a free YouTube background play feature that usually requires a paid subscription
Brave is built on the same engine as Chrome, so your favourite extensions work too. Download it at https://brave.com
Book a Free 30 minute Breakthrough Session: ...
