christinamguerrero.com ~ the official site ~
Proprietary
Copyright 2014, 2015 Christina M. Guerrero
At this point, I've lost track of the confidentiality clauses.
I just go about my business, take care of my life, and keep quiet about whatever I've agreed to keep confidential.
It can be a challenge.
If you're not allowed to say anything ... you're not allowed to say anything ... period. You have to draw the line and not go beyond it. Often, there are laws dictating what can and can not be discussed. In that case, it's either keep quiet or go to jail. You can't hint, imply, confirm, deny, lightly describe, generally describe, give the basic idea of, or compare and contrast. You have to keep quiet.
Yes, this can be difficult to adhere to, but once you get the hang of it, the process gets easier. You can do a variety of things to interact pleasantly with others, without revealing anything.
Confidentiality clauses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’m not allowed to reveal a variety of things including: clients, policies, some lifestyle decisions, methods or amount of compensation, proprietary information about my or others’ businesses, confidences, and assorted other things.
Proprietary information is important among any business owner. Would you like to broadcast your business decisions where everyone can see them? Why? So your competitors and enemies can have every single clue about what you are doing? How stupid is that?
I had a few conversations about this with a few clowns, and then decided ... no more. They know what the word means. Nothing further will be discussed, and the relationships will be modified, and perhaps terminated, if they can't figure out how to mind their manners.
Some things are confidential. This adds an element of mystery and appeal to products and services. This also protects the business from the annoying and frustrating development of having ideas stolen. Ideas can not be copyrighted, but hey ... spend a lot of time inventing or creating something ... tell someone about it ... and then watch someone else profit from the idea and get credit for it? Who wants that to happen?
Ideas are best kept confidential, as are business strategies, and other aspects of running a business.
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