{"title":"Career \u0026 Decisions","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the moments that need a clear head — decisions, exits and starting points. Practical tools that carry the slow, fiddly part of the job so you keep the judgement.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dont-sign-your-severance-yet","title":"The Severance Survival Kit: What to Check Before You Sign","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDon’t Sign Your Severance Yet\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA practical guide to slowing down, understanding your offer, and negotiating before you leave\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve just been offered a severance package, settlement agreement, redundancy payment, or exit deal, the worst thing you can do is panic-sign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost people are not given a bad deal because they are powerless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are given a bad deal because they are shocked, under pressure, and do not realise the first offer is often only the starting point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDon’t Sign Your Severance Yet\u003c\/strong\u003e is a practical digital guide designed to help you pause, understand what may be negotiable, and prepare better questions before you agree to anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not about being difficult.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is about protecting yourself before you sign away rights, income, benefits, references, or future options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat this guide helps you do\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis guide helps you understand the key parts of a severance or settlement offer before you respond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou’ll learn how to look at:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe severance payment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour notice period\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHoliday pay and unpaid entitlements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBenefits continuation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReference wording\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRestrictive clauses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfidentiality wording\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNon-disparagement clauses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour leaving date\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLegal advice requirements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNegotiation points you may not have considered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aim is simple: help you slow the process down, get clear, and avoid making a rushed decision while under pressure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy you should not rush to sign\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen someone is told their role is ending, the emotional pressure is immediate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou may feel:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShocked\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmbarrassed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAngry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorried about money\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePressured by deadlines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnsure what is normal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfraid that negotiating will make things worse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is exactly why you need a clear framework before you respond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA severance agreement is not just a payment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is often a legal document that may affect what you can say, what you can claim, what you can challenge, and how you leave the business.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce it is signed, your options may become very limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat’s included\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside the digital guide, you’ll get:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e1. Severance offer review checklist\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA structured checklist to help you review the offer line by line before signing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2. Negotiation points list\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA practical list of items that may be open to negotiation, including money, notice, benefits, references, timing, and wording.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e3. Questions to ask before signing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClear questions you can raise with your employer, HR team, adviser, or legal representative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e4. Red flag clauses to look for\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA plain-English overview of clauses that deserve closer attention before you agree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e5. Response planning framework\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA simple way to organise your reply so you do not react emotionally or give away leverage too early.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e6. Example negotiation wording\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuggested wording you can adapt when asking for more time, clarification, improved terms, or legal advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho this is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis guide is for you if:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou have been offered a severance package\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are going through redundancy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou have received a settlement agreement\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are being asked to sign exit paperwork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou feel pressured to respond quickly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want to understand what may be negotiable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want to prepare before speaking to a legal adviser\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want to avoid leaving money or protections on the table\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is especially useful if this is your first time dealing with a severance or settlement agreement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis is not legal advice\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis guide is designed for general education and preparation only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt does not replace advice from a qualified employment lawyer, solicitor, union representative, workplace advocate, or other appropriate professional adviser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmployment law varies by country, state, contract, employer, industry, and individual circumstances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore signing any legal agreement, you should take independent professional advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy this matters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first offer is not always the final offer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmployers often expect questions, clarification, and reasonable negotiation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut if you sign too quickly, you may lose the opportunity to improve the outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA better severance outcome may include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA higher payment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA longer notice period\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBetter reference wording\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContinued benefits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore time to consider the offer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA cleaner exit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReduced legal or reputational risk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBetter positioning for your next role\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe difference is often not aggression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is preparation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInstant digital access\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a digital product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter purchase, you will receive access to download the guide and start reviewing your situation immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo physical product will be shipped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eImportant reminder\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not sign under pressure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not assume the first offer is final.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not rely only on what HR tells you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePause, review, ask questions, and get advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDon’t sign your severance yet.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this legal advice?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. This guide is general information only. It is designed to help you prepare better questions and understand common negotiation areas before taking professional advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan this help me negotiate a better severance package?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can help you identify possible negotiation points and prepare a more structured response. It cannot guarantee any specific outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this only for the UK?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe principles may be useful in many countries, but employment law differs by jurisdiction. You should always check the rules that apply where you live and work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShould I still speak to a lawyer?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Before signing any severance, redundancy, settlement, or exit agreement, you should consider independent professional advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this suitable if I have already signed?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt may still help you understand what happened, but it is most useful before you sign anything.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"drewmitchell.co.uk","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47074822848668,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/1835\/5356\/files\/severance-survival-kit.png?v=1781650779"},{"product_id":"what-should-i-build-it-with","title":"What Should I Build It With? — The Plain-English Stack Picker","description":"\u003cp\u003eYou've got something to build — a shop, a blog, a booking page, a simple tool — and you're stuck before you've started, because everyone's advice contradicts the last person's.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWordPress or Shopify? Squarespace or Wix? Should you learn to code or run a mile from it? Every \"best platform\" article ends with the same useless line: \"it depends on your needs.\" Thanks. Genuinely useful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tool gives you a straight answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnswer five plain-language questions — no jargon, no accounts, nothing to install — and it recommends one sensible starting stack built around your situation: what you're making, your budget, how much you want to own it, and how much time you've honestly got. The first question alone quietly saves most people from the most expensive mistake there is: building it the hard way when they didn't need to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat you get for each recommendation:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne clear stack to start with — not a list of twelve to agonise over\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy it fits you, in plain terms, line by line from your answers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoughly what it costs to run\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe honest trade-off it's making — what you give up, said straight\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn operator's note on each — where I actually reach for it, from 23 years of building real businesses\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat to move to if you outgrow it\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt runs entirely in your browser. Download it once and it works offline, forever — no subscription, no login, no link to expire. Print your recommendation and keep it next to you while you build.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis isn't a course or a 40-page guide you'll never finish. It's a decision, made in two minutes, by someone who's built on most of these platforms and will tell you the truth about all of them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sensible first choice, not the only choice. Tool prices and features change — costs shown are rough guides to sanity-check before you commit.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"drewmitchell.co.uk","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47081082323100,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/1835\/5356\/files\/what-should-i-build-it-with.png?v=1782100764"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/1835\/5356\/collections\/tile-career-decisions.png?v=1782162892","url":"https:\/\/drewmitchell.co.uk\/collections\/career-decisions-tools.oembed","provider":"drewmitchell.co.uk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}