At 29, I wasn’t exactly in the process of getting a divorce. I entered a new era of contractual self-protection. This meant that I had to completely redefine my attitude towards relationships, boundaries and my own values.
When you experience something like marriage fraud, you learn firsthand that love without legal protection can cost you more than heartbreak. It can cost you your peace, your wealth, and your sense of control. This experience completely changed the way I approach contracts, not only in relationships but also in business.
Today, as a content creator, marketer, and former Wall Street professional, I review contracts the same way I now view marriage: No partnership should begin without clarity, accountability, and protection.
Table of contents
From prenuptial agreements to founding partnerships, contracts should protect you.
When I got married, I didn’t have a prenuptial agreement. Like many women, I thought that if I asked, I would come across as pessimistic or suspicious. But the truth is: contracts are not about distrust. It’s about discipline.
A prenup describes the terms of a partnership. These include financial obligations, responsibilities and possible dissolution. It’s not romantic, but it’s real. Looking back, I wish I had included certain clauses, one in particular Breach of trust clause that would have created financial responsibility for treason and a Reputation protection clause This protected my public reputation in the event of deception.
My divorce didn’t just teach me something about love. It taught me about leverage. What I learned has changed the way I now approach my brand partnerships. When someone lies in a marriage, you realize how much damage can occur when there is a lack of transparency. If a brand breaches a contract or delays payment, the same principle applies: integrity without enforcement means nothing.
Today I take a more targeted approach to every collaboration. I am involved in every step – from the legal review to the creative concept. I learned that practical action does not mean control. It is conscious.
My credibility has only grown since adopting this approach. Brands trust me because I’m direct. My audience trusts me because I am transparent. And I trust myself because I now know how to protect my name, likeness and work. This approach has given me authentic brand deals that fit my story.
Almost poetic, my youngest Partnership with Hulu for their show Everything OKwhich is about powerful female divorce lawyers, came full circle. I broke three marriage clauses that love would never talk me out of again: one Breach of trust clauseA Financial breach of trust clauseand a Reputation protection clause.
These clauses were not hypothetical. They were lessons I earned the hard way. And the irony is that the same protections that would have protected me in marriage are the same protections that every entrepreneur needs in business.
Breach of trust clauses reflect exclusivity clauses. Financial infidelity goes hand in hand with late payment and transparency clauses. And reputation protection is exactly the kind of clause that protects creators when a brand makes missteps. The overlap is real and that’s why I now take contracts so seriously in all areas of my life.
Because at the end of the day, both marriage and marketing are based on the same principle: trust backed by conditions.
The clauses preparers need to know
In the social media industry, creators often form partnerships based on opportunity and excitement. But just like in relationships, emotions without structure are dangerous. I learned that a well-written contract is an act of self-respect. It says, I value my work enough to protect it.
When I negotiate with brands now, I think of it as a business marriage – one where expectations, timelines and boundaries should be clear. This means that my contracts contain clauses that ensure my protection. These clauses are not just about money. They care about protecting the value I bring.
Here are a few clauses that I always look out for.
payment Terms and Late Fees
The creative industry is notorious for late payments. So I’ll add one Late payment clause which guarantees compensation for each day after the agreed date. It’s not about greed. I want to ensure that partners take responsibility and hold up their end of the bargain.
Rights of use
Usage rights govern how the content I create is used by the brand I work with. I always ask:
- How long will a brand use my content?
- If they run paid ads behind it.
- Where the content is ultimately published and published live.
These details determine the value of the partnership. A one-time Instagram post is not the same as long-term paid usage on global channels.
Exclusivity clauses
Exclusivity clauses are the business version of loyalty. If a skincare brand pays me to represent them exclusively, that means I cannot promote other skincare brands during that period. And if I did, there would be financial consequences.
It is no different than an infidelity clause in a prenuptial agreement. I like to say: “If he breaks the vows, he should break the bread.” Likewise, if you break your promise in business, you have to pay the penalty.
Liability and reputation clauses
Liability and reputation clauses are the parts of a contract that protect creators from being held responsible, sued, or financially harmed brand does. Normally this language is displayed as
- Limitation of Liability, Compensationor Keep harmless Clauses. They are all designed to set clear boundaries about what you are and are not responsible for.
- A Limitation of Liability The clause limits how much responsibility the creator bears if something goes wrong on the brand’s side, such as product issues, misleading claims or legal issues.
- A Compensation The clause specifies who is financially liable in the event of damage. Ideally, creators should ensure mutual protection so that each party is responsible for its own actions.
- A Reputation clause is equally important, even though it may not appear under that exact name. Typically, these are language that allow the creator to pause, suspend, or terminate the partnership if the brand becomes embroiled in a scandal, controversy, allegations of discrimination, or anything else that could harm the creator’s public image.
As a creator, your image Is Your assets. You cannot afford to cause collateral damage from someone else’s demise.
Why every creator should know their contracts, clause by clause
The biggest misconception I see in the YouTuber industry is that your lawyer should take care of everything. Yes, you need legal representation, but you also need literacy skills.
As a business owner, I never want to sign something I don’t understand. I want to know every sentence, every term and every implication. I want to know what happens if a brand doesn’t pay on time, if content is used for other purposes without permission, or if a campaign is canceled after deliveries are complete.
When I worked on Wall Street, I had to analyze market data and client orders in minute detail before initiating a transaction. I bring the same precision and attention to detail to my work as a creator. Whether it’s a Wall Street company or a beauty campaign, the basics are the same: protect your interests, define your commitments, and clearly articulate your value.
In fact, social media marketing is still a young industry. It has not yet survived a full economic cycle or recession. The lack of structure and precedent makes treaties even more important. You cannot afford to assume that “everything will work out.” Hope is not a legal strategy.
Here are the lessons I carry with me:
- Clarity is compassion. Contracts protect both parties. The clearer the terms, the fewer misunderstandings.
- Loyalty is not just romantic. It’s professional. Honor your agreements and expect your partners to do the same.
- Never outsource your understanding. Lawyers are vital, but your literacy is your responsibility.
- Add the clauses that protect your peace. Late payment, liability and reputation clauses are not optional. They are indispensable.
- Value yourself enough to negotiate. When a brand wants exclusivity, there is a price for it. Don’t be afraid to ask about it.
- Treat your name like an LLC. Protect it, trademark it and never let it be misused.
Gain boundaries
My divorce at age 29 forced me to rethink not only how I love, but also how I lead. It taught me that contracts, whether personal or professional, are not about expecting failure. It’s about creating security, clarity and respect.
People will test boundaries in both business and personal life. But when your terms are clear, your protections are in place, and your value is documented, you don’t just keep your peace. You protect your power.