“I say who. I say when.” That’s what Julia Roberts’ character says in a scene where she’s setting a boundary. When it comes to setting client boundaries, I’d only make one edit. “I say who. I say how much.”
You know when ALL the things go wrong and you suddenly go from calm to stressed in 60 seconds? In those first years of business, that was my reality.
I said yes to every project, including the ones with tiny budgets and lofty expectations. I even stuck with the client when they were 6 months behind on payment because they promised to pay.
It left me burnt out and over extended.
Business owners buy into a myth that it’s ok to be overworked, to add scope but not increase the budget, to say yes to unrealistic timelines.
It’s not ok.
When I started setting boundaries my business grew by 200%.
I set boundaries for the type of businesses that I’d consider working with: tech, software, and business services. I turned away the rest.
I asked better questions upfront to better understand goals and expectations. Were their goals realistic? Could I actually make a difference? If not I did my best to refer the prospect to a colleague that better aligned.
I set minimum contract sizes, a billing process, and a structure for scope creep. Would they agree to it? If not, it was a red flag: not a great fit.
You see, you can have boundaries and a successful business.
Here’s how you know that you need a boundary to be set.
You feel like you bent over backward for this client but you’re being drug through mud anyway.
These 3 questions will help you find the top places where you deserve to have boundaries.
- In your business, where are you feeling most stressed, overwhelmed, and overworked?
- What do you wish you could say to a client but haven’t found the courage?
- What are your team’s most common complaints?
Drop a comment. Where’s your next boundary going?