I don’t think anybody starts a business because they want to get walked all over. Most people do it because they want to make the rules and be in charge. But here’s the thing…if you’ve started the business because you want to be in charge—you NEED to BE IN CHARGE. If not, some (not all) clients will step all over you and make your miserable. Yup, because you’ve let them!
I get it. I was there once too.
Probably 10 years ago, I had a very large (and very disorganized client) who thought working on the evenings and weekends was the norm. I knew this didn’t feel right in my gut, but I did it anyway because I wanted to please them, and since they expected it, I had a hard time saying no.
Even though I said, “just this once,” it kept happening again and again. I eventually had to fire the client because there was no going back. The great news? I made even more money partnering with the next client who respected my boundaries.
If you don’t set boundaries and communicate them with clients—boundary-breaking will just keep happening. You’ll have a gut-wrenching feeling of this is not what I signed up for!
You can do good work for good clients.
Start right away.
In my latest blog post, I talk about how:
Stop getting walked all over.
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Hi, I’m Jill, a web designer/developer who partners with talented designers, copywriters, and agencies on their websites, and their client’s sites. I’m passionate about crafting beautiful and innovative WordPress websites focused on clear positioning and positive user experiences. See my work & get my free report, Get Your Website Done: 12 Actionable Steps for Designers.