Let’s Talk about the “B” word…

Core Article: Let’s Talk about the “B” word…

Paragraph I’m Pondering: “I say no to things that don’t contribute to my growth.”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I am worthy of all the riches…”

Book Review: Dream Big by Bob Goff

Cool Stuff: “The Dumbest Things Entrepreneurs Do…”

AI Info & Resources: The Top 10 AI Entrepreneurs to Follow.

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Let’s Talk about the “B” word…

I think it’s time we had a little chat about the “B” word. No, not that “B.” This one has been talked about so much I’m almost tired of hearing it.

When I took Mel Robbins’ six-month course, she had an interesting take on it, and I want to share my spin with you—hoping it helps.

If you haven’t guessed yet, the word “B” is BOUNDARIES.

Why I’ve Fired Clients Over Boundaries

In my 18 years in business, I’ve fired at least four clients because they broke my boundaries—not once, but repeatedly.

One was a big client who paid me a lot of money (not saying that to brag, promise). It just shows that no matter how much money is involved, you can’t compromise your boundaries. I saw some red flags in the beginning,  yet I chalked it up to something else and pushed on.

We had at least two calls of what I call “truth awakening” moments where I thought we were back on track. Nope, the issue didn’t go away. The client felt that because they were paying me, they owned me—calling whenever they wanted and expecting me to answer right away.

When I finally had enough, I knew firing them would mean losing that chunk of income. I turned to my spouse for support. Cuz I knew if I texted my response back to this client, she was gonna walk. She told me that no money was worth all that this client was putting me through. And that’s all I needed to text that boundary-breaking client who, as I expected, made the decision to end our engagement. Whew, what a huge relief.

That’s how I know I’ve made the right decision when my whole body feels a huge sigh of relief, and I don’t have to think about working with them any longer. (Yeah, it kind of sucked not to have that money coming in. Yet, when she left, it opened the door for another new and even better, more aligned client I got ot work with.)

Yep, that’s why I’m sharing this. I’d love to help you not have to deal with that; hence, I’m sharing this with you!

What I Learned About Boundaries

Here’s the big thing I’ve learned about boundaries: they aren’t about controlling or changing someone else’s behavior. They’re about protecting your space, your energy, and your well-being. You can’t control others, yet you can decide how you respond and what you allow.

The truth is, you can’t count on anyone else to change. The only person you have any control over is YOU. It took me a while to really get this—if I don’t like how someone else acts or what they say, the only thing I can change is me and how I choose to respond or not.

The 8 Types of Boundaries That Matter Most: It’s important to be clear with yourself about what your boundaries are.

1. Time – It’s precious. You can’t get more of it, so protect it.
2. Relationships – Define what’s acceptable in your interactions with others.
3. Physical – Includes your personal space and physical needs.
4. Emotional – Safeguard your feelings and emotional energy.
5. Material – Decide how you’ll handle your possessions and money.
6. Sexual – Your comfort and consent are non-negotiable.
7. Mental/Intellectual – Honor your ideas, beliefs, and curiosity.
8. Other – Energetic, Spiritual, and Digital boundaries.

For me, time boundaries are the most important. I grew up as a people pleaser, and I’ve since put her to rest. These days, I only take client calls two days a week and keep the rest for focused work.

I also don’t give clients my mobile number unless they’re in a certain tier, and I trust they’ll use it responsibly. One mentor of mine never gave their number out—just email—and it worked beautifully.

Two Things to Take Away:

1. If you haven’t thought about your boundaries this way, start now. Honor yourself. And if you’ve already set boundaries, maybe this is a good time to revisit them.
2. Don’t work with people who won’t respect your boundaries. It’s time to fire those clients (yes, you can). Then, create stronger boundaries for the future.

A Tip from Mel Robbins

One thing Mel Robbins said that stuck with me: avoid using the word “boundary” when you’re asserting your needs. It’s overused and can feel confrontational. Instead, just be clear about what you need.

Here’s an example:

Situation: A client interrupts you during work hours for non-urgent matters.

Less Effective: “I’m setting a boundary. Please don’t interrupt me.”

More Effective: “I need uninterrupted time to focus on my project to meet my deadline. Can we schedule a time to discuss this on [insert another date/time option or a link to your calendar]?”

This approach skips the tension while still being clear and direct.

Boundaries Are Life-Changing

Before I figured this out, my life was pretty chaotic when I started my business 18 years ago. I didn’t have many boundaries at work and in life. One book that helped me was No BS Time Management for Entrepreneurs by Dan Kennedy.

He called people who steal your time “Time Vampires.” It’s people who try to consume your time, suck the life out of your productivity, and leave you feelings drained and unable to focus. That shift in perspective made it easier to stand up for myself.

If this blog resonates, take a moment to think about what boundaries you need to set—or reset. You deserve work and relationships that honor who you are. And please share it!

Happy December – The Holidays are gonna be here real quick! Here’s to Christmas lights, sweet treats, presents, and spending some quality time connecting with loved ones.

Big hugs to you xoxo

Paragraph I’m Pondering

“Boundaries to Consider: I say no to things I don’t like. I say no to things that don’t contribute to my growth. I say no to things that rob me of valuable time. I spend time around healthy people. I reduce my interactions with people who drain my energy. I protect my energy against people who threaten my sanity. I practice positive self-talk. I allow myself to feel and not judge my feelings. I forgive myself when I make a mistake. I actively cultivate the best version of myself. I turn off my phone when appropriate. I sleep when I’m tired. I mind my business. I make tough decisions because they’re healthy for me. I create space for activities that bring me joy. I say yes to activities that interest me despite my anxiety about trying them. I experience things alone instead of waiting for the “right” people to join me.”
― Nedra Glover Tawwab, Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself 
(I haven’t read this book yet, so this link goes to the Amazon page to check it out.)

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

• Every action I take aligns me with wealth and prosperity.
• I am open to the infinite abundance of the universe, and I trust that I am always supported.
• I am worthy of all the riches life has to offer, and I receive them with joy and gratitude.
  

Book Review

Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, And What You’re Going to Do About It
by Bob Goff

Cool Stuff

• This fascinating article is about the two companies I worked for back in my corporate days – Simon & Schuster and Random House. Oh, how far they have come –
  
• Hmmm, an article about the “Dumbest Things Entrepreneurs Do,” according ot Mark Cuban
  
• What do you think makes a leader? According to the Harvard Business Review, it’s not just about IQ and technical skills…

AI Info and Resources

• Want some help from AI to understand your dream clients? This article might give you a boost.
  
• Check out the top 10 AI entrepreneurs. You may want to follow them and see what they’re up to…
  
• I love these types of articles where something was impossible, and now AI can do it. Curious? You know what to do. 🙂

Weekly Photos

1. This was me after Thanksgiving. Why do holidays make me so tired? Can you relate?
2. I’m loving our winter sunrises. We had some big storms, which made for some pretty pics.
3. Ok, so this is really what my lap looks like on most of my Zoom calls. She really is a Velcro dog. 🙂
4. After the rain, we had so much water on the trails. I caught the sun coming up, and the trails were drying out a bit. If you look closely, you can just see Emma on the right side of the trail.
5. So I was rounding a corner on my walk and saw this little deer family peering over the hill, looking at Emma. I snapped the pic pretty fast, and then they took off. And the autumn leaves in the back don’t look too bad either. 😉
6. Did I tell you Emma also models dog beds, not just dog jackets? This one’s a winner. As soon as I got it out of the box and put it together, she was in it!
7. Yeah, that’s just what I thought when I looked up at the sky – what a very cool “feather cloud!” So, of course, I had to take a pic and share it with you.

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