I got an email from a client recently, bemoaning a client she had who was arguing over fee and suggesting her agreement wasn’t clear. My client was very upset and worried that her client would speak poorly of her and damage her reputation. She wanted to know what to do.
Never Allow Your Clients to Run Your Business
Firstly, my client was allowing this client to run her business. She had offered a package price below any of her current offerings and was now being brow beaten about it. When you allow your clients to run your business, you will always feel beaten down, frustrated, and nickel and dimed.
Guaranteed.
Never Be So Hungry You Discount Your Value for a Bottom Feeder
Secondly, no matter how hungry you are for more business, the moment you allow bottom feeders into your business is the moment that you have given up control and relinquished cash flow in your business. Stay confident in your abilities and talents, stand strong in your “true value.” Your ideal clients can’t see you as long as you are busy discounting yourself to the bottom of the market.
Never Worry About Your Reputation, Do the Best You Can Always
Thirdly, you cannot control what anyone else says about you or your business. Those that love you will share that and those that don’t, well they may share it but only with others like them. And we’ve established those folks aren’t your best fit so don’t worry about it.
One of the big reasons you got into business for yourself is so you’d have control of your time, your talent, your tasks, your income, and your impact. When you abdicate that control to your clients you lose time, you aren’t operating from your core talent, you spend most of your time in crisis mode, you lose money, and you aren’t making the impact you came here for.
Take Control of Your Business to Make More Impact and Income
Take control of your business and you’ll enjoy control of your time, your talent, your income and your impact. And, no one has the power to make you feel anything, only you have that power.
You are uniquely in charge of your thoughts, your emotions, and your actions. Take responsibility for your reactions and stop pointing the finger at a wayward client or poor fit prospect for creating havoc in your business. You said “YES” to them to start with so either deliver with good grace or exit the relationship as gracefully as possible.
TELL THE TRUTH! Which of the 3 “nevers” here have you violated and how did you or will you get back in control?
