This is based on a real client but the name and certain details have changed to maintain their anonymity. The message and takeaways remain the same.
Ronnie ran a small studio in the South of England. She loved her clients and prided herself on being generous and approachable. But over time, her generosity began to backfire.
She let people cancel on the day without charging. She answered texts late at night. She rearranged her diary constantly to squeeze in “just one more” class. Her clients adored her, but Ronnie felt exhausted. Quietly, resentment started to build.
We were on a coaching call straight after another last-minute cancellation, she cried. In that conversation she could see, clearer than ever, that she’d built a business where everyone else’s needs came first,and hers didn’t feature at all.
I helped her by walking her through the process of putting in some clearer boundaries in her business. We made sure they weren’t boundaries like boulders that would make her business rigid. These boundaries also weren’t going to be bubbles that would burst the moment someone pushed.
Her boundaries were going to be more like bamboo: rooted, flexible, and strong.
She introduced a 24-hour cancellation rule and stuck to it (I made sure she did).
She set her phone to silent after 8pm.
She blocked out Friday mornings as non-negotiable time for herself.
At first, she felt guilty. She worried about clients leaving or thinking she was selfish and mean.
But something surprising happened. Her clients seemed to respect her and her time more. They showed up on time. They committed more fully. They even said, “Good for you” when she explained her new boundaries. Far from pushing people away, the boundaries created clarity. Clients knew the rules. They trusted Ronnie to stick to them and with that trust, they flourished.
Ronnie’s resentment lifted. She felt lighter, clearer, more in control. For the first time in years, she felt like the leader of her business rather than its servant.
Ronnie’s story is a reminder for all business owners: your boundaries teach people how to treat you. If you enforce them with clarity and warmth, you don’t lose clients, you gain respect… from your clients and yourself.
If, like Ronnie, you’d like to learn how to set and hold boundaries without guilt, email me philippa@holdmyhandcoaching.com and let’s explore how 1:1 coaching could support you.
Until next time,
Best wishes
Philippa x