You take on one little extra task because you want to be helpful.

Then another.

Then another.

And suddenly, the project you agreed to isn’t remotely the project you’re actually doing.

If you’ve ever looked back at a client project and realized you basically made $10 an hour after everything you did for them, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Solopreneur CEO, Carin and Marcia are talking about boundaries, and why they’re about so much more than telling clients when you’re available.

Carin shares the story of a nightmare client relationship that went completely off the rails and the uncomfortable realization she had afterward: the client wasn’t the only problem. There were red flags she ignored, work she kept accepting outside the original scope, and boundaries she should have enforced but didn’t.

We’re getting into scope creep, client communication, protecting your capacity, setting expectations from the beginning, and why being endlessly available doesn’t actually create the amazing client experience you think it does.

We also talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention: what happens when one bad-fit client takes up so much of your energy that you stop showing up for the right ones.

Because boundaries aren’t about being difficult, rigid, or less helpful.

They’re part of running a business that works for you AND delivers a better experience for the people you’re there to serve.