Be honest. Do you secretly (or not so secretly) resent your clients? Whose fault is that, anyway?
Back when you had a “day job” if you hated your boss, didn’t you do everything in your power to find another job? Wouldn’t you do your utmost to find a better solution or would you remain in a job that you hated?
Now that you are a virtual assistant, (and an entrepreneur!) are you allowing your clients to treat you like you’re subservient to them? Like that one crummy boss you had a long time ago?
Ask yourself this.
Do you answer emails past 10pm?
Do you allow your clients to disturb you with phone calls during your off-hours?
Is your client nit-picking about your invoices, forcing you to justify your work and level of dedication?
Do you feel that if you don’t do all the above, there will be a consequence?
There is a difference of doing what is best for your business and doing what is best for your guilty conscience. It’s time you know which is which.
If you don’t stand up and plant your flag in the ground, then your clients are going to walk all over you.
Be firm yet professional with your clients about your availability and be even firmer with those clients who do not respect your boundaries.
Be confident about the time you submit on your invoices, and if you have a client who nit-picks month after month about every single item on your invoice it’s time to kick that client to the proverbial curb.
NEWS FLASH!
You’re a business owner, too, and that means that you get to pick and choose who you work with and you deserve respect. But to get respect you have to demand it and that comes by being confident about the value that you bring to the table.
What ways are you letting your clients walk all over you? Leave a comment below and let us know how you are going to change that, starting now!
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Show some tenacity and rock on!
Reese
0 thoughts on “Do You Resent Your Clients?”
Hi Reese,It’s a hard thing to do, but recently I’ve been firing a couple of clients. My heart says I want to help them with their problem, but my mind says to get rid of them because of the amount of time you have to put in some of them. Sometimes it is just not worth the hassle I think.
Hemmo, you’re right it’s not worth the time and effort we put into helping clients that clearly do not value our work and expertise. Thanks for sharing!
Whoa, Reese! I have heard just this year that we teach our clients how to treat us, and I am proof that this is so true. I almost loathe confrontation but “kicked one of my very first clients to the proverbial curb” just this past Friday. It was rough to do but very freeing. I am currently in the process of trying to gently teach my clients how to treat me as I myself am learning how I need to be treated. Am in a backwards type process – long story. Looking forward to owning my business rather than it owning me!
Love that saying, Robin! “Owning my business rather than it owning me”. Good stuff! 🙂
Another GREAT article Reese, thank you!
It’s taken me a long time to leave behind the “Employee” mentality and take on the “Ownership” mentality. After many, many years as a cubicle drone, I was used to just “grinning and bearing it.” Trying to talk to a corporate bully is like … well, let’s just say you’d be better off talking to a rock. But then one day, after I had my own VA business, I realized that now I was “allowing” my clients to treat me badly. I found myself full of resentment and spent untold time after an unpleasant conversation with them yelling at the phone saying ALL those things I had always been taught that “nice girls” just don’t say. When their number came upon the caller ID, a red ball of fire burst into flames in my gut (you know that feeling) … oh NO! NOW what?! Thankfully, I finally took a huge step and “fired” the worst offender. And you know what? Once you take that step and the end of the world doesn’t rain down upon you, you learn what your new boundaries of good behavior look like for you and your business and before you reach that point of no return, you can teach your clients how to treat you.
Thanks so much for addressing this issue!
Bobbie, thank you for sharing your experiences with all of us. I know so many of us can relate. Glad you found the post helpful!
Wonderful article, great advice, Reese! Thank you!
Unfortunately, I could not use the link in to tweet. Please advise!
Thank you again! 🙂
Thanks Evelyn! Weird about the link to tweet. It worked when I posted but you’re right it wasn’t working just now. I’ve fixed it. Thanks for the heads up!
Hi there,I am in the process of setting up my VA business in the UK. I currently have one client who has been lucky that I have had the time to answer her calls as and when needed. I now don’t have as much time on my hands and not sure whether the time spent discussing her next project is billable?! I assume it is, but making this transition from having free discussion to now needing to bill is proving difficult! Any advise on how to make this transition much appreciated. Thanks!