Boundaries are powerful, even in business. Especially in business.

 

Employees don’t have much freedom to set their boundaries. That’s the tradeoff for a predictable paycheck. As a freelancer, you can set your limits pretty much wherever you want.

 

I got a reminder of this listening to Ed Gandia’s podcast episode on setting standards in your business (definitely worth a listen) where he talks about writing out a list of the things you won’t do as a freelancer.

 

I haven’t done this formally, so I’m going to do it right here in your inbox.

 

As a freelancer, I won’t…

 

• Work weekends or major holidays
• Answer the phone
• Schedule calls before 10AM
• Work past 6PM
• Work under $150/hr ($100 for charity or educational projects)
• Work with anyone who gives me even a whiff of racist behavior or microaggressions
• Work with anyone who talks down to me or treats me as anything less than a partner
• Work with personalities I find inherently stressful

 

If you haven’t tried this or at least thought about it, you should.

 

How you start is how you finish. It’s a lot easier to expand these boundaries later than it is to try to squash your business into them years down the road when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

 

So give it a shot…and I’d love to see your list if you’re open to share!

 

 

 

Megan