Stop being your own worst client!

Imagine you had a client who consistently failed to delegate.

They never quite find the time to give you the content for their webinar sign-up page, even though it goes live next week. They are “working too hard” but completely forget to send the bullet points for the presentation you are supposed to build.

It wouldn’t take long before you sat them down for a serious talk about the future of your working relationship. Supporting a client who refuses to respect your time or the process is a frustrating waste of resource.

Why, then, do you accept these exact same excuses from yourself?

Why is your own business development allowed to stall, even when you know these tasks are the only thing guaranteed to fuel your future growth?

CEO vs The “Doer”

We all struggle with this. We put clients, family, friends, and even the neighbour we barely know before our own requirements. I have been guilty of it too.

But if you want the freedom and flexibility you craved when you started this business, you have to stop being just the “Doer” and start being the CEO. You must treat your business as your most important VIP client.

The Unbreakable Appointment

The simplest way to fix this is to stop “fitting it in” and start booking it in.

That two-hour gap on a Thursday afternoon? Do not give it away to a client call. Book yourself. Make a date in your diary for your own professional or business development.

Mark it as an unbreakable appointment, just as you would for a doctor, an accountant, or a high-paying client. Use that time for the heavy lifting:

• Learning new software to stay ahead of the curve.

• Building your lead magnet and autoresponder series.

• Writing your blog or getting your accounts in order.

Do the things you tell your clients to do. Do not push them aside for “later”—later never comes.

The Friday Afternoon Trap

We often tell ourselves we will work “ON” the business on Friday afternoons. But we know what happens. That client who forgot their webinar content suddenly sends an “urgent” request at 14:00 on Friday, and you drop your own work to bail them out.

You do not need to be available 24/7 for a 10-hour-a-month retainer. Prioritising their lack of planning over your own growth is a tactical error. This is exactly why I introduced our weekly 90-minute co-working sessions for members. We meet every Friday at 09:30 to work “ON” our businesses, not “IN” them. It provides the accountability you clearly aren’t giving yourself.

I have a script which I will share below to help you deal with clients who keep breaking boundaries…

The “Boundary-Setting” Script

When a client drops an “urgent” task into the middle of your scheduled CEO time, use this direct, no-nonsense approach. It acknowledges the task but protects your time.

The Script:

“Hi [Client Name], I have received those notes for the webinar page. I am currently in a pre-scheduled meeting until [Time/Day], so I will be starting on this at [Time/Day]. I will update you once the first draft is ready for review.”

Why this works:

• It is binary: You have the notes, but you aren’t doing them now.

• It is professional: You are “in a session,” not “just busy.”

• It manages expectations: You’ve told them exactly when the work starts.

Take Command of Your Growth

If you are ready to stop playing small and start building a business with recurring revenue and consistent growth, join a community that understands the value of professional development.

The VA Membership is the only UK-based business accelerator designed specifically to help you scale through consistent action. With over 200 hours of training, weekly co-working, and group coaching, we provide the structure you need to stop being your own worst client.

Come and explore the VA Membership.

Looking for more intensive, one-to-one support to scale your business? Check out our One-to-One Mentoring options for direct, tailored guidance.