When I got my first agency client, I was terrified of losing them.
So I agreed to every request.
Extra features, extra calls, extra revisions.
I thought this would make them love me.
Instead, it drained me - and made me look needy.
Here’s the shift I made after burning myself out:
- Clear scope upfront. Define what’s in and what’s out.
- Change requests = paid requests. No more free extras.
- Say no with confidence. Because saying no shows authority. Saying yes to everything screams neediness.
The result?
Clients actually respect me more now.
Because they know I value my time - and theirs.
Lesson: Needy freelancers get pushed around. Confident ones get paid.
Who else here had to learn this lesson the hard way?