Saying no to a client still makes me nervous.
Not gonna lie. I hate it. I still hesitate every single time. Even when the price is completely off. Even when I know it’s not worth it.
There’s still this small voice in my head that says
"What if this is the only project that comes this week?"
It happened recently. The client was polite. He knew what he wanted. Everything was fine - until the pricing came up.
And the number he said? I knew it wouldn’t work. Not for the kind of work he was asking. Not even close.
And yet... I paused. There’s always that pause.
Because I’ve taken on low-paying work before. Just because I was scared. Scared of missing out. Scared of looking picky. Scared of going a week without anything new.
But I’ve done that before, and it never ends well.
You say yes to a project you shouldn’t. You overwork. You undercharge. You start resenting the client. And worst of all, you have no room left when the right one does show up.
So this time, I said no.
I explained it honestly. Told him the work would take more than he expected, and that I can’t take it on at that price.
And to my surprise - he got it.
He didn’t push. He didn’t argue. He understood. That part felt good. But the nerves? They didn’t go away.
Even after the call ended, I still felt that pit in my stomach.
That “Did I just make a mistake?” feeling.
That “What if no one else shows up this week?” feeling.
But I’ve learned to sit with it. Because I know the pattern now. Every time I protect my standards, The right client finds their way in.
Maybe not instantly. But they come. Because I didn’t waste my time with the wrong fit.
Lesson I keep learning:
Saying no still scares me. But saying yes to the wrong things hurts a lot more.
If you're reading this, here’s something simple you can do: Take a blank page and write down:
What’s the minimum rate you’ll work for?
What kind of work drains you the most?
What kind of client red flags will you never ignore again?
Just those three. Stick to them. Say no when something crosses the line. Even if it makes you nervous.
Because fear passes. But the wrong client lingers.
Have questions about building your firm, getting clients, or positioning your services? I offer 30-min strategy calls. No fluff, just practical answers that fit your situation.