You’ve probably heard this advice a hundred times: “Just set better boundaries.”

​

And yeah, boundaries matter. Contracts matter. Protecting your time matters. (I’m not saying remove the seatbelt layer of safety that boundaries provide.)

​

But if you’re still drained by clients—even with all the boundaries in place—the problem probably isn’t just your “no.” It might be what your brand is quietly attracting before you get to this point.

​

Hear me out: boundaries are like a seatbelt. They only kick in after something goes sideways.

• When a client says, “Just one more tiny revision…”
• When someone thinks 10 p.m. texts are acceptable.
• When scope creep shows up wearing a disguise.

​

Boundaries protect you in the crash. But they’re reactive. They only matter once the 'problem client' is already in the room.

​

Your brand? That’s the guardrails on the side of the mountain. It keeps the wrong cars from swerving into your lane in the first place.

​

Because let’s be real:

• No client thinks they’re a “problem client.”
• They assume they’re a perfect fit (because of how you presented yourself)
• And if your messaging is fuzzy, they’ll fill in the blanks with their own assumptions. (and you guessed it - that rarely works in your favor)

​

That’s how you end up booked out with projects you never wanted, in industries you swore you’d avoid, with clients who make you want to throw your laptop out the window. (No thankssss)

​

But when your brand is crystal-clear about who you’re for and how you work?

👉 The wrong people quietly bounce.

👉 The right ones lean in and think, “Finally!!! Someone who gets it.”

​

And honestly? Bad clients don’t just drain your mental health (having to re-explain your boundaries for the 15th time is not a good use of anyone's mental headspace). They also steal your calendar space. Meaning they actually cost you:

• Time: endless revisions, hand-holding, frustration.
• Energy: resentment, burnout, that “ugh I don’t even want to open my laptop” feeling.
• Opportunity: the dream clients you didn’t have space for because you're serving people you want to punch on the daily - don't do thattttt (!!!)

​

So yeah, being “booked out” doesn’t mean sh*t if every client on your roster has you fantasizing about a career in goat farming. 😂

​

If you’re tired of fighting battles with boundaries, here’s where to shift your focus instead:

1. Audit your messaging. Does your site/IG bio actually say who you’re for—or could literally anyone raise their hand?
2. Show your values + process. Let your content do some pre-qualifying. The wrong fits will peace out. The right ones will be like, “Where have you been all my life?”
3. Stop glorifying ‘booked out.’ The only flex that matters? Being booked out with clients who make your work lighter, more creative, and way more impactful.

​

Moral of the story? Boundaries keep you safe. But boundaries + a strong brand? That’s when you stop settling for “any money is good money” clients and start building a business that actually lights you the hell up.

​

Catch ya next week,

Marissa

​​​​​