A few years ago, I had a full-blown meltdown in aisle 9 of Publix. I was six months pregnant, juggling multiple clients, bringing in $17k a month… and drowning in expectations I had accidentally created. One text from a client, “When the sun is up, you need to be on call for me,” sent my nervous system into panic mode. My heart was racing, my armpits were sweating, and everything inside me screamed RUN. I grabbed my toddler, left my entire cart of groceries behind, and rushed home. That moment cracked me open because I realized something painful and freeing: I created this and I could un-create it… In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story behind that moment and the exact boundaries I put in place afterward that changed my life, my business, and my ability to scale without burning out. Whether you're a Virtual Assistant, Freelancer, or service provider of any kind… these boundaries will give you structure, protect your peace, and help you run your business like the CEO you are, not the employee your clients expect you to be. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ You Teach Clients How to Treat You - In Publix aisle 9, I realized I had trained my clients to expect 24/7 access. No boundaries, instant responses, zero separation between my life and my workload. If you don’t set the standard, someone else will and it usually won’t be in your favor. 2️⃣ Boundaries Create Freedom, Not Restriction - Once I implemented real boundaries: office hours, DND mode, scope control, red-flag-free discovery calls, everything improved. My income stabilized, my stress decreased, and my clients respected me MORE, not less. Boundaries make you better to work with, not harder to work with. 3️⃣ Burnout Happens When You Don’t Protect Your Energy - If you’re flinching when a client messages you… if your chest tightens before you open your inbox… if you’re responding at all hours… you’re not lacking motivation, you’re lacking boundaries. And the good news? Boundaries are a skill you can build quickly. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 👉 Want to scale your VA or freelance business? Join New Clients Now👉 Need help mapping your client communication standards? Snag the “CEO Hours Template” here! MORE FROM ME ✨ Follow me on Instagram @dalainamarkayknight✨ Get my weekly newsletter for service providers SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, it would mean the world if you subscribed and left a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! ❤️Your support helps us reach more women who are ready to create freedom, flexibility, and peace in their businesses. 🎙 Thanks for listening to the Virtually Free Podcast! See you in the next episode!
