The end of the financial year madness is finally over. I haven’t forgotten how painful it is when you’re growing your bookkeeping business while you are still on the tools. So much of the year is spent looking after everyone else’s business and unless you prioritise what’s important to you and YOUR business and learn to say no, you will find yourself running through each year in a blur of deadlines which are important to everyone else. Finally exhausted and unable to give any more you quit, or worse, your body gives in and makes you take a BIG rest.
I know from experience how hard it is to say no to clients. It was only when I began to value me and my time that I learnt, politely but firmly, to say no. I remember one client who was in a tizz because she had neglected her bookkeeping for years and then, when it became a priority for her (because the ATO was on her back) she contacted me. She wanted to hurry the job along and insisted that I work on a Saturday to continue the rescue. I said politely “Sorry, I don’t work on weekends”. She was shocked. She started ranting about how important it was that we get this done asap. She was so consumed by her situation that she gave no thought to my needs. I stuck to my guns and you know what she did? She found someone else who was prepared to do what she wanted. I’m pretty sure I dodged a bullet right there!
If you want your business to grow over the next 12 months without you burning out in the process but you find it hard to say no to clients, you may be interested in reading Peter Bregman’s blog called Nine Practices to Help You Say No.
Article by Debbie Roberts
