One of the bestselling self-help books of all time is When I Say No, I Feel Guilty by Manuel J. Smith. It helps soothe anxieties around “people pleasing” and encourages healthy boundary setting.
Above all, it teaches people who feel bad saying “no” to people in fear of being disliked.
However, as freelancers, we hear “no” a lot. We pitch clients, call up leads, and all but get ready to pounce on new work until we hear a “thanks but no thanks”, a “not right now”, or the good ol’ “we’ll keep you in mind for future projects.”
How do we feel when we ask for what we’re entitled to, though?
I’m talking of course, about that all-too-persistent dread: overdue invoices.
I know many of us – me included – feel a gut punch of nervousness insisting that delinquent clients make me whole. I am definitely not alone.