Setting Boundaries: Business Clients and Boyfriends

Setting boundaries is necessary in any human relationship.

Whether you're dealing with an overly demanding business client or a boyfriend with wandering hands, sometimes you just have to say "No!"

In fact, there are many parallels creating successful relationships with business clients and boyfriends.

For both, most problems can be avoided by laying down clear, straightforward boundaries.

In the business arena setting boundaries is done by negotiations, written materials such as rate sheets and brochures, and most important, contracts.

Good relationships enjoy a certain amount of give-and-take and compromise. But when demands become unreasonable, it is time to say put your foot down.

That is because human relationships work best when they are conducted with mutual understanding and respect. Intelligent boundary setting goes a long way to set up a structure where mutual respect can flourish.

Good relationships are based on an even exchange. Generally, the exchange is money for goods or services on the part of you and your business client. For the boy and girlfriends it will be a mutual emotional commitment.

A girl who gives her heart and soul to a boy who is looking for a 'one-night stand' is an example of someone who enters into an unequal exchange.

Is that situation really so different from a small business trying to break in with a large, high profile client who can pick and choose among many small vendors? It is not uncommon for some less than scrupulous large clients to seek out small hungry suppliers, give them orders large enough to monopolize their capacity, and demand all manner of concessions.

In both cases, the small partner, like the besotted young girl, wants the partner too much.

Ideally both partners in a business transaction want something the other has to offer, but not too much. If you are the small business drooling at the prospect of the large order from an attractive client at a time when your sales are down, be careful. You are likely to have difficulty setting boundaries and give away too much.

In order to stand firm in your negotiation, you have to have a firm sense of your worth. Fake it if you must. Refuse to make any decisions on the spot if you don't feel that you can trust your judgment under pressure.

Some clients, like some boy (and girlfriends) turn out to become demanding or difficult.

A designer is asked to perform a small, routine job. The client is not satisfied and asks for modifications. The designer complies. The client asks for more modifications. The designer complies. The designer complies. The client asks for more modifications. The client asks for more modifications ?

This seemingly small job is quickly becoming costly. It is eating up the designer's time and preventing him from working on other business.

Like a woman strung along forever by a partner unwilling to commit, this designer has to set boundaries with his client.

At this point, he can try to renegotiate the terms of his transaction to get additional money for his time. But if the client is unwilling, the designer has to decide between expending more time and effort into satisfying a difficult-to-satisfy client, or walk away from the job.

By setting boundaries, the designer can limit his losses in this not-uncommon situation.

Self-Employment 101: It's about making a living and creating a life! Observations, information and resources for those of us who are self employed or just thinking about it.

Ellen Zucker, owner of http://www.selfemployment101.com has been successfully self-employed for over 10 years.

---

Interview with Tigress Luv: How To Get Over A Breakup

Recently I had the opportunity to interview my personal favorite... Read More

Great Relationship Advice: How to Balance Your Hear at Work with Your Heart at Home

Remember the Tom Cruise movie "Jerry Maguire?"From my seat in... Read More

Attraction: Is It Worth It?

The Common Scenario:Your partner is hardly ever home to give... Read More

Being Dumped, Just Plain Sucks!

Today I received a question from a guy. Here is... Read More

How Can I Get My Partner To Change?

How much energy do you spend trying to get what... Read More

Relationship Tips: 16 Practical Dramatic Ways to Know if He/She is REALLY Changing

Every relationship hits a snag, or worse, a major crisis... Read More

To Apologize or Not to Apologize...That is the Question

We don't like to say it and we don't always... Read More

Will They or Will They Not Cheat?

Have you ever told your partner or spouse how you... Read More

Calling All Single Parents! Why not Try Online Dating?

Forming a relationship when you're a single mother or father... Read More

How to Tell If Your Boyfriend or Husband Is Cheating On You

The word infidelity brings with it fear to every woman... Read More

Relationship Habits

How many of you have ever been involved with a... Read More

Relationship Advice: Starter Marriages

A man walking through the woods near a river hears... Read More

Essense of Infidelity

On one very popular web site there were 260 posts... Read More

Conflicts Dont Have to Mean a Fight to the Death

Although conflict in marriage is inevitable, fighting is optional.The secret... Read More

A Heat-scar Named Desire

Where on earth is my "play on words" taking me... Read More

[Conflict Resolution] The Philosophy of Fear and Confrontation

Is there now, or has there been, a person or... Read More

Dont Avoid Conflict and Confrontation with Your Spouse

"I just let him handle things his way." "We're not... Read More

3 Principals That Will Keep a Long Lasting Relationship

Many of us have had a broken heart and hurt... Read More

Relationships: Last a Lifetime

Stepping into a new position brought along a few surprises.... Read More

Relationship Advice: 5 Tips to Make a Strong Marriage Even Better

1. Time together is time during which the complete focus... Read More

How To Save Your Marriage

Getting married (or beginning an intimate relationship) is, in a... Read More

Dont Ignore the Signs: How Emotional Infidelity Can Ruin Your Relationship

Emotional infidelity can start with a simple hi or a... Read More

Relationship Conflict - Blow Up or Blow Through

Every now and then I hear a "relationship expert" say... Read More

What Went Wrong? When Relationships Go From Hot To Cold

Everything was great.We had been dating for 6 months. We... Read More

Setting Up Boundaries in Relationships

Setting up personal boundaries is important in all types of... Read More

Men Love Women Who Initiate Sex ? 4 Fun Ways to Do It

This is a sizzling hot topic for a lot of... Read More

The Male Rating System

While not necessarily New Age in nature, Samantha has noticed... Read More

Am I Doing the Right Thing?

Dear Candace,My fiancé and I just broke up, and I... Read More

Extended Family Relationships: Staying Friends with Former Lovers and Spouses

Excerpt From The Relationship Handbook: How to Understand and Improve... Read More

Are You Relationship Ready?

So, you want to fall in love? You are certainly... Read More

Relationship Advice: Top 2 Secret Ways To Become Irresistibly Magnetic To Your Wife

According to new studies 5 out of 10 marriages will... Read More

Telling the Hard Truth

Watching television's "sitcom's", I can't help but notice that most... Read More

Relationship Advice for Women - Beyond the Happy Ending - Part 3 - The Jealousy Syndrome

Jealousy, unfortunately it seems to pop up sometime in even... Read More