Pushy people

[daffodil]

It must be my turn to have my boundries pushed.

A client calls and says due to gas, can she make her appt. earlier (she takes her step child to school). Well, if I go in that early I will waste gas going back home before heading to my other location. PLUS interfere with my morning qi gong and walking the dog. But she kept pushing for it, saying, I can take another client... blah blah. Then when I stick to my guns, she acts pissed at me! PISSED! I want to say "WTF." I work over on this person ALL the time, I use oils, none to which she pays for and I don't ask. She has this step child every other weekend so make the appt with me the other Monday. She got pissed at me a few weeks ago when she had to cancel an appt. and I couldn't get her in for weeks BUT all the days/times I threw at her were turned down. Apparently she has one free hour a month.

May I add that she has 4 GC's to redeem and won't even be paying for the massage?

GRRRR

 

[bindao63108]

oh i so feel your pain! you know what i say? oh well. what are ya gonna do? we can not do back flips for everyone, everytime. i just love it when clients have to cancel and then get ticked that you can't get them back in right away. good luck in letting it go but you know that's what you have to do.

 

[Amarie Marquez]

daily, personal routines/rituals are very important. especially because we give so much of ourselves, it is vital to nurture your self first and foremost.

stick to your guns with this one, always be polite of course. your schedule is what it is, and it sounds like you have established that.

she will probably be able to find another time in her schedule, especially if self care is important to her.
i have found that many times people act how you expect them to act.

good luck.

 

[artan]

Pushy people

Sounds like it's her time to find a new therapist. Pissy doesn't work for me, at least.

Here's your moral support. t039

The dog has to be walked or he'll pee in the house. Then who will be pissy?

Qi gong - You'd sure better do it, or you'll start working into your energy reserves. Not good.

Who's she to tell you if you can take another client or not?

No more working over-time on her. No more oils.

Let her redeem the gift certificates, but fit her into your work schedule, not the other way around.

Good luck.

 

[Dilly]

Ugh, I hate having my boundaries pushed!! :evil: Sorry you had that happen. I second all of the comments/support given so far. I just want to add that, in the future, when a client calls to (re)schedule an appointment, instead of giving too much information and 'justifying' yourself, just say "I'm not available at that time." It doesn't matter if your reason for not being available is another client (which a prospective client would never argue with) or walking your dog, or your own self-care (which is of UTMOST importance!).

Clients do not OWN our schedule/time, we OFFER it to them WHEN we are able!

I know that doesn't help in this situation, but I know that, for me, when I'm having a tough time with a situation, sometimes it helps me to think about how I might do things differently in the future, so I wanted to offer this suggestion.

 

[Mongo]

I am just learning to value myself and my time.
And it seems the more I value myself and my time the more others value it also!!
I most definitely would NOT give up the qi qong and walking the dog. Those are 2 of the things that build up your precious reserves. Maybe suggest to her to bring a good book or condense another errand in with the school run so she has other things to do until your alloted time.
(Especially since she was so willing to offer to you to book someone after her).
Good luck and be firm about it!! t023

 

[MatthewM]

Thanks for all the advice!

I didn't explain why I don't work that early. I expressed the reasons here only. I am working to utilize my time, not waste it, but I didn't say that either.

Pete, some clients I will do things I find necessary. She hasn't asked for any oils or extra time...... it is all on me. I am ok with that, until someone decides to try to walk all over me.

Oddly enough, this is one of the clients whom I was discounting and sent that letter to ending the discount??? I don't know if you remember. She said she was fine with it but ever since acts strange.


:roll: :roll:

 

[Incarcerated Bert]

yes! Stick to your guns! You have done nothing wrong..this is her problem..take a deep breath and let it go..I have started to learn to let all of this stuff go..even tho it wants to haunt me and make me feel crummy..I am learning. good job!

 

[not a top con & proud]

softy515, I would also like to add in here, that there is nothing wrong with going the extra mile for clients. But, as Pete mentioned, you do have to be ok with it. So, don't kick yourself for doing something nice or as a bonus - just know if a client is pushing and pushing and causing you grief, then that would be one not to spend the extra effort on.

There is that fine line, and sometimes it takes a while to figure out when and where and who for.

There are plenty of clients I stay late for, and they show up like clock-work. I'll also add in a Sunday, every few months - for those who have difficulties coming in on my regular days. I don't mind and they appreciate it. When it becomes a demand from anyone, then I'll change the tune for that individual. But, we're going on a lot of years now without any demands in those areas, so, I do it when I can and feel like it, and when I can't -- well, I can't.

Keep up the good work!

 

[customizedsongwriter]

I used to be super-flexible with my schedule, just to accommodate clients. It sucked. I'd have one here and one there, with no way to really plan doing other things.

Eventually I decided to limit my schedule to two days per week, and only certain hours on those days. In a matter of months, I was booked solid. For every person who contacted me that couldn't make their schedule meet mine, two more showed up that were willing to make their schedule fit my availability. The busier and less flexible I was, the more people wanted to work with me.

So set your hours and stick with them. Don't change them unless you want to. Don't make exceptions unless you REALLY want to.

And don't feel that you need to retain every client. Change is a good thing!