The Problem With Saying "Yes"

How Imposter Syndrome Leads To Broken Promises

Today, I came up with a theory:

Imposter Syndrome → Scarcity Mindset → Overpromising → Burnout → Broken Promises

Let’s break down why it’s so easy to fall into this downward spiral, and how to avoid it.

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Anyone who’s ever gone freelance will be familiar with the Initial Push.

The warrior mindset that tells you no client is too small, and that success lies in grinding as hard as you can until you’ve secured your financial safety.

I had this approach for two days.

And I’ve been feeling the strain for two weeks.

What’s frustrating is that people warned me that taking on too much would be easy to do and difficult to deal with afterwards.

Here’s the slippery slope:

🤭 1: Imposter Syndrome

You start out thinking any client giving you the time of day must be an outlier.

After all you haven’t proved yourself yet.

You get your first, but worry about letting them down.

And sure, a second client comes along, but they don’t know you’re not cut out for this yet.

Ok, fine, you got a third client, but it’s definitely a third outlier.

There’s almost certainly no one else who would reach out…

🧠 2: Scarcity Mindset

You fall into a habit where, despite a fourth, fifth, and maybe even sixth client reaching out, you’re convinced that each will definitely be the last.

You keep saying ‘yes’ because what if some of them go wrong?

The imposter syndrome looms and you’re convinced that at least half your clients will just stop replying.

Six clients is all you’re ever likely to get.

And before you know it, you’ve started to…

🤩 3: Overpromise

It was 100% the right move to take on that seventh client, just to be safe.

You’ve agreed to a trial run with all seven.

It’ll be easy enough. Two days per week on each client. Between seven clients that can’t be more than…

Ah.

But hey, you can squeeze fourteen days work into five. Or, if needed, seven.

It’s not an ideal pace but it’s just for a month or two.

And better to have too much work than not enough.

Just until you’ve DEFINITELY covered rent.

Although, having said that, you’re starting to get a slightly unusual sensation in your head…

🥵 4: Burnout

Hm.

You might have taken on too much.

You tell yourself you can just work a little later to make it fit, but your brain simply stops focussing.

But maybe if you take a break, go for a walk, drink some water, you’ll be ready to go again at 8pm.

But, of course, you’re not. You’ve hit your limit. And “the zone”, whatever that was, has receded into the distance.

💥 5: Broken Promise

The inevitable consequence hits you in the face like a boomerang.

You really should have expected the return of the boomerang.

After all, you threw the boomerang.

And now you’ve got a sore jaw.

You silly freelancer.

You realise that to get off this hamster wheel, there’s only one option.

You’ll have to contact an upcoming client and tell them it’s not going to work out.

Oof.

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If you’re at any stage on this wheel, try your best to get off 🐹

It’s easy to fear the next client will be your last.

To overpromise because you feel like they’ll lose interest.

To agree to spin three plates on two hands.

It’s a bizarre survival instinct, but it’s only harmful.

My solution is inspired, in part, by a newsletter I was writing with Justin Moore this week. It boils down to this:

You’re not “lucky” that someone wants to work with you.

They’ve seen what you do and they’ve reached out for a reason.

And even if a couple of clients don’t work out, there will be more.

So don’t spend your whole week on the back foot.

Choose your clients sustainably and spend your time intentionally.

That’s my plan, anyway. Hopefully it’s yours too.

Until next week,

George 👋

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🎥 Watch This:

My friend Joe released an excellent video about burnout this week. It gave an incredibly frank look into the brain of someone who had been overextending themselves for too long.

Thanks for being so honest, Joe 🙏