Practice creates perfection I’ve come to learn. Whether it’s taking pictures, picking apples, or being an entrepreneur.

An online business will attract different people from all over the world who have different demands and behaviors. With the right boundaries, you can run a healthy business while keeping yourself healthy as well. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right?

What can happen if you don’t set boundaries for your online business?

Setting boundaries allows you to structure your business so that you can do your best work. By setting expectations and boundaries, you are being proactive which prevents problems.

From my own experience, I’ve come to realize that there will be negative consequences of running an online business without setting boundaries. No one enjoys being taken advantage of or losing money. There are several unfavorable situations that can happen.

You can experience burnout

You experience burnout when you become physically and mentally overwhelmed because of customer demands as you’re struggling to meet deadlines. It is an unpleasant experience for anyone, but thankfully, you can avoid burnout by setting boundaries. You don’t want to spend the majority of your waking hours feeling depressed. If you hate your job, dread going to work, and you’re not getting any satisfaction out of what you’re doing, it can take a serious toll on your life.

Poor customer experience

Without boundaries, entrepreneurs tend to accept more business than they can handle and at times bend over backwards. Subsequently, they get frustrated and disappoint customers by not meeting deadlines. You want to provide the service they need without them micromanaging you.

Not everyone out there is your ideal client. You should find your target market. Identifying your clients makes it easy to study their buying behavior. With that information, you can set the right boundaries for your business.

Loss of revenue

A dissatisfied customer is one who feels a business didn’t provide a product or service they expected. Dealing with difficult customers can be challenging. Dissatisfied and angry customers arrive at their feelings from different circumstances, but neither is good for your business. Unhappy customers will not return to buy from your online business.

Enough of the bad experiences, here’s how you can set the right boundaries to boost your online business;

Define your limits

At this stage of setting your entrepreneurial boundaries, you define what you can or cannot do while running the business. For example, you can decide to accept a particular number of orders daily. Set your own expectations early and consistently. Keep the client informed and hold your ground. You need to decide what boundaries are important to you. Never feel guilty about the boundaries you set or the decisions you make. A client who doesn’t like your boundaries may be better served by someone else.

Communicating your boundaries

It is a great idea to ensure your customers understand the boundaries you have set for your online business. Send out emails, or call your customers. Explain your limits and, most importantly, allow your customers to ask questions.

Your customers will respect the boundaries you have set when they understand the conditions and terms that apply. Know your worth!

Over-communication leaves no room for confusion. For example, create a standard pricing schedule for your business products or services. Then make it clear that your prices are fixed; this will discourage customers from trying to negotiate a lower price or asking you to sell at a loss.

Create a daily routine

As an entrepreneur, the internet gives you the ability to run your business around the clock. Since there are no geographical boundaries, there are no specific hours of operation allowing you to produce income while you sleep. For that reason, it’s important to create a daily routine. With a well thought-out strategy, your access to the entire world is a good thing.

When you respect your routine, your customers and leads will respect your time. A powerful morning routine sets the tone for the day.  It gives you a fresh start to winning the day.

Don’t neglect a night routine. A nighttime routine has several advantages. A bedtime routine prepares you for the next day. Prioritizing tomorrow’s to-list, not only gives you a head start to the morning but makes room for fewer things to stress over as you try to fall asleep.

By creating your DMO, you’re putting yourself in a position to succeed the day. It can be easy to start your day with a few healthy habits when you take on that mindset.

Setting boundaries for yourself is a great way to avoid losing your passion as an entrepreneur, which can happen if you are stressed out. However, be flexible, and make changes when necessary. Reward yourself by acknowledging your own efforts. Healthy boundaries make us feel good. If you don’t feel good about yourself, you may want to take a look at the boundaries you’re setting with yourself and others so you can be at your greatest potential every single day.

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Credit to Rana Monet for the fun photo on a beautiful autumn day.