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Today we are talking about 3 Reasons Why Beck-and-Call is Not Better Business and working by appointment only increases your productivity and effectiveness. There is a huge misconception that the best business is a business that is at the beck-and-call of its clients. The truth is that the best business is a business that effectively sets boundaries, and manages and exceeds client expectations in order to maintain a productive and effective flow. If you are constantly juggling clients, answering the phone at all hours of the day, interrupting your personal time to fit in business, and feeling stressed, here are 3 Reasons Why Beck-and-Call is Not Better Business. 1. It’s Impossible to Manage Client Expectations Without structure and a solid foundation of rules and regulations, managing client expectations is impossible. They will expect the world, and will be sorely disappointed, when you do not deliver it. In other words, without boundaries, it’s quite possible they will expect everything. You may find yourself, at one point or another, running yourself ragged juggling multiple clients, all of whom expect your undivided attention. When you find it impossible to meet the expectations of your clients, your business will suffer in more than one way. You’ll be exhausted and clients will be left dissatisfied. No one wins. Client expectations can only be effectively managed by outlining specific deliverables from the very beginning. If this isn’t possible (if the working relationship has already begun), then establish and communicate boundaries to clients as soon as you can. If you can find a way to establish some ground rules (and stay firm to them), your clients will maintain healthy expectations and be satisfied (if not extremely happy) with the results. Establishing ground rules to manage client expectations is much like the tasks you schedule in your planner/calendar: Write it down and honor it. 2. It’s Impossible to Effectively Manage Your Business Imagine how effectively you can manage your business when you’re struggling to meet multiple demands of multiple clients? Instead of having time to focus on building your business, you’ll be struggling just to maintain it. That’s no way to run your business. It’s much like multi-tasking - it doesn’t work well. If you’re consumed with meeting the high demands of unbridled client expectations, your business isn’t running with the greatest effectiveness or efficiency. You’re spending too much time on an overly demanding client, instead of focusing on other areas of your business that also require your attention in order to be successful. You know you’re not effectively running your business (it’s actually running you) when: • You become exhausted and resentful of demanding clients (and eventually become resentful of your business, which detracts from your path of success). • Highly demanding clients without a ceiling on expectations are impossible to please (and miserable to work with). • Clients with irrational or unreasonable expectations never provide glowing business reviews (they’re often negative and damage your professional reputation). • You must have time to focus on other areas of your business other than client service (like finding and signing on prospective clients). • Instead of creating a straight path to success, you’re running yourself (and your business) into the ground. If a client requests a service or special attention, offer an additional service or upgraded package in which the client has the option to pay for that additional service. By honoring the ground rules you establish the value of your service, as well as the investment your client makes. 3. It’s Impossible to Maintain Peace and Balance If you’re constantly juggling unreasonable client expectations, it will be impossible to maintain any sense of peace and balance in your personal or professional life. You may feel like you’re sacrificing your personal life for your business, or the impo