One Bad Client Doesn’t Define Your Greatness: How to Bounce Back as a VA

Jun 9

One bad client doesn’t define your greatness as a VA. It’s easy to feel defeated when a client disrespects your work or pushes your boundaries, but your value isn’t tied to their behavior. Learn to bounce back by reflecting on the situation, revisiting your wins, and setting stronger boundaries. Keep your glow intact by focusing on clients who respect and value your skills.

Reflect, Don’t Internalize:
- Assess the situation objectively. Understand whether you genuinely made a mistake or if the client’s expectations were unrealistic.
Revisit Your Wins:
- Remind yourself of your past successes and positive client feedback. One bad client doesn’t erase all the good you’ve done.
Set Stronger Boundaries:
- Clearly communicate your process and limits from the start. You teach people how to treat you by what you accept.

Hey you (yeah, you)—let’s have a heart-to-heart. I see you out there, pouring your soul into your work, going the extra mile, and giving it your all. You’re passionate, committed, and putting in the effort to build something great.

But then it happens. One client comes along and makes you question everything. They complain, push your boundaries, or straight-up make you feel like you’re not good enough. It’s gut-wrenching, right? It makes you question your skills, your dedication, and sometimes even your decision to be a VA.

One bad client does NOT define your greatness.

My Experience: When a Dream Client Turns Out to Be a Nightmare

I remember a time when I thought I’d landed the perfect client. She was a powerhouse—worth $40M (on paper)—a self-made Black woman who talked about supporting other Black women and using her platform to uplift others. I thought, “This is going to be a DREAM.” You probably know her.

But behind the scenes? It was a whole different story. In meetings, she was rude, disrespectful, and yelled obscenities at her team. She expected people to jump and ask, “How high?” whenever she said to do something. Spoiler alert—I didn’t. And needless to say, she’s no longer a client.

The cherry on top? She stiffed me on the last $8K invoice.

It was one of those moments that made me question everything. Here I was, working with someone who seemed like a perfect fit on the surface, but in reality, it was toxic and demeaning. I felt crushed.

But then, I took a step back. I looked at my other clients—the ones who genuinely appreciated me, treated me with respect, and sang my praises. That’s when I realized something important: One person’s inability to see my value didn’t mean I wasn’t valuable. It just meant they weren’t the right fit for me.

Here’s How You Bounce Back:

1. Reflect, Don’t Internalize

Take a moment to honestly assess the situation. Did you really drop the ball, or were their expectations completely out of line? Sometimes a client’s demands go way beyond what’s reasonable. If that’s the case, remind yourself that their behavior says more about them than it does about you.

Quick Tip: Journal your thoughts about what happened. Getting it out on paper helps you see it from a new perspective and separate your feelings from the facts.

2. Revisit Your Wins

When a bad client knocks your confidence, it’s easy to forget how amazing you really are. Go back to your client testimonials, positive feedback, and all the glowing messages you’ve received. Remind yourself of the impact you’ve made. One difficult client doesn’t erase all the good you’ve done.

VA Glow-Up Hack: Create a “Wins” folder on your computer or phone. Fill it with screenshots of client praises, successful project outcomes, and any reminders of your greatness. Look at it whenever doubt creeps in.

3. Set Stronger Boundaries

Sometimes, bad clients happen because we didn’t clearly communicate our boundaries from the start. Use this as a learning experience. Be upfront about your process, your working style, and what you will and won’t tolerate. You teach people how to treat you by what you accept.

Example: If a client constantly messages after hours, set clear guidelines from the start. Let them know when you’re available and stick to it. Respecting your own boundaries teaches them to respect them too.

You Are NOT One Client’s Opinion

I know it’s tough when one person makes you feel small, especially when they seemed like the perfect client on paper. But here’s what I’ve learned: Your value doesn’t shrink just because someone else couldn’t see it.

Not everyone deserves access to your talent, energy, and time. Sometimes saying goodbye to a difficult client is exactly what you need to create space for the right ones. The ones who respect your work, appreciate your effort, and value your contribution.

You didn’t become a VA to settle for being treated poorly. You’re here because you’re skilled, passionate, and driven to make a difference. Don’t let one bad experience make you lose sight of that.

VA OG Tip:

Money can buy you a nice a$$, but it can’t buy you class. Period.

Keep Your Glow Intact

When a bad client knocks you down, take the lesson and keep moving forward. You deserve to work with people who see your brilliance. Don’t waste another minute doubting yourself because of one person’s attitude.

Your glow is too bright to be dimmed by someone who can’t see it. Keep showing up, keep leveling up, and don’t let one bad client steal your shine.

If you’ve ever dealt with a nightmare client, drop a comment and share how you bounced back. Let’s remind each other that one person’s opinion doesn’t define us.