The Goodbye That Changed Everything
Dear Diary,
Ending a client relationship feels like standing on the edge of a stormy sea—waves crashing, wind howling, and the unknown stretching out before you. You know you have to leap, but the fear of what lies ahead holds you in place. That’s exactly how I felt the day I said goodbye to Max.
Max wasn’t just any client. He was the kind of person you root for—the kind who makes you feel like your work matters. For over a year, we built his business together, side by side. I loved the challenge, the collaboration, and the purpose each project brought. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, the weight of it all began to press down on me.
The subtle signs crept in first. My mornings started earlier, my evenings stretched later, and my weekends blurred into workdays. By the time I realized I was running on fumes, it felt like I was already too deep in the current to swim back to shore.
And then came the moment of truth. A Tuesday afternoon, the kind of day where the gray clouds hang low and the air feels heavy with unspoken tension. I sat at my desk, staring at the email draft I’d been working on for days. Every word felt like a thread pulling at the tapestry of our working relationship. I agonized over how to communicate what I needed to say without unraveling everything we’d built.
“What if he thinks I’m ungrateful?”
“What if this ruins everything we’ve worked so hard for?”
“What if I’m making the wrong decision?”
My hand hovered over the mouse as I read the email one last time. I took a deep breath, whispered a prayer, and hit send.
The minutes that followed felt like hours. My Slack notification pinged, and there it was—Max’s reply.
“I’m shocked. Did I do something wrong? Can we fix this?”
His words hit me like a wave, the guilt rising fast and fierce. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t about him. This was about me—the life I wanted, the business I was building, and the boundaries I needed to set to make it all possible.
The truth was, I had outgrown the relationship. My vision had shifted toward coaching, high-ticket clients, and scaling my business in a way that gave me the freedom to prioritize my faith and personal life. Max deserved a VA who could give him 100%, and I deserved to step into the next chapter of my career.
Still, that didn’t make it any easier. I crafted a follow-up email with care, explaining my reasons and reassuring him that this wasn’t about anything he’d done wrong. I outlined a transition plan, reassigned tasks, and left the door open for future collaborations.
His final reply came two days later: “I respect your decision and wish you the best.”
I exhaled. The bridge remained intact, and for the first time in months, I felt the weight lift.
Here’s what I learned from this experience:
Growth demands courage. Saying goodbye to a client isn’t easy, but it’s necessary when the relationship no longer aligns with your goals.
Boundaries are self-respect in action. Protecting your time and energy isn’t selfish—it’s essential for long-term success.
Integrity matters. How you end a relationship says as much about you as how you begin one. Be professional, honest, and kind.
To my fellow VAs, remember this: Being a VA isn’t just about the tasks you complete. It’s about the choices you make, the relationships you nurture, and the boundaries you set. Every “no” creates space for the “yes” that aligns with your vision.
Current Mood: Playing Black Atlas on repeat—loud enough to drown out my thoughts but soft enough to let the creativity flow.
Peak of the Week: Sending off the final draft of a new module for The Glow Lab—the kind of work that makes me feel like I’m truly in my zone.
Glowing Gratitude: Thankful for the rain-soaked mornings that force me to slow down and reflect on how far I’ve come.
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Until next time,
-- Monica ✌🏽❤️
