You Must Always Be Available
Photo by Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash.
When I was a new solopreneur, it seemed mission-critical that my calendar was open into the evening hours, five days a week.
I was worried I'd lose out on a potential client in a different timezone. Or not be able to accommodate someone who couldn't meet during UK workday hours. Or something else I hadn’t even thought of.
What if I missed out on someone great?
This is anxiety-driven scarcity thinking. The truth is, the world is big and there are enough people in it to meet at the times that make sense for me.
Besides, the definition for a great-fit client necessarily includes people who fit into my schedule. It’s not a good match if I’m tired and resentful about missing dinner.
“Anytime” is overwhelming
This is also true for scheduling meetings. It’s the difference between, “I’m free all next week”, which is overwhelming and puts the pressure on the other person to decide for the both of you, and “How about next Tuesday between 10–11:30 or Wednesday at 9:00?”
The latter is specific, and the other person can let you know if those times don’t work. Plus, you get first pick at what you’d prefer.
Which is all to say, these days I'm practicing strategic scarcity (and not the anxiety-driven kind).
What's the difference?
It's mostly a feeling (and feelings are good intel). Anxiety-driven scarcity brings resentment, obligation, or dread. The other kind honors you, your schedule, and your wants and needs.
It also means that if you’re currently erring toward the latter, the work isn’t huge here. It’s small tweaks to start shifting anxiety-driven scarcity toward the more strategic kind.
That’s doable!
If you want help making that easier, I’d love to work with you. Let’s have a conversation to find out how we might do that and see if we’re a fit to do some great thinking together.
