It was a very bizarre and unnatural experience for me. And, in all honesty, it seemed totally counterintuitive. I worked so hard to build up my freelance business in the beginning, and I would accept virtually any assignment or project that came across my desk in the interest of keeping my business diversified. Now? I’ve learned that I need to be a little more selective about where I expend my time and energy.

So, I knew that I needed to kiss this client (for the sake of simplicity, let’s just name it Client X, shall we?) goodbye for a few reasons, which included:

1. Client X was eating up a large chunk of my time each and every week—eight hours per week, to be exact.
2. The pay rate of Client X was no longer competitive with my other work.
3. I didn’t enjoy the work, and it wasn’t something I was proud of. I didn’t want to include it in my portfolio.

Needless to say, I knew that this was something I needed to bid adieu. But, that still didn’t mean it was easy.

I’m loyal to a fault. So, I have a tough time when I feel like I’m quitting something. When I start something, I feel like I have the responsibility to stick with it to the bitter end. I don’t like to let things go.

But, I figured if I truly wanted to refine my business and continue increasing my income, I needed to make those tough choices—meaning I needed to send the email I was dreading.

So, I did it. And, honestly? I’m ridiculously glad I did.

It’s freed up more time for me—leaving me with hours to dedicate to the projects and assignments that I really enjoy and I’m proud to showcase. Even better? I’ve been able to accept tasks that I was previously turning down—which ultimately pay me more than Client X ever did.

Where am I going with this rambling, seemingly pointless post? I guess I just want to reinforce the point that you’re totally entitled to let go of things that no longer benefit you. That doesn’t make you selfish. It doesn’t make you a quitter. It means you’re looking out for your best interests—and that’s definitely OK. If you don’t do it, nobody will.

So, yes, you’re totally allowed to let things go—including dropping a client if necessary. I know it can seem scary in the heat of the moment. But, if it’s something that’s no longer good for you, you’ll be happy you did it! Trust me.

Until next time!