My calendar belonged to everyone else

For most of my career, my calendar belonged to everyone else.

When I set up my executive coaching business, I made a small, but important, non-negotiable decision.

I would keep the first half of every morning for myself.

Gym. Learning. Thinking. Just being me before being “on”.

At the time, it felt like a risky move.

After 35+ years in professional services, I knew how demanding clients can be.
I’d grown up in an environment where the customer is always right.
You bend over backwards to accommodate.
Saying no feels like bad service.

Later, as a CEO I adopted the same approach to availability for my team.

And if I’m honest, I’d internalised that.
I was well trained in being available.

So the first few times I said, “I don’t work at that time”, it felt uncomfortable.
Slightly confrontational.
Even a bit unprofessional.

I expected pushback.

It never came.

Not once.

Instead, clients simply picked one of the alternative times I offered.

It was a useful lesson.

Most of the constraints we’re afraid to set are only a problem in our own heads.

What also became clear is that boundaries don’t reduce value.
They increase it.

By protecting that time, I arrive at sessions more focused.
More present.
Less rushed.
Better able to listen and think clearly.
My clients get a better version of me.

There’s something else going on here too.

When you’re clear about how you work, you quietly teach others how to work with you.

People tend to respect well-held boundaries and value you more.

In my coaching, we often turn this into something practical.
What are your non-negotiables?
Where are you saying yes to others at the expense of yourself?
What are you afraid will happen if you hold the boundary? And how likely is this to actually happen?
How do you communicate boundaries clearly without over-explaining?

Small changes here tend to have outsized impact.

Looking back, this wasn’t just about protecting my time.
It was about protecting my energy.

And shifting from a reactive way of working to a more intentional one.

It’s a small boundary.

But it’s had a big impact.