What Burnout Taught Me About Boundaries

When we first started Twin Heron, I was thrilled to book our very first web design client.

They seemed like the dream:
A simple website request. Creative freedom. Full trust in our design process. They even said they’d help get our name out there.

I met with them in person, got the contract signed and deposit paid, and promised a rough draft within a week. I delivered it in two days.

I couldn’t wait to hear their feedback.

But when I did—it wasn’t what I expected.

The 13-Page Lesson I Didn’t See Coming

The draft was picked apart—page by page, section by section—in a 13-page Word document. New requests were made, many of which hadn’t been discussed or included in the original scope.

At the time, I didn’t see this as a red flag. I saw it as a challenge to rise to. I wanted to prove myself. I thought that making the client happy meant doing whatever it took.

So I made every change.
And then more changes.
And then even more.

Eventually, the project was far beyond what the original agreement covered—and I had only been paid for half of it upfront. The rest was due upon completion.

But that payment never came.

The Hard Truth: Boundaries Aren’t Just About Clients

After weeks of revisions, multiple versions of the site, and hours of unpaid labor, the client ghosted. When I let them know I would be closing the project and removing the site, I suddenly heard back—this time, asking for a refund on the non-refundable deposit.

I won’t lie: I was crushed.

Not because of the feedback. (Feedback is part of creative work.)
Not even because of the ghosting.
But because I had pushed past my own boundaries trying to be accommodating—and it left me depleted.

The Real Lesson? Boundaries Only Work If You Respect Them First

Contracts are there for a reason. But they don’t mean much if you bend around them at the first sign of discomfort.

That experience taught me that protecting your time, energy, and peace isn’t the opposite of being client-focused—it’s how you show up for your clients well. It’s how you deliver your best work. And it’s how you stay in love with the work you do.

Since then, our client process has changed:
✔️ Our contracts are clear and upheld.
✔️ Scope creep is addressed before it spirals.
✔️ And more than anything, we trust our gut when it tells us something’s off.

Not every client is the right fit—and that’s okay.

Final Thought

You can be generous without being overextended.
You can be kind without being walked over.
And you can serve people deeply while still protecting your own peace.

That’s the kind of business we’re building—and the kind we’re proud to run.