The Say Less Podcast

011 - Boundaries, Communication, and Not Burning Out

• Grace Cacho & Alex Taylor • Episode 11

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In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked but crucial topic of setting boundaries and maintaining professionalism while keeping your small business warm and approachable. Whether you're a creator, photographer, or entrepreneur juggling life's chaos, learn practical tips to communicate clearly, manage expectations, and protect your mental health without oversharing.

In this episode:

  • The difference between oversharing and appropriate transparency with clients
  • How to handle delayed responses professionally and empathetically
  • The importance of setting clear boundaries around work hours
  • Practical systems for automating and scheduling client communication
  • Protecting your privacy while building trust with clients
  • The myth of instant responsiveness and the real value of consistent, clear communication
  • Tips for balancing motherhood, life, and business without burnout
  • The house analogy: managing what you share and what stays private
  • How to respond to client inquiries with confidence and simplicity
  • The role of systems in preventing overwhelm and maintaining high standards

Remember: Setting boundaries and systems isn't just about being efficient — it's about creating a sustainable, joyful space for your passion and life. Keep your front door welcoming, and let the back rooms stay private. We've got this!

Send us burning questions, topic ideas, and things you’re loving about the podcast!

Connect with Alex & Grace:

Education:

Must-Have Systems

Arisa Haus Creative Marketing Agency

Grace & Andrew Cacho provide clarity to businesses and personal brands by means of Brand Message Clarity, Audits, Brand Strategy, Content Creation, Photo & Video, Web Design, and Social Media Management.

SPEAKER_00

If you are oversharing with kind of what's going on, you know, like if I say, Hey, I'm a full-time mom and I have a 10 month old who doesn't sleep, I just feel like that makes the other person feel like they have to comfort you. It kind of like derails the work conversation.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And like it's just unnecessary, in my opinion. Yeah. And like, you know, as a photographer, you kind of establish like a relationship with your client. Like I genuinely have become such close friends with like some of my couples. I keep in touch with them for years. Some, you know, I like, they like me, but we kind of lose connection. And that's like a different story. But it's like, you don't know me. Yeah. So the fact that my child isn't sleeping, like, doesn't matter. And like I kind of feel that way as well when I'm like working with another small business and they're like oversharing. And it's not that I'm like not sympathetic or empathetic to their situation, but I don't know. I wanted to start a podcast for creative entrepreneurs.

SPEAKER_01

So I asked Alex to join me and I said, say less. I'm in. Welcome to the Say Less podcast, where we actually say a lot more about motherhood, creativity, photography, business ownership, and everything in between.

SPEAKER_00

We are your hosts, Alex and Grace. And this is a space for creative women building something meaningful. Whether you're raising babies, raising your rates, or just trying to figure out your next move.

SPEAKER_01

We talk about all the real stuff. What's working, what's not, what we're unlearning, what nobody tells you about building a business that has to fit inside a real life.

SPEAKER_00

The pivot, the pressure, the sustainability, and all of the seasons. If you've ever felt like you're creating in the margins of your time, your energy, or your confidence, you're not alone here. So stay less. Let's get into it. Welcome back, guys. Today we're gonna talk about something that happens in small business. Any small business, all creative entrepreneurs, if you've ever worked with a small business, if you've ever ordered a custom t-shirt, if you've ever ordered a custom tumbler cup, if you've ever gotten a banner or rented a bounce house or anything like that, this has happened to you. No one wants to say it out loud, but it's over-sharing. This is not the fun kind where someone tells you their favorite coffee order. It's the kind where you email someone about a project or an update on what they're working on. And the response is sorry for the delay. My sister's dog had emergency surgery, my neighbor's going through a divorce. So things have just been really crazy over here. And you're sitting here thinking, like, I'm just trying to rent a bounce house. I just need my logo that you're designing for me. I just need this or that. And that's kind of the conversation today.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I think we're we'll probably hit it from both points because I know early in my business for sure, I definitely used reasonings that probably nobody cared about. And then I've been on the other side of it where I am thinking, you know, okay, but you're a business. And you're, you know, you're like displaying yourself as a professional. And so yeah, we're we're gonna get into all the things.

SPEAKER_00

No, it's exactly what you said because like I definitely want to come from both perspectives because it's like we're not Walmart.com. We don't have like millions of employees that are working for us in other countries that can respond immediately. We're not 24-7, but we are 24-7. We are a one-man team. So you really we're gonna talk about like both ways the business boundaries and kind of like avoiding oversharing. Because, in my opinion, social media has just like normalized sharing everything. Like everything under the sun is like okay to be shared. And I don't want to confuse like being human with being unprofessional. Yeah. That's kind of like where I want to come from because I don't want this to come, I don't want this podcast episode to come off the wrong way. Because obviously, I also have two kids. I work with both my kids. You can hear Jack on the podcast today. Like things happen and life happens, and it's all real. And this is a really important aspect for being a small business owner. It's also like the best part about being a small business owner is that you're able to take a step back as needed, but it's important that you respond professionally to your clients. They don't need to know everything you're going through. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I think about, yeah, I think about Donald Miller too, people like him that talk about the story brand and like you're, especially if you are, if your name is on your business and you are, you know, forward facing your actual face. He, you know, the whole thing is you're you're part of your brand. And it's hard to just like where is the line between I'm I am part of my brand and then I'm oversharing. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And the delays happen. I just feel like you don't have to justify it to your client. That's kind of my problem, is like it just doesn't have to be justified. So I kind of worked on like a little bit of a formula for responding professionally. But instead of responding, you know, like you're working on something for someone, in my perspective, it's photos. I will say too candidly, I've been behind on editing. I'm behind this time of year and like October, November is a really Jack, Jack on the podcast. That's a really hard time for me. And I try really hard to stay like within my delivery window. In some cases, I don't in full weddings. And you know, the most I've ever been is one, maybe two weeks like overdue my like six week timeline.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

But I do always communicate before I reach that six weeks and say, I need another week or I need two weeks. And I don't say it's because Jack doesn't sleep, which is honestly the truth.

SPEAKER_01

But you're constantly also have a baby that doesn't sleep. You're not an excuse for them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm like, and you understand. I'm like, yeah, but you know, I try to just like remain really professional. So yes, for the formula. Instead of sorry, I'm late responding, like my kids have been sick, Jack isn't sleeping, my mom's visiting, our dog ate something weird. I had to take him to the vet, which is all like real things that happen. All of those things have happened to me, to you, to everyone. But responding with thank you so much for your patience. I appreciate the grace in this phase of life, in this like phase of business, however you want to word it. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your grace. I'll have this to you by next Friday. Yeah. What else is needed? I think that's so much more professional. Yeah. And like it's just short, it's clear. You don't have to send the vet report. You don't have to say like every single detail. And all they're wanting is communication. They just want to hear, like they're just checking when, like, they understand that life has happened. In fact, they probably assume life is happening. I think when I'm delayed, I think people assume like I just have a huge workload, which is true. Yeah. I don't think they're going, wow, I wonder if we're kids sleeping, which is also true. Which is also not true. You know what I mean? But I'm like, Yeah, like you can assume that someone's been busy or you know, they have things going on and you just don't have to overshare it. I think, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01

I'm just gonna share a quick example that I just had to use this past week. I had a mini session. So it, you know, it takes me way less time to do a mini session. Usually it's one, it's one spot, one kind of light. And I had a few sessions that same weekend. It was one of my more busy weekends recently, and she had not contacted me at all. And I took the initiative one week post-shoot to say, Hey, I know you haven't gotten these yet. Um, but I did send her a few sneaks. I sent her a few sneaks like the next one. Because I knew I was a little busy. I knew I was a little busy, so I just like took the initiative to like do that, and usually that keeps them happy for a minute. But also I took the initiative to say, Hey, I know you haven't gotten these yet. I just want you to know I'm still working on them, loving them the more I look at them, and I can't wait to get them to you. The end. The end. And she said, Oh my gosh, I totally understand. It's gonna be so worth the wait. And I got them to her the next day, and it was great. It was great. Do you always send a sneak gallery? Um, not I use if it's like a mini session or just a regular session, I'll do like a handful. Sure. I if I it's kind of like a wedding. If I don't do something on it immediately, it'll just sit there and like linger over my head. Yeah. And so I'll send at least like at least five. Right. Just and that's like a little bit of this is not what we're talking about, but it's a little bit of hype building, and they're posting it immediately. And then I'm sharing it immediately from the BTS I posted yesterday or a couple of days ago or whatever.

SPEAKER_00

So I've started to send like more snakes for regular galleries whenever my workload is so full. Like I literally was looking last night and I have 14 sessions to edit currently. All of the air just went out of my lungs. Oh my gosh. Well, like I got it, two of them done last night, but just like like my friend had a baby and like taking pictures for friends and that kind of stuff too, and like my own kids. Okay. So I'm like, I took Easter pictures of my kids. So I'm like, that takes up like five of the situations here. And then two weddings. Um, and so I've kind of started sending sneak peeks, but I always set the boundary of two different things. Number one, my office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. Yes. Like that's when I'm in the office. Like you will see me in the office. I'm sitting literally here I am in my sage green office today. That's when I'm sending emails. That's when I take phone calls. It's when Georgia's at school. So I feel like I'm able to like focus in during that time. And anytime I do a session, my clients know this is when you're gonna receive it. Two to three weeks is my editing time for regular sessions, six weeks for weddings, and I send a sneak gallery within five days. And that's just like what works for my business. At this time of year, it really takes me more like eight weeks to get a wedding gallery done. And I let my clients know that. And I always take the initiative, just like you, of this is my busiest time of year. I literally edit every single day. I like literally edit every day. Yeah. And I need eight weeks to get it done because of how many other things. And I realize it doesn't take eight weeks to edit a wedding, but I have 14 other sessions before I can get to your wedding. And we talked about this, you're also a full-time mom, which is a million dollars. I'm full-time jobs. And I'm a full-time mom. So, but no, I just think that if you are oversharing with kind of what's going on, you know, like if I say, Hey, I'm a full-time mom and I have a 10-month-old who doesn't sleep, I just feel like that makes the other person feel like they have to comfort you. It kind of like derails the work conversation. Yeah. And like it's just unnecessary, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And like, you know, as a photographer, you kind of establish like a relationship with your client. Like I genuinely have become such close friends with like some of my couples. I keep in touch with them for years. Some, you know, I like, they like me, but we kind of lose connection. And that's like a different story. But it's like, you don't know me. Yeah. So the fact that my child isn't sleeping, like, doesn't matter. And like I kind of feel that way as well when I'm like working with another small business and they're like oversharing. And it's not that I'm like not sympathetic or empathetic to their situation, but I don't know you.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I think there's something unsaid too, where we've probably all being as old as we are, however old you are, not calling any specific age group out, but we've run into people who do use those things as excuses and they do abuse those actual life scenarios to make excuses for procrastinating truly or just not having their priorities straight. And you can only like do that for so long. If that is you, we gotta have another conversation. But people are wary of that already. So in their mind, it's probably they probably their first thought might be, hey, I need to comfort this person, but it is also like she's just not doing her job, you know. That could be and that's not a good look either.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, because like that's what I'm saying is like the personal connection isn't established. So don't know you. Don't know why you're telling me this. Not that I'm not sympathetic or empathetic, but like, how am I actually supposed to know? Whereas you could have just said, I really appreciate your patience and I'm sorry for the delay, I'll get it to you by Friday. Yeah. Or I just need one extra week. So I know we had discussed this, which I do agree. And I really didn't have that in my notes for today. But you saying, like getting ahead of it and being proactive to be like, you know, you're not gonna hit your deadline. So let me just go ahead and reach out to my client and let them know like, like, I just need one extra week or whatever, yep, is really a smart way to go without the oversharing. Yes. Don't need to hear about it. Grace is a full-time mom, she's also a full-time student, she's also a full-time photographer, she also has a baby who doesn't sleep. Spawn pop in the comments, like if you have a baby who doesn't sleep. But I'm like, she also is getting little sleep. And like none of that needs to be said to the client. Like, we don't need the bullet points of everything you're going to do.

SPEAKER_01

Everybody has their busy.

SPEAKER_00

Everybody, and this is kind of like where it ties back to like entrepreneur moms. I know this podcast is by moms. It's not particularly for moms, but if you are a mom that is a creative entrepreneur, not just a photographer, but all creative small businesses. Honestly, this podcast could be like generalized to any small business, but creative small business, we'll just stay on topic for today, I guess. Yeah. It's it's about making like boundaries with your working hours as well. I like kind of wanted to note something like it's so hard sometimes when I'm trying to work and like I'm with my kids, which I really only try to work with Jack because right now he kind of can, you know, he distracts himself. Yeah. Yeah. He gets busy, like he's busy with toys. He's busy right now, but it's like so much harder when I have Georgia, my almost four-year-old, she doesn't really understand, like, be quiet. Mommy's working, which is not ever how I want to be. But it helps my to let myself know, like, okay, I have like these certain hours, like or times of day or times of the week cut out to get things done. And I use that philosophy for like when I want to get chores done, or like when I want to accomplish tasks, because then I'm able to be fully present with my children and not thinking like, oh my God, like if only I had a second to send these emails that I need to send, where or like the sink is full of dishes, or I need to do this, or I need to do this. I have the boundary and I have the like thought in my mind of, you know, I'll have time at 7 p.m. And I'll have time when Travis gets home at five. And like that's when I can do these things. The same thing can go for like your work hours. Like I know my office hours are on Mondays and Wednesdays. So I know that I'll have the time to do those things then. And it kind of eliminates the mom guilt and the stress of, oh, I can't, I'm not getting anything done. Like I'm not able to play and sit and eat and enjoy my time with my child because I should be working. But it's like it's not that because I know I have the time cut out for myself. Yeah. So I feel like that's really important, especially like as a mom. So creative entrepreneurial moms, that was like a little note to you. But it's okay to have office hours and like stay within those. I have mine and my email signature of this is when I'm in my office. Um, if you don't hear from me until then, then you might not. And sometimes I respond from my phone if it's easy and quick. But it's like responding quickly does not mean responding instantly, right? Yeah. Yeah. I've kind of and I know we've talked about workflows on the podcast. Um, but like when you have that setup of like an automated email of, hey, I'm in my office Mondays and Wednesdays.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And you know, you can hear back from me then, or you'll hear back within within 48 hours, or like however you want to word it, setting those boundaries is going to help you not get burnt out. Because the burnout happens when you feel like you have to be available 24-7.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. When you're too busy.

SPEAKER_00

When you're too busy.

SPEAKER_01

You know me, I love a good project. I love to take on a project. Yes, you do. Or 10.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And so it's really easy. And we've talked about this before. Don't remember on what episode at this point. I'm like, we're on our teens episode. Oh no. How cool is that? Also, but uh, I lost my train of thought. But we love what we do. We love what we do.

SPEAKER_00

And so, but we also love thinking about I was talking about burnout. That's when you lost your train of thought.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Yeah. And like being too busy. So I'll take on too many things. So many projects. Yeah. Yes. And I think the mom kind of like pushed me into this gear. I've always thrived when I do when I'm doing more. I don't know what that is. I think it just lights a fire under my butt and I'm like, okay, I have to get my crap together. And that's just how I get my crap together by doing too many things. But I think also adding the mom aspect, uh, I have to have systems in place or everything is going to crumble.

SPEAKER_00

Right.

SPEAKER_01

And I I will start to have to lay this down and lay this down because I didn't prioritize my time. I got too busy and I didn't set up the necessary work hours or um whatever workflows that I need to. And so yeah, I do think that having to to they are they are excuses, but they there can be valid and invalid excuses. But the the excuses I think are almost non-existent when you do have those boundaries set in place.

SPEAKER_00

Right. That's and I think the like having to be available 24-7 is what causes like the overwhelm and like the guilt and the when you feel like you have to overshare because you're like, I'm just tired, whatever. But having those systems in place, setting those brown boundaries, like what you were just talking about, is what's gonna like help you in the long run, not having to do that because you're like, oh gosh, like I have to hurry and respond to this, or like as a wedding photographer, you feel when you receive a lead, you're like, they want the answer right now. So let me hurry and get this done. And it's just that constant state of I have to be available 24-7 and I'm one person and I'm trying to be present for my kids, and you know, I have this and this going on, which everyone has stuff going on. Yeah. So without the boundaries and the systems in place, you're going to make it to burnout, which in my opinion, oversharing like is a symptom of burnout. It leads you in kind of exactly what you were just saying. I'm like totally on a soapbox about this. Like, I know I'm like I'm totally on a soapbox about this, but I do feel like that oversharing is like a symptom of burnout. And then it's like when you don't have the systems in place, you're caught up in this like system, which now I'm use over using the word system, but you really are like doing the things you don't want to be doing. Yes. Like emergency responding to an email when the part of your business that lights your fire is doing the sessions or getting to have creative edits and blah, blah, blah. But you're spending all your time emailing excuses for the fact that your things aren't done. But you're just feeling overwhelmed because you're explaining why everything's late instead of just like fixing your systems, which you guys have to tune into. I know you guys already know we have a system called the first year files, and we do talk about workflows and creating systems that help your business, especially if you're a one-man show. If you're standing up and you're playing guitar and playing the harmonica and singing, you know those, you know, I'm talking about like you see the guys that like play the guitar and like play the harmonica, and you're like doing the foot pedal for the cymbal. Like that's really running a business by yourself. And it's like you're doing all these things, but you really just want to be playing the harmonica.

SPEAKER_01

And then let's add like two children climbing on you while you're doing pulling your time.

SPEAKER_00

But really, you just want to be like in this smooth jazz bar, like playing the harmonica and not doing anything else. But you're having to beat the cymbals and play the guitar and play the harmonica and step on the drum. You know what I'm talking about. Fix your system so you don't have to be doing what you don't want to do, and you're enjoying the time and the passion behind why you started your business, really. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I think there's a big learning curve around that. But the more you do it, like with anything else, the more you do something, the more efficient you'll get at it. And so I think even with like uh you were saying like emergency responding to emails, yes, we are in 2026. Autumn schedule send those babies to the next day at 8 a.m. and let somebody think that you got up at 8 a.m. Yes if you did not and auto send those babies. Schedule five of them. I don't care. It doesn't matter, like that's what I'm saying. Like as a mom, I'm still working at 11 p.m. But I'm not gonna I'm not gonna email a client at 11 p.m. because that breaks the boundaries that I've set. So I'm still gonna keep, you know, those that's just like a practical example, but this is so good. I make room on that soapbox for me because I'm scooting over, sis.

SPEAKER_00

Get up here. I'm scooting right over. Get up here. No, we have it. And I will say too, this it feels like beginner business. Like this in the when you're in the beginning of your business, this is just what happens. Like, even if you're not wanting it to happen, this is what happens. And you know, we Grace and I have a lot of experience now and have like learned the boundaries and blah, blah, blah. But the earlier that you can get to it, oh yes, the earlier you can like get this system in place. He's about to unplug my computer. The earlier you can get the system in place, the better everything's gonna be for the long run. And I love your practical example of scheduling emails. I always forget I can do that. I really try not to email outside of like my office hours. And so I'll like type it and save it as a draft and send it later, but I totally forget you can schedule. So I do try to, I do try to keep, you know, my work life balance going. And that also that also goes for text messages because I receive a lot of text messages and I have like a general response of I love to text. I'm a text queen. I love to text. Grace knows I love to voice memo, but I can't have my business over text because I have Opened your text message while I have my hand inside of a poopy diaper. And I just clicked on it, and you've sent me this very important message for your wedding day. And I'm like in the middle, I'm driving to school drop-off. Like I'm doing this and that. And I am not able to respond to your text. So I do have like a general response to of please send us over via email, not because I care that you texted me, but because I won't respond. And not because I don't want to either.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And that's that's allowed. You're allowed to do that. You're allowed to set that boundary. And I think I hear a lot of people talk about how Gen Z, how we should approach Gen Z that's getting married because they prefer, they respond better when you do text or when you reach out in more personal ways instead of super formal businessy ways. But you're not always going, don't make that your standard because your client will not always be Gen Z bride. And just because she's a Gen Z bride does not mean that that's what she or he prefers either. So just know that you are you're allowed to have your privacy. And that professionalism is gonna build more trust, I think, than letting them have 24-7 access to you over text message.

SPEAKER_00

Oh my gosh. It's exactly what you said. And I feel like, like on the note of privacy, I feel like I can blur this line personally because you know me and you know I love to yap. Like literally, I like am hosting a podcast, like, hello. Yeah. I love to yap. I love to connect my clients. I love to like establish relationships with them. I love to share about my life. I love to talk about my kids. I love to talk about um my husband and my dog and how I got started in the business, whatever. But privacy is allowed too. And I think there is like an inappropriate and appropriate line of sharing and oversharing. Like the girl that I love that prints t-shirts for holidays for my kids that I've literally have never even looked eye to eye with. I don't want to hear like an excuse. Just let me know when it's gonna be ready or when it's gonna be done. And I don't want to hear about your personal life because I don't know you. And it's not personal. Because, like, I'm so what I'm saying, like, you know, I'm a nice, genuine person who loves to talk and connect, but I don't know you. And as far as like the aspect of business, keep your privacy and remain professional because that's gonna build trust with your clientele totally. Yeah. So it makes you look more competent. It's all the things, it's gonna make your life easier. But yeah, that's kind of the gist. And small business owners, we're dealing with life. We get it. If you are a small business owner and you're working with another small business owner, you don't gotta tell me. You don't gotta tell me what you got going on because I know it. You can hear in the background, I'm not having my office hours in a quiet office with no interruptions. Yeah, I'm like right in the middle of real life. I'm handing snacks down to Jack. I'm breastfeeding him on the podcast. Like this is it's not about removing the human side, it's about remaining professional, which the back end of that is having the systems in place so you're able to enjoy the aspects of business. Yeah. Setting the clear boundaries, communicating them, it's all gonna make your life easier. Just take the pressure off yourself to like explain all the time.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I think it's just to reiterate. I think good communication, clear communication, even reiterating your boundaries if it doesn't land the first time, you have permission to do that. Cause some, you know, sometimes, sometimes, even if it's like in your initial email, I do like to keep things in my email to keep it all in one place and yada yada.

SPEAKER_00

Yep.

SPEAKER_01

You may still have a client that texts you and just a gentle reminder hey, a text gets lost so easily in my phone with all of my other personal life things. Can you send this again to my email so I have it there? And then the next time they do it, they'll do that. And I think they'll respect that more than they would be offended that you're not letting them text you all the time.

SPEAKER_00

No, totally. And I don't think that clients ever think that. I think that they appreciate and expect communication. They're not expecting like perfection. They're not expecting perfection or anything like that. They're just expecting communication and the honesty really helps too. Really helps. But I think this is like where small businesses like have the advantage because people that are hiring small businesses want that person Jack has the hiccups. People that are hiring small business, they want the personal experience, you know? Like when I'm thinking I want like a massage, I'm gonna go to like a massage envy or like a big spa and get this like top-notch experience that's like held at like a corporate standard, right? Yeah. But I'm like with photographers and creative entrepreneurs, and you want a custom logo and you want a custom shirt and you want a custom bit, working with a small business, like that's the benefit, is that you're going to get the like personal experience. So keeping the process like personal is important. Yes. But personal doesn't have to mean everything in like the aspect of how you're communicating, and you remain warm and approachable, but you don't have to give everyone your life story.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Like you're letting people into the front room of your house and not every room in the house. Or my mom also used to say, you know, you have front door friends and you have backdoor friends.

SPEAKER_00

And that's so cute.

SPEAKER_01

Isn't that so cute? Yes. Um, so who are you letting in your front door? Oh, how what do they get to roam? Like you get to set all of those boundaries. I think that's a great analogy. That's so the whole house thing. Yes.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, the front room of my house generally stays really clean, you know? Like my kids can mess it up with toys, but I'm like, if I open the front door, you can see into my house, you see the front room, and like it stays, it stays straightened. But then it's like once you enter the threshold, you're like in my full house and you're like, whoa, whoa, not really what I expected. And I'm like, right, but I'm like, the front room. I love that. Front room of your house, not every room in the house. Front door, back door is so cute. Yes. Okay. I want to do something kind of like fun and funny because you know, I like gotta keep this silly. Yes. I want you to answer. I'm gonna share some examples of some stuff, and I want you to tell me if you feel like it's an overshare or inappropriate and leave a little gap. Whenever I say it, leave a little gap because I want the listeners to be like, like them responding as well.

SPEAKER_01

Like we're watching Blues Clues.

SPEAKER_00

I was just about to say. So give us like Miss Rachel, and I'm gonna go, can you say open? And then I want you to tell me. I want you to respond, but like leave a little gap for the listeners. Okay, so listeners, you ready? Okay, like use this example for we have a scheduled call. Okay. Sorry, I'm like my topper didn't nap today. Overshare. Overshare. Overshare. Me just talking about like Jack blowing out a diaper. Overshare. Total overshare. Okay, thanks for your patience. I'll get this to you this afternoon. Appropriate. Appropriate. Appropriate professional. She's professional. Okay, next one. Sorry for the delay. I've been going through a lot personally. Tough one. This one's tough. I think it's still an overshare.

SPEAKER_01

Jack Grease.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, make sure to leave that in. He literally said, enough! Overshare. No, that's an overshare for sure. Because that moment, in my opinion, inappropriate. Inappropriate. Whoa. Inappropriate. Okay, guys. That's kind of like the examples I wanted to give because I think it's fun. Here's the takeaways for what we're talking about. Keep your responses simple. Keep the systems in place and keep your responses simple. Clarity is more important than explanation. Just be clear. This is when you're going to receive it. This is this is when you can expect to hear from me again. This is when you can expect to receive your photos. Keep it simple. Communicate your timelines. And I know I kind of just like touched on that. But if you're a photographer and you let them know like when they can receive their pictures, that kind of stuff. Um, just keep the timelines clear. Even if it's just like Grace was using the example of the session that she did. She was like, I'm delayed doing it. And then she finished it the next day. Like, I'll send this tomorrow. It's totally fine to say. Yeah. Protect your working hours. This is kind of the example that I was making of. This can help you like eliminate the stress and guilt of stressing when you're trying to be present for your kids or for your family or for your full-time job or whatever else you have going on. Yeah. And thinking to yourself, like, oh, if only I could get this done. Protecting your time outside of that, knowing you're gonna have the time later will help you reduce your guilt. So protect your opening hours. And the last thing is being professional doesn't mean being cold. And I, this is the part that I told you I blur the line, I struggle with because I love to be warm and approachable. I really feel like um my charisma and my personality is kind of like here, my charisma and my personality is kind of like what makes my service like a benefit to people.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And I don't want ever to sound cold, but I also don't want to overshare. So I do feel like I can maintain this boundary, but you can still be warm without writing a memoir and making excuses in every email. So I've had to learn that as like business goes on.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. Yeah, there's a balance for sure.

SPEAKER_00

There is. And at the end of the day, running the business is about trust. And people don't need to be knowing all your business, they don't need to know everything that's going on. Your privacy can be kept to yourself. They just want to know that you're reliable. They just want to know that you're reliable. And that's kind of what it's all about. Will honestly bring this like into the future of keeping all this in mind because all of the excuses don't matter. Everyone's living life. So set up your systems and remain professional. That's all we have to say about that. We are stuck in a giggle fit. You know, when you're in class and like you have the giggles and you your friend looks at you and you also got the giggles and you're going, Don't look at me. We'll do that right now. I'm sorry for our listeners, but we're having a giggle fit. It's all about business people remaining professional on the podcast. We're trying to be professional, but it's not working. It's not working well with you on the podcast. That's fine. That's true. That's true. Thank you guys for tuning in seriously. Um, I hope this helps some of you, especially those of you that are in the beginning stages of your business, to be able to be fully present and keep your business private and personal and warm and approachable and all the things. Yes, this one was so good. Yeah. Okay. Till the next one. Thanks, guys. Bye.