Unpopular take: taking every single client call ASAP is ruining your focus

I used to jump on every client call the second they messaged me, thinking it showed I cared. But last month I missed a deadline by 3 days because I kept breaking my flow for urgent chats, and the client didn't even appreciate it. Now I batch all calls to 2-3 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and my billable hours went up by 15%. Has anyone else tried pushing back on immediate availability?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_hayden7d ago

How many clients actually complained when you pushed them to set times?

jamesc796d ago

Oh MAN this is SO relatable! @the_hayden I actually had zero complaints when I switched to set times. I was terrified clients would think I was lazy, but I just sent a quick note saying "I focus best when I schedule calls in blocks so I can give you my full attention" and literally no one pushed back. One guy who used to DM me 5 times a day actually told me he liked having a set time to talk because it made him prepare his questions better. I do the same thing with my own work now - my billable hours jumped because I'm not stopping every 20 minutes to answer a question that could have waited. The real secret is that most people don't NEED an answer right that second, they just like knowing one is coming.