Page de couverture de Managing Client Disputes for Creatives | Freelance Burnout, Scope Creep, Contracts for Freelancers

Managing Client Disputes for Creatives | Freelance Burnout, Scope Creep, Contracts for Freelancers

Managing Client Disputes for Creatives | Freelance Burnout, Scope Creep, Contracts for Freelancers

Auteur(s): Sheila M. Wilkinson LMSW Esq. | Business Coach for Creative Freelancers
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À propos de cet audio

 Sick of clients asking for “just one more thing”...again and again? Feel like you’re constantly overdelivering, undercharging, and saying yes when you really want to scream no? Maybe you’ve Googled “how to fire a client” or “contracts for freelancers” more times than you’d like to admit. You started freelancing to do work you love but now you’re stuck in a cycle of revisions, red flags, and resentment. Sound familiar? Welcome to the Managing Client Disputes for Creative Freelancers - the podcast that helps you set boundaries, protect your energy, and confidently handle the messy, awkward, and overwhelming parts of working with clients. Whether you’re dealing with scope creep, ghosting, or clients who don’t care about your values (or your value), this show is your permission slip to stop people-pleasing and start protecting your peace (and your paycheck). Hosted by Sheila Wilkinson - licensed attorney, social worker, and patron saint of troublemakers - this is where punk rock therapy meets badass business advice. Sheila combines legal clarity, emotional depth, and conflict resolution smarts to help you feel less alone and way more empowered in your creative career. Her mission is to help you attract the right people, projects, and pay you really want - without sacrificing your sanity. This podcast is for you if you’re a freelance designer, developer, artist, or other creative professional who: ✅ Is overworked, underpaid, and starting to question if this is what freelancing is supposed to feel like ✅ Worries about saying no or raising your rates because you don’t want to seem “difficult” ✅ Keeps attracting clients who don’t care about your values or your boundaries ✅ Wants to do meaningful work, earn enough to live comfortably, and still have the headspace to enjoy your life ✨ You'll get straight answers to questions like: What should I include in my freelance contract to protect myself? How do I set boundaries with clients without sounding rude? Can I actually fire a client… and how do I do it professionally? How do I stop people-pleasing and still get hired? What are the red flags to look for in a new client? Each episode helps you connect the dots - intellectually and emotionally - so you can take action with more clarity, confidence, and courage. You don’t need to figure it out on your own (or scroll Reddit at 2am looking for legal advice). Sheila’s got your back. Let's build you a more Joyful and Thriving™ life! ------------------------- 🥰 Find out more about what working with me looks like at sheilawilkinson.com and follow me over on Instagram @sheilamwilkinson 💌 Grab my FREE Plug and Play Email Templates for telling people what you need without burning bridges at sheilawilkinson.com/scripts “Managing Client Disputes” is an Original CreativesEd® and What Would Sheila Say?® Podcast. All Rights Reserved, Worldwide.Copyright © Wilkinson / CreativesEd® & What Would Sheila Say?® are Registered Trademarks, Protected by Federal Law. Reproduction, derivative works (including parodies), distribution, public performance and/or display of works is strictly prohibited. Art Gestion et leadership Économie
Épisodes
  • The ONE Contract Clause that lets you Stop Work when Clients Don’t Pay {Ep. 88}

    The ONE Contract Clause that lets you Stop Work when Clients Don’t Pay {Ep. 88}
    Aug 10 2025

    Are you struggling with clients who don't pay on time? In this episode, I’m debunking the myth that you have to continue working even if you're not paid - and I am sharing vital strategies on handling non-paying clients.

    From the importance of a solid contract to proactively setting consequences for non-payment, I’ll guide you step-by-step on protecting your time, energy, and reputation.

    Key topics include avoiding the sunk cost fallacy, using plain language in contracts and negotiations, and setting monetary and non-monetary consequences. Learn how to safeguard your freelance / business with effective contract management.

    Tune in and empower yourself to stop work when you’re not being paid!

    • 00:53 Understanding Non-Payment Issues
    • 03:12 Importance of Clear Contracts
    • 04:24 Setting Boundaries and Consequences
    • 09:00 Practical Advice and Personal Experiences
    • 12:30 Clarifying Non-Payment Consequences

    Resources

    • Get on the Waitlist for the next Client Contracts Crash Course!
    • Take the Quiz: Identify and start fixing your client-pleasing patterns today!
    • Spotify Playlist: Episodes 32 - 36 (Contracts Basics: What You Need to Know Before You Sign)
    • Free Interactive Guide: “12 Simple Tweaks to a Clearer Client Contract”

    >>>

    Hi! I’m Sheila, your guide to a Joyful and Thriving™ creative life! I have lots of titles: attorney, social worker, coach, consultant, keynote speaker, educator. And while I’m proud of those titles, I am a human first and a title second – just like you. I want to help you reset expectations, set boundaries, and make aligned decisions, so you can streamline and focus your energy on the people, projects, and pay that actually matter to you.

    Instagram: @sheilamwilkinson | LinkedIn

    Rate this podcast/episode on Apple Podcasts, or leave feedback here, and be sure to leave me a voice note with a question for me to answer in a future episode!
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    17 min
  • Freelance Contracts: How to Fire a Client when they Cross the Line {Ep. 87}

    Freelance Contracts: How to Fire a Client when they Cross the Line {Ep. 87}
    Jul 27 2025

    Are you struggling with a client who crosses the line? Today, I discuss how to address disrespectful clients, set boundaries, and communicate expectations clearly with freelance clients.

    I’ll share my own experiences and provide practical advice on how to handle clients who are disrespectful of your time and energy.

    Key points include the right time to address disrespect, differentiating between client needs and disrespect, and leveraging contracts to set boundaries.

    • 00:59 The Right Time to Address Disrespect
    • 02:32 Humanizing Client Relationships
    • 04:21 Communicating Expectations and Consequences
    • 04:56 Scripts for Handling Disrespect
    • 08:56 Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned
    • 10:35 Changing the Industry Norms

    Resources

    • Get on the Waitlist for the next Client Contracts Crash Course!
    • Take the Quiz: Identify and start fixing your people-pleasing patterns today!
    • Free Interactive Guide: “12 Simple Tweaks to a Clearer Client Contract”
    • Schedule a Strategy Call with Sheila
    • Episode 82 - Hidden Freelance Contract Gaps That Could Cost You Big (And How to Fix Them)
    • Episode 83 - Afraid To Lose Clients? Why Defining Your Ideal Client Is Key To A Joyful Business

    >>>

    Hi! I’m Sheila, your guide to a Joyful and Thriving™ creative life! I have lots of titles: attorney, social worker, coach, consultant, keynote speaker, educator. And while I’m proud of those titles, I am a human first and a title second – just like you. I want to help you reset expectations, set boundaries, and make aligned decisions, so you can streamline and focus your energy on the people, projects, and pay that actually matter to you.

    Instagram: @sheilamwilkinson | LinkedIn

    Rate this podcast/episode on Apple Podcasts, or leave feedback here, and be sure to leave me a voice note with a question for me to answer in a future episode!
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    16 min
  • Setting Boundaries with Clients as a Creative Freelancer: How to Be Friendly and Firm {Ep. 86}

    Setting Boundaries with Clients as a Creative Freelancer: How to Be Friendly and Firm {Ep. 86}
    Jul 13 2025

    Are you struggling to maintain boundaries while being friendly with clients? In this episode, I share a personal story about the turning point that made me realize the importance of setting boundaries - and how I learned to strike that balance.

    From being available 24/7 to implementing strict communication rules, learn how to protect your time and energy while still maintaining a good relationship with your clients. Key points discussed include:

    • understanding the difference between being liked and respected,
    • defining your deal breakers, and
    • how personal habits spill over into professional settings.

    Join me as I delve into strategies for blending friendliness with clear boundaries.

    • 00:55 The Turning Point: A Client's Disruptive Call
    • 02:33 Setting Boundaries: Lessons Learned
    • 05:33 The Importance of Respect and Clarity
    • 06:47 Personal and Professional Boundaries
    • 07:39 Practical Tips for Enforcing Boundaries
    • 09:08 Communicating Boundaries Effectively

    Resources

    • Take the Quiz: Identify and start fixing your people-pleasing patterns today!
    • Free Interactive Guide: “12 Simple Tweaks to a Clearer Client Contract”
    • Get on the Waitlist for the next Client Contracts Crash Course!
    • Schedule a Strategy Call with Sheila
    • Episode 85 - Managing Unlimited Revision Requests from Clients

    >>>

    Hi! I’m Sheila, your guide to a Joyful and Thriving™ creative life! I have lots of titles: attorney, social worker, coach, consultant, keynote speaker, educator. And while I’m proud of those titles, I am a human first and a title second – just like you. I want to help you reset expectations, set boundaries, and make aligned decisions, so you can streamline and focus your energy on the people, projects, and pay that actually matter to you.

    Instagram: @sheilamwilkinson | LinkedIn

    Rate this podcast/episode on Apple Podcasts, or leave feedback here, and be sure to leave me a voice note with a question for me to answer in a future episode!

    >>>

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    20 min
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