Why I Trust Barbells More Than Client Conversations

I can deadlift 400 pounds without hesitation, but ask me to tell a client their request is outside scope and I freeze up completely.

This realization hit me during a conversation about boundaries. In the gym, I know exactly what I can lift. I know my limits. I know when someone asks me to add more weight than I'm prepared for, the answer is an immediate no.

But in my business? Same knowledge, same self-awareness, completely different response.

When a social media client asks me to edit their reels, capture content, or write their newsletter, my brain goes: "Oh my God, yes, of course I'll do that." Then reality kicks in: "Wait, that's not part of scope." Then the internal negotiation begins.

Should I do it anyway this time? Should I charge extra? Where exactly do I draw the line between serving my clients and preserving my own freaking sanity?

The Psychology Behind the Hesitation

Here's what I've realized about that moment of hesitation. It's not about capability.

I know how to edit reels. I know how to capture content. I know how to write newsletters. Just like I know exactly how much weight I can move on any given day.

The difference is psychological. In the gym, saying no protects me from physical injury. In business, saying no feels like it might cause relationship injury.