How I learned to set projector entrepreneur boundaries that protect my energy.
This is part 7 of my 8-part (Mental) Projector business experiment series where I’m ditching strategies that drain me and rebuilding around my authentic design.
Table of Contents
For a long time, I blurred the lines.
People would ask me for advice in DMs. Friends-of-friends would “pick my brain” for free. Even paying clients would sometimes expect me to be available 24/7.
And I let it happen. Because I thought that’s what being “accessible” meant.
But here’s the truth: there’s a massive difference between being accessible and being available to everyone.
The Free Advice Trap
I realized that when you give people something for free, not only do they not value it as much as if they paid for it — they expect you to give them more and more and more. Of course, for free.
I remember this woman calling me, asking about a problem she had. I explained everything and told her she should go to this specific practitioner who wasn’t far from her. At the end of the day? She never did it.
Or my friend who got pregnant with her second kid. I wanted to be a good friend, so I offered she could come work out with me in my garden with her other kids. When she arrived, what normally would take me 30 minutes turned into 90 minutes because she was constantly chatting about everything else instead of working out.
She never approached me about doing this regularly. But then she asked if I could come do massages for her and her husband. I said sure, but they never set a date.
I was like: If you’re not really committed to working with me, just don’t fucking waste my time.
The DM Energy Vampires
This kept happening in my business too.
People would jump into my DMs wanting free advice, then say “Oh, I already have a different coach.”
Or they’d book a free reading with me. I’d mention upfront that I’d offer ways to work together further. They’d listen for 60 or sometimes 90 minutes, interacting the whole time. Then at the end: “Oh, I’m already working with someone.”
I got sick of people picking my brain and using my energy.
When I’m on a phone or Zoom call doing a Human Design reading, analyzing someone’s ideal client, or picking brand archetypes based on their design — it takes quite a lot of energy. I definitely need time to wind down after that. It’s really energetically demanding.
The $22 Question That Broke Me
The final straw was this guy asking me why he should order my report (seriously, it was $22) over all the other things available in the Human Design world.
I’m not here to persuade you to buy from me. Either you like what I’m doing or you don’t. I’m definitely not going to spend time explaining $hit to you just so you’ll buy a $22 product. Jesus Christ.
Why Projector Entrepreneur Boundaries Matter
As (Mental) Projectors, our energy is sacred. We don’t have endless fuel to pour into everyone who wants a slice. If we try, we end up drained, bitter, resentful.
And honestly? That doesn’t serve anyone.
As much as I love to give, I’m definitely not going to do that for free. In order to help people, I need to have resources. I can’t feed my family without money. That’s as easy as it gets.
Accessible ≠ Available
Accessible means my work is here for you. My blog posts, my offers, my portals — they’re open, ready, alive. There are countless resources on my blog where you can pick my brain. You just have to put in the work.
Being “available to everyone” means handing out my energy for free. It means being on-call for people who haven’t invested in me. It means giving my best to people who aren’t ready to receive it.
And I’m not doing that anymore.
Buy or Bye (And Why It’s Actually Service)
You can buy, or you can self-help through my free blog content. But I’m not going to leak my energy into endless DMs or one-sided conversations.
Because here’s the thing: when you invest, you rise to meet the work. When you don’t, it just becomes more noise.
I take it as service for you to buy from me. And I’m totally not going to chase you.
From time to time, I might do work for someone, but it’s usually in exchange for something — not for free.
How My Projector Entrepreneur Boundaries Actually Work
If I have 1:1 clients, we set time frames when I’m available for them. It’s usually not 24/7, but I strive to respond pretty quickly. They’re paying me a higher amount of money, so it’s energetically correct.
I intentionally choose only a handful of private clients. That’s how I can give them everything I’ve got.
So yes, I’m accessible. But no, I’m not available to everyone.
That boundary is what makes my work potent. It’s what keeps me in my power. And it’s what allows me to serve the right people with everything I’ve got.
Frequently Asked Questions about Projector Entrepreneur Boundaries (FAQs)
Being accessible means your work, content, and offers are easy to find and engage with. Being available to everyone means giving away your time and energy without boundaries. Accessibility empowers your audience; over-availability drains you.
Unlike energy types (Generators or Manifesting Generators), Projectors don’t have consistent fuel. Clear boundaries prevent burnout, bitterness, and resentment — and help you serve paying clients with full presence.
Notice if you’re constantly answering DMs, doing “pick your brain” calls, or leaving interactions feeling resentful. That’s a sign your energy is leaking into places where it’s not valued or compensated.
Yes! Sharing blog posts, free resources, or general insights is generous and sustainable. True generosity happens when it doesn’t cost you your wellbeing. Personal access, however, should be reserved for aligned, paying clients.
Define clear communication windows (e.g., response times within business hours), limit the number of 1:1 clients, and outline what’s included in your packages. These structures protect your energy and actually improve client results.
You can politely redirect them:
– Invite them into your paid offers (“This is exactly what I help clients with inside…”).
This honors your energy while still being of service.
– Point them to your blog or resources (“I’ve written about this here…”).
P.S. you can also use the power of AI to do this for you!
Over time, it leads to exhaustion, bitterness, lack of recognition, and even financial instability. Boundaries aren’t about being cold — they’re about creating a sustainable business that allows you to thrive.
Ready to set better projector entrepreneur boundaries in your own business? I’m working on a mini-course (around €50) — either “How to Be Authentic in Your Business and Still Be Successful” or “How to Build an Authentic Brand (and Stop Feeling Fake)” — maybe both! If you want to be the first to know when it launches, grab my €22 branding audit and I’ll keep you in the loop.
What’s one boundary you need to set to protect your energy? I’d love to hear about your own journey with accessible vs available.
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