Boundaries aren’t about being rigid, cold, or unavailable. They’re about building a business that actually feels sustainable to run. In this episode of the Brand Unmuted Podcast, we’re diving into the real-life boundaries we’ve had to set (and sometimes re-set) in our businesses to protect our time, creativity, and mental health.

From communication expectations and response times, to scope creep, revisions, automation, and work-life balance, this conversation is full of practical examples and mindset shifts to help you create boundaries that support both you and your clients.

If you’ve ever felt resentful, overwhelmed, or stuck in “always on” mode, this episode will help you rethink what boundaries can look like, and why they matter so much.

1. Why boundaries aren’t rules for rules’ sake
2. Setting communication boundaries with clients (and yourself)
3. The danger of being “too flexible”
4. Using automation to protect your time without hurting conversion
5. Scope of work, contracts, and revision boundaries
6. Creating work boundaries that align with your why
7. How boundaries actually lead to better client experiences

1. HoneyBook & 17hats - Our favorite CRM tools (https://share.honeybook.com/risecopyco & http://joannamoss.com/17hats)
2. Calendly - For seamless calendar scheduling (https://calendly.com/)
3. ManyChat - For setting up automations on Instagram (https://manychat.com)

01:46 – Why boundaries matter (and why they’re core to Brand Unmuted)

02:46 – A real-life moment that forced Joanna to rethink boundaries

03:40 – Protecting evenings, personal time, and mental space

05:10 – The danger of being too flexible

06:00 – Hours worked vs. set schedules (and why this matters for creatives)

07:15 – Rush fees, weekends, and pricing as a boundary

08:14 – Urgency, over-responsiveness, and “it’s just cups and saucers”

09:00 – Why ideal clients will respect your response time

11:05 – Using automation to protect your boundaries

12:59 – Tools that help: CRMs, calendars, and scheduling systems

15:16 – Scope creep, contracts, and setting expectations upfront

16:09 – Refining systems to prevent burnout before it starts

18:44 – Boundaries around revisions (and why structure helps everyone)

20:32 – Setting boundaries with yourself and understanding capacity

22:39 – Flexibility as the “why” behind strong boundaries

24:03 – Final takeaway: choosing one boundary to reset

If your website needs a refresh, you can explore Joanna’s design services at joannamoss.com or Dianna’s copywriting offers at risecopyco.com. Mention this episode, and you’ll receive 5% off your booking.

If you enjoyed the show, leaving a rating or review is one of the best ways to support the podcast — and we appreciate it so much.

We’ll be back next Tuesday with a new episode!