Visionaries Thrive on Tension: Why the Right Clients Make You Uncomfortable
Else S. Johnson
Mindset Expert & Speaker | Empowering Entrepreneurs & Executives to Embrace Emotional Strength & Cultivate Purpose-Driven Lives for Sustainable Success.
What if I told you the best clients for your growth aren’t the easiest ones? I recently welcomed a new client; she is a joy to work with. She is fully engaged, collaborative, and committed to the process, and transforming right before my eyes.
?
I love seeing my coaching framework in action with someone like her because it works. But here’s the kicker: it would serve nobody if all my clients were like her. On paper, it’s a perfect match and makes our job easy!
It doesn’t matter, if you’re a coach, a consultant, or a creative leader in tech, design, or any transformative industry, it’s tempting to want clients who fit a certain mold. The ones who love your work, execute your advice flawlessly and feel effortless to collaborate with.
Why Discomfort Drives Growth!
The challenge: What if the best clients for your growth aren’t the easiest ones? What if the clients who truly unlock your genius are the ones who challenge you, stretch your thinking, and force you to innovate?
As visionaries and inventors, we thrive in the unknown, between what exists and what’s possible. But it’s easy to lose sight of that when working with clients who don’t demand that. They’re the smooth seas that let us sail with ease, but it’s also a trap. When the work feels predictable, are you really innovating—or just recycling past wins?
The truth is: smooth seas don’t create better sailors.
Why Challenging Clients Are a Gift
The clients who challenge you, stretch your thinking, and force you to innovate are the ones who help you grow. The clients who bring complexity or ask for something unconventional may seem like “difficult clients” on the surface. But they’re giving you a priceless opportunity: to refine your thinking, deepen your expertise, and deliver on a whole new level. Their challenges aren’t obstacles; they’re invitations to evolve.
They keep you sharp, agile, and ready for what’s next.
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Growth Is a Two-Way Street
When you lean into the tension challenging clients bring, the results are transformative. They get more tailored, innovative, and impactful solutions because you’re fully invested in co-creating something exceptional. In return, you expand your capacity to lead, solve, and pioneer.
Everybody wins—your current clients, your future clients, and your own mastery.
Redefining “Perfect” Clients
It’s time to rethink how we define “perfect or ideal” clients. Instead of only seeking the ones who make us feel good or make our work look easy, let’s include the ones who make us better. The ones who demand more of us, not in a way that drains us, but in a way that lights a fire in us.
This isn’t just about growth—it’s about alignment. This isn’t about chasing conflict—it’s about opportunities to grow.
Your Challenge: Lean Into Growth
Ask yourself: Are my clients pushing me to grow, or am I coasting on what I already know and playing it safe? Our growth and our client’s growth happen when we face the edge of our comfort zones. Let’s meet there—because that’s where the magic is.
Let’s Talk
Think about your clients: Are they pushing your thinking, your craft, and your leadership, or are you playing it safe? I’d love to hear your story—let’s start a conversation about growth and the clients who make it happen.
I’d love to hear your take:
Empowering Ambitious Professionals & Business Leaders in Wellness, Finance & Law | NLP & Hypnotherapy Practitioner | Transforming Self-Doubt into Confidence & Clarity to Achieve Sustainable Growth | Author | Speaker
2 个月So true! I have felt bored with some of my “easy”clients. A little challenge or resistance has helped me hone my craft. Love your reframe Else S. Johnson - ignite your genius. So good!
Helping Elite Achievers Break Barriers, Sharpen Their Edge & Sustain Peak Performance.
2 个月Love this perspective! In Human Performance, growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone—it’s the resistance that makes us stronger. Just like athletes need tough training sessions to build strength and endurance, leaders need challenging clients to refine their skills, expand their thinking, and push past limits. Those “demanding” clients are like the weight we lift—they force us to level up. Grateful for the ones who keep me evolving every day! ????
Business Simplification & Confidence Coach | 4X Founder | Idea Lab Community | Programs for Every Stage of Business | Guiding Entrepreneurs to Master People Skills, Influence, and Authority
2 个月Very helpful! And insightful
EQ Mentor for High Performing Men, Next Level Life, Relationships & Business, Know Yourself To Improve! I deal radical accountability & relentless action!
2 个月Ships look beautiful in the harbour, but that's not what they were built for! Embracing our challenges whether they be clients, family, friends, colleagues or from anywhere else, is the "dirt", the rich soil we NEED to grow because that's where the nutrients are! Very few folks grow on a mountain top, we grow in the valley, in the tough times, all the way along on our own adventures! GREAT post Else! Gratitude!
Visibility Coach | Empowering Coaches and Consultants with confidence and Video Visibility | Podcast host | Podcast guest | 30 yrs in Video
2 个月Embracing discomfort is truly where growth begins. Your insights on challenging clients as catalysts for innovation are inspiring. It’s a powerful reminder that the journey to mastery often lies in the tension we face.