“Be the kind of client you want to work with.”
It sounds empowering—like it’s about integrity and setting the tone for the relationships you want in business.
But it’s been my experience–and, I'm willing to bet, your experience as well–that this phrase is really used to subtly shame people into making fast decisions.
It’s made pretty clear through subtext that wanting to work with clients who trust you implicitly, take immediate action on all your advice, and don’t ask too many questions means you have to be that kind of client for them: and if you don’t, you’re inviting Karen karma on yourself.
What the Phrase Should Mean
At its core, “being the kind of client you want to work with” should be about bringing integrity, clarity, and mutual respect into client relationships.
That means showing up on time, communicating clearly, paying what you agreed to, honoring boundaries, and taking personal responsibility for your progress.
It's about modeling the kind of professionalism you’d like to see reflected in the people you serve. When used this way, the phrase is about alignment, not pressure.
How the Phrase Gets Misused in Marketing
Unfortunately, this phrase is most often used as a form of emotional blackmail.
Especially in high-ticket sales situations, it's thrown out as a way to silence objections or speed up buying decisions: “If you were the kind of client you want to attract, you'd say yes right now.”
This framing turns thoughtful hesitation into a character flaw, making logical skepticism seem like a “lack of belief” rather than a valid part of the decision-making process.
It weaponizes your own integrity against you.
The Danger of “Faith-Based” Purchasing
In many corners of online business, there's a trend of spiritualizing impulsive purchases.
You’re told to “just trust the universe” or “take the leap,” often in situations that lack clarity, data, or realistic expectations.
It’s a lazy marketing technique that lets the seller avoid all responsibility for actually explaining how their product can help you with a very specific problem–usually because they’re just trying to get something out quickly and haven’t taken the time to thoroughly test their product.
They don’t know whether it will really help you or not.
👏 So they put the onus on you to “trust” while avoiding all responsibility of being trustworthy. 👏
It should NEVER be about blind obedience or unquestioning loyalty. “High demand” expectations are a mark of cults.
Making you feel like there’s something wrong with YOU when their product doesn’t work is a classic cult technique. It makes you feel more broken and more in need of their help. It makes you doubt your own abilities–which leaves you with no choice but to put that belief and trust in them instead, and they sink their claws even deeper.
A Better Way to Decide
Don’t be a mindless groupie.
I repeat: DON’T BE A MINDLESS GROUPIE.
Saying yes to an opportunity SHOULD. NOT. feel like jumping off a cliff with your eyes closed.
Make bold moves and trust yourself while practicing discernment.
Don’t put your ultimate trust in any other business person, content creator, or course out there.
ONLY YOU know what is best for your business. (And no one else will care as much as you do.)
ONLY YOU know whether you can really afford it.
PRO TIP: the thought “I can make the down payment, and then use what I learn to earn enough to pay for the rest” means you can’t afford it.
ONLY YOU know whether this is the right time to be focusing on that strategy.
ANOTHER PRO TIP: be very suspicious of anyone who claims that “everyone should be running x_____ thing right now” and structures their offer around making everyone in the group do the same thing at the same time.
(Here's 3 more red flags to watch out for >> )
The Decision-Making Matrix
Use this free matrix to help take the emotional guesswork out of your purchasing decisions 👇
How to Really “Be The Kind of Client You Want to Work With”
“Being the kind of client you want to work with” doesn’t mean overriding your gut, ignoring red flags, or being an “easy yes.”
It absolutely 100% does not mean blindly obeying, trusting, or taking a leap of faith off the bridge after all your friends.
It means:
- showing up with integrity,
- taking responsibility for your decisions,
- and choosing opportunities from a place of grounded wisdom.
The best clients ask questions, honor their boundaries, and purchase with clarity—and if that’s who you want to attract, then let that be who you are, too.
Use the matrix, take your time, and remember: think before you leap.
Related 👇
Why I never called purchasing courses or coaching an “investment” in this article
Let's get your finances off the back burner and into a system that actually works.