ARE YOU GIVING AWAY YOUR TIME?

Picture this: a customer walks into your business in Philadelphia and asks for “just a quick piece of advice” or “a free sample, no strings attached.” You, with the best intentions, spend 15, 20, even 30 minutes helping them, sharing your knowledge, smiling. The customer leaves grateful… but without buying anything.
Has that ever happened to you?

Trust me, you’re not alone. But the real question is: how many times a day are you giving away your time without realizing it?

A free coffee, an extra consultation, staying an extra hour… it might seem small, but over a month it adds up to hours no one is paying for. And those are the same hours you could be using to sell more, get organized, or simply rest.

👉 Real Philly example: A beauty salon in North Philly offered “free 20-minute style consultations.” The result? A full schedule, but no real profits. Once they set a clear limit (“5 minutes of courtesy, then it becomes a paid consultation”), clients didn’t leave — instead, they started respecting the business more.

Many small Latino businesses believe that if they set limits, they’ll lose customers. But the opposite is true: when you value your time, others value it too.

👉 Think about a restaurant: what would happen if everyone asked to sample the whole menu for free? Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, the same happens when someone constantly asks for your time or services for nothing.

It’s not about saying a dry “no,” but about showing clear and professional options:

• “I’d be happy to share the basics now, and if you’d like more detail, we can schedule a paid session.”
• “Here’s my regular rate, but today I have a special package that might interest you.”
• “I have 5 minutes to guide you, and afterward I’d be glad to offer you a more complete plan.”

Instead of losing clients, you’re actually guiding them.

When you give away your time without limits, the message you send is: your knowledge and your work have little value.
When you set kind but firm boundaries, the message shifts: you’re professional, serious, and your service is worth paying for.

It’s not about becoming cold. It’s about realizing that your time is one of your most valuable resources. Just like you take care of your inventory or your cash flow, you must take care of your hours and your energy.

In Philadelphia, many Latino businesses have learned that setting limits doesn’t drive clients away — it attracts them. Because a healthy business is one that knows how to say: “this has value, and what I offer deserves respect.”

So tell me, are you giving away your time?
I can help you discover it and set limits without losing clients. Shall we talk?