If you've got awkward clients, you've got no one to blame but yourself.
After all, you allowed them in.
At every stage of the journey, you've had the power to say “No”.
Even if you didn't realise it at first, now that you do, you have the power to say “Goodbye”.
I appreciate there are plenty of reasons as to why you want to hold onto them, but these are just excuses.
What I want you to remember is that working with an awkward client means that you won't do your best work with them.
As the quality dips, they complain more. You're less confident and so you charge less, which makes you resent them even more – and thus the vicious cycle continues.
Plus, the time you're dedicating to your problem person could be spent with someone you actually like working with, that you do better work for and they're happy to pay you more for.
Take the time now to get clear on what your boundaries are.
Lock in on why it's important to have those boundaries.
Then get ready to defend them.
Working only with the right clients creates a win/win for everyone.