Boundaries

The Value of Time & People

Anyone who has spent time with me knows one thing—I value time above everything else. I refuse to sell it cheaply, and I never do. From working 14-16 hours a day to building a financial safety net so I could focus on my weight loss journey for a year, I’ve come a long way. I’ve earned my time, and I’m proud of it.

But there’s something I value just as much, maybe even more—people. The truth is, I earn my time to spend it with people.

The People-Pleaser Phase

I wasn’t always this way. I used to be a massive people pleaser, constantly going above and beyond to keep others happy. The fear of upsetting someone or losing them meant that I rarely set boundaries. In doing so, I unknowingly put others in the driver’s seat of my life.

People pleasers set unrealistic standards for themselves—offering more effort than they receive. And when that effort isn’t reciprocated, it hurts. But that’s a deeper conversation for another day. Today, I want to talk about how I made myself available for people who didn’t deserve my time.

The Turning Point: Understanding My Worth

Because I never set boundaries, people took me for granted. They came and went as they pleased, knowing I would always be there. And for a long time, I stayed—fearing that if I didn’t, I would lose them.

But one day, I realized they didn’t matter—not one bit.

Thankfully, I had wonderful people around me too—those who truly respected me. One of them is my business partner and mentor. I won’t name him (since I never name people in my blogs), but his words changed my perspective.

The Best Advice I Received

One day, he said:
“You worked your butt off to earn your freedom. You’ve earned your time. Don’t waste it on people who don’t deserve it. If you have free time, sleep if you have nothing better to do. But don’t waste it on those who only show up when it suits them. It’s a two-way street. Set your boundaries and see who respects them—those are the ones worth keeping.”

That hit hard.

I was terrified—terrified of losing people. Because I genuinely love being around people. But I also knew this:

• I didn’t want to feel drained.
• I didn’t want to keep giving without receiving.
• I owed it to myself to stop.

Setting Boundaries & Finding Peace

So I did it. I took his advice and set boundaries.

• I stopped hanging out with people who didn’t value my time.
• I stopped talking to those who drained my energy.
• I started focusing on those who reciprocated and respected my boundaries.

And you wouldn’t believe the peace I found. It felt like a massive weight lifted off my shoulders. I had finally come out of the longest phase of my life—the people-pleasing phase.

The Power of a Mentor & True Friends

I am incredibly grateful for the advice my mentor gave me. That’s the beauty of having a mentor—they guide you when you don’t even realize you need it.

Of course, advice is useless unless you implement it. But when you do, it changes everything. I’m also thankful for the friends who have always believed in me—the ones who stayed even when I wasn’t prioritizing them.

When you let the wrong people take over, you forget to appreciate the right ones. But better late than never.

Choose Wisely

We work hard to earn our time, but who we spend it on makes all the difference.

• Protect your time.
• Set your boundaries.
• Appreciate the people who truly matter.

And most importantly—don’t waste your time on those who wouldn’t do the same for you.