My mom used to say, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.” I despised that saying for years, mostly because she was right. I’d put more on my plate than I could realistically eat. Unfortunately, the same holds true in business.

Don't promise what you can't deliver.

A huge corporation with a large budget may cause you to make promises you can’t keep and add more to your plate than you can handle. Before you say yes to a request from a big client, take a close look at your current schedule and decide if you have time to complete the job. Don’t forget to consider if you’re even the right person to handle the project.

When you receive a call from a prospect, look at your calendar and at the same time scrutinize your list of ongoing projects. If you accept a new client, will you be able to do a good job if you face a time crunch? If not, you can kiss any longterm relationship goodbye.

When setting delivery and completion dates, always build in a cushion of several days to make sure you deliver what you promise, when you promise it. Even if you’re the most qualified person to handle a job, yet you’re unable to meet your client’s expectations, you could damage your relationship with that client. And rebuilding a damaged relationship takes longer than you think.