Flamingo Fix 015: Sticking It Out To “Be Professional”: Why Some Contracts Need to End

Have you ever stayed in a business relationship long after you knew it wasn’t working - because you didn’t want to disappoint someone, appear difficult, or waste what you’d already invested?

That’s people-pleasing in professional clothing. That’s what happened to me. Insanity is clinging to commitments that aren't working. Here is how I adjusted, communicated, and choose alignment.

I hired a vendor for a project that meant a lot to me.

At first, it seemed like a great match. They seemed like they could meet my needs. We signed a contract, I paid my deposit, and I was excited to finally get this thing off the ground. But the first deliverable landed... and it didn’t meet the standard I expected.

Still, I didn’t stop.

I told myself, “It’s early. These things take time.”

So, I pushed through. Gave more detailed feedback. Stayed up late trying to “fix” what should have been delivered correctly. Spent hours procrastinating on reviewing the next draft because I already knew it wouldn’t be what I needed, and I didn’t want to deal with it.

I became quiet. Frustrated. And deeply resentful. But I kept going. For months.

Until one day, they came back asking me to do something that, by my understanding, was their job.

That’s when, in the middle of one of my now often rants, my husband said something that hit me in the chest:

“You keep waiting for things to change. It’s time you let them know that they are not meeting your expectations. And if they can’t, it’s time to move on and find someone who can.”

I agreed. So, I shifted gears. I reset the expectation line and began exploring how to either repair the relationship or walk away in a way that felt fair to everyone.

The vendor came back to let me know that they would try. Maybe they have the expertise to serve me. That thought went through the window the minute the next deliverable landed.

Same problem. Though annoyed, I defaulted to doing what I had done before until my husband jerked me out of it with one statement:

“You’re people-pleasing again. You’re trying to salvage something that isn’t working, at the cost of your peace, time, money, and mission.”

And he was right.

I realized I was trying to keep the peace and see the contract through… while quietly suffering and sacrificing the outcome I originally hired them for. Deep down, I was hoping it would magically get better.

It didn’t.

Once I saw the pattern, I couldn’t unsee it.

What I didn’t expect was the emotional toll that came with the decision.

Someone I trusted told me I’d be sued. That I was breaching the contract. That I should just “suck it up” for the greater good.

But I couldn’t.

Not because I wanted to cause drama. Not because I did not want to get to the finish line. But because continuing would mean stepping out of alignment with everything I teach and believe.

If I went along with it, I’d be agreeing to stay in something I no longer believed in—just to avoid conflict or look like the “good” client.

I’d be betraying myself for the sake of finishing.

And that’s not how I lead.

In the end, I chose to walk away.

Not from a place of rage. Not from fear. But from clarity and integrity. It was a hard situation to navigate but a necessary situation to navigate.

Because the truth is, we both would’ve lost more time and money if I had sucked it up and stayed. And I knew deep in my bones that if I kept going, I’d be building something that felt wrong from the inside out.

Two points from this story are applicable in business and life:

POINT 1)

No matter how much mindset work you do along your people-pleasing recovery journey, you still have blind spots. You can be years into recovery, with stronger boundaries and a clear sense of self, and still default to old habits in high-stakes or unfamiliar territory.

That’s why you need a blind spotter in business and life, someone who can name what you can’t see and help you practically walk out of it with clarity, strategy, and integrity. That’s what we do at The Pink Flamingo Way (for people navigating people-pleasing recovery in life) and Client Success Experts (for founders and corporate leaders doing the same in business).

POINT 2)

Just because you signed a contract or committed to something doesn’t mean you have to stick it out if it's no longer right.

But let’s be clear. I’m not recommending you walk away just because something feels off. I do not condone being irresponsible. I knew something was wrong because I had clear expectations that I compared to what was delivered.

So, the next time you’re about to enter a contract, pause and ask yourself:

• Do I know what I need here?

• Do I believe this person or team can meet those needs?

• Am I clear on what happens if they can’t?

Only sign on the dotted line if you can answer yes to these questions. And if you enter a commitment only to realize things are not what they seem… If you realize partway through that it’s not working, speak up. Don’t default to silence or martyrdom. You’re not a bad person for saying “this isn’t working” or “this won’t work.” You’re not betraying anyone by being honest.

And from a business perspective? Set up structures to support moments like this, even the emotional aspects of decision-making. Contracts, scopes, boundaries, and internal policies that don’t just protect your revenue, but also your relationships and your values. "Non-refundable" is not a structure. Clarity is. Else, you will find yourself sacrificing the very values your business is built on.

Pink flamingoes stand for long periods on one leg, not to show off, but to conserve energy and protect their core.

Sometimes we stay in contracts, relationships, or business decisions too long because we think standing on both legs makes us look stronger. More committed. More professional. But real leadership means knowing when to shift your weight, protect your peace, and stand firm on what matters, even if it means standing alone. That’s what boundaries are like in business and life, especially when the stakes are high, and people are watching. Sometimes walking away isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.

Leaders don’t cling to commitments that aren't working. They adjust, communicate, and choose alignment.

If you’re a founder or leader who’s doing the inner work, but business still pulls you back into old people-pleasing patterns, let's chat. Book a curiosity call to explore how we can help you redesign, implement, or sustain business structures that reflect your recovery and protect what matters most - your sense of fairness, safety, progress and freedom.

Or if you are a recovering people-pleaser who is ready to stop betraying yourself for the sake of “keeping the peace”, and need a safe space to unpack your blind spots and build a new way of being, come join us in The Pink Flamingo Way.

💡 Need a Fix?

Here are other ways we can help.

OPTION 1: Join CEO Like A CEO - our high-touch mentorship for growing CEOs and leaders. Step out of the weeds, scale smarter and lead stronger with structure, strategy, and sanity backed by human-centered business optimization tactics and data-driven decision-making.

OPTION 2: Need practical tools, strategies and tactics to support your personal people-pleasing recovery, head on over to The Pink Flamingo Way for small steps you can take weekly.

OPTION 3: Invite us to speak or do a business workshop/training. Drop us an email.

OPTION 4: Grab the "How to Train Your Clients" Workshop. Just $99 to learn how to set rock-solid boundaries (and get clients to actually respect them).

OPTION 5: Subscribe to Flamingo Fix. Weekly, no-BS strategies to scale smart, enforce boundaries, and build a business that actually feels good to run and grow. As a bonus, the first issue shares our proven client onboarding process, complete with the tools to create a red-carpet onboarding experience that wow your clients without utter chaos or losing your sanity.