Forced Dependency and Why It Sucks
How empowering clients to thrive without you is actually better for your business
One of the most frustrating things about the business world is how many entrepreneurs build their work around forced dependency: making sure their clients always need them rather than empowering them to succeed on their own. I know that capitalism thrives within a scarcity mindset, and that most of us are taught that convincing people that we’re invaluable is how we retain clients. I’ve learned the last few years that that model really doesn’t work for me, and beyond feeling unethical, it also isn’t as foolproof as people tell you it is.
Too many businesses operate on the belief that if clients can function without them, they’ve somehow lost or failed as a businessperson. They deliberately make things confusing, withhold key information, or lock essential tools behind paywalls so that clients always have to come back. While this might create short-term profit, it fosters resentment and frustration. No one likes to feel trapped. When clients don’t understand what you’ve created for them, they don’t own it. Instead of feeling confident in their website, Notion system, or marketing strategy, they feel like they’re at your mercy. That lack of confidence doesn’t lead to loyalty, it leads to avoidance. Eventually, they’ll either seek out someone else who treats them with more respect, or they’ll decide it’s not worth the trouble at all.
When I work with clients, my goal isn’t to make them need me forever. My goal is to make sure they feel confident in what I’ve built for them. I walk them through my processes, provide guides, and answer any questions they have so they can make simple changes on their own. If they really want to, they can move forward without me after our work together is done, and that’s a good thing.
Why? Because an empowered client is a happy client. They appreciate what I’ve built because it’s familiar, not confusing. They understand the value of my work because they’ve seen the logic behind it. They trust me because they know I’m not keeping secrets or intentionally making things difficult. That trust creates stronger business relationships and leads to more opportunities down the line.
When a client understands what you do and why you do it, working with them becomes so much easier. There’s no endless back-and-forth because they grasp the basics. They’re not afraid to ask questions because they don’t feel like they’re bothering you. And because they trust and understand you, they’ll tell others.
One of the most rewarding things about this approach is how it ripples outward. An empowered client doesn’t just feel good about their own abilities, they also pass that empowerment along. When they recommend me to a friend, they’re not just saying, “She did a great job.” They’re saying, “She made this easy for me. I feel confident using it. I trust her.” That kind of word-of-mouth is priceless!
At the end of the day, forced dependency is a business model built on fear that if clients don’t need you, they won’t value you. But the truth is, respect and trust are far stronger foundations than control and confusion. When you empower your clients, you’re building a stronger, more sustainable business. And honestly? Working with people who feel good about what you’ve made for them is just way more fun.
I hope you’ve enjoyed or learned something from this week’s little filler post! The last quarter moon is today, so be sure to check out last week’s post if you haven’t already. Next week we’re starting a new cycle on getting out of your own head, and I can’t wait to dive into that with you!